There is no democracy without respect for human rights, and there are no human rights without the true rule of law, said President Jakov Milatović.
He opened the Civic Alliance conference "The Rule of Law in the Drawers of Justice".
"Is the rule of law truly the cornerstone of our system or does it still remain trapped in the drawers of the judiciary," Milatović asked, according to his office.
He said that this is not name-calling, but taking responsibility before citizens: equality of all before the law, independent courts and prosecutors' offices, transparent and timely decisions, and a clear message that no one is above the law.
He warned of the consequences when standards remain "on paper": justice delayed, victims of violence without protection, workers without rights, minorities without equal treatment, and young people who lose trust and leave because of injustice. "The question of the rule of law is very concrete: will young people experience this country as their home or as a way station before leaving."
"This conference must not just be a place to repeat the known, but a space for taking on responsibilities," said Milatović, emphasizing that ending the practice of "the rule of law in drawers" must be a joint task of institutions, the judiciary, and society. "The rule of law must become a living, everyday protection for every person, without exception."
"Progress will be complete when citizens feel that the state sees them and the institutions protect them"
Ombudsman Siniša Bjeković said that International Human Rights Day, which is being celebrated today, is not just a day of remembrance, nor a day of reminder, because, as he stated, it is a notorious fact that from the beginning, man has been given the right to be free and dignified as a human being.
Bjeković emphasized that the rule of law is not possible without respect for human rights and freedoms and vice versa, reports the MINA agency.
He said that discussions often talk about the institutional framework, about institutions.
According to Bjeković, it is institutions that, through their actions, should strengthen and implement the principles that everyone politically advocates.
"And at the same time, they prove that they are ready for the time to come and to assume full responsibility, when they will communicate freely with European courts and other institutions that protect the European legal order and within it the indispensable principles of the rule of law and respect for human rights and freedoms," Bjeković stated.
He said that it would not be good for human rights standards to be created and operated on different bases within a state.
"Our task is to work together on unique, harmonized human rights standards, no matter how challenging the title of the topic may be for only one part of our institutional reality. Drawers are synonymous with institutional action and public expectations that the obligation be completed in a quality and timely manner," added Bjeković.
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Đeka said that International Human Rights Day is always an opportunity to sum up victories and defeats.
"Let's measure the number of steps we have taken to reduce discrimination and increase respect for human rights and freedoms," Đeka added.
He said that the Ministry, from the aspect of its jurisdiction, is trying to act in accordance with its capabilities, reports MINA.
"When it comes to the area of human rights and freedoms, the process has no end - there is no end because it is an area that requires constant vigilance, because human rights and freedoms are violated and improved at every moment," stated Đeka.
He said that the world today faces great challenges.
"The situation in the world is further and further from what we aspire to, people are being wiped off the face of the earth, children are suffering. Large societies do not have a model for how to stop the destruction of human dignity," said Đeka.
He emphasized that the dignity of every individual is the foundation of a free society and added that human rights and freedoms are defended through actions.
"When we protect media freedom, when we fight corruption, when we ensure equality between men and women, when we give voice to marginalized groups – we strengthen the rule of law," Djeka added.
According to him, Montenegro cannot progress on its European path without clear results in the fight against corruption.
"Our progress in the area of human rights will be complete when citizens feel that the state sees them and that institutions protect them," said Đeka.
The head of the Council of Europe (CoE) program office in Podgorica, Lejla Dervišagić, said that in recent years we have witnessed that human rights, without which there is no democracy, rule of law and sustainable progress, have once again been called into question.
"We are increasingly witnessing the rise of hate speech, the spread of disinformation, attacks on freedom of expression and freedom of the media, discrimination, and wars that affect millions of people," Dervišagić added.
She said that, in addition, there are contemporary challenges such as internet security, data protection, gender equality, cybercrime, and artificial intelligence.
Dervišagić said that this is why the Council of Europe launched the Pact for Europe, whose aim is to confront the challenges that threaten democracy and the rule of law.
"The New Democratic Pact is a strategic response to the changes that have been taking place in European societies in recent years and reminds us that there is no stability without democracy, and that there is no democracy without respect for human rights, because they are the foundation of every democratic society," said Dervišagić.
She said that this year marks the 85th anniversary of the signing of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Dervišagić said that the Council of Europe, through the European Convention on Human Rights and over 200 other documents, will continue to be a moral and legal compass for Europe.
The Coordinator of Human Rights and Justice at the Civic Assembly, Ivan Radulović, said that this year, International Human Rights Day is being celebrated in an environment that is complex and full of challenges.
"It is true that Montenegro is not a country where massive and systemic human rights violations are an everyday occurrence, but the reality is, unfortunately, still far from the standard we strive for," Radulović said.
He said that this year's European Commission report confirms that Montenegro is between a moderate and good level of readiness in the area of fundamental rights.
As he added, the report welcomed the reform processes and efforts to further align the legislative framework with European standards, especially in the area of anti-discrimination policies and strengthening institutional infrastructure.
"However, the report also clearly indicates that the challenges in practice remain serious. Insufficient efficiency of the system, limited implementation of regulations, uneven protection of vulnerable groups and difficult access to justice remain the most dominant obstacles," said Radulović.
He said that a particular problem is the lengthy court proceedings that undermine citizens' trust in the system and at the same time create serious financial and legal consequences for Montenegro.
"Independent courts, a functional and professionally empowered prosecution service, and institutions that act exclusively in the interests of citizens, free from any undue influence, remain topics of essential human rights protection," Radulović added.
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