Insight view

THE COUNTRY: HUMAN RIGHTS
The LGBT population’s right to peaceful assembly is allowed to
some extent in independent Montenegro. Pride parades in Podgorica
have been organized regularly since 2013 in the so-called
Governmental Area with police, not public, protection. Pride parades
have been prohibited in Nikšić three times, while the
demonstration in Bar was cancelled because police protection
was not provided, and (under the pressure of the police) was
cancelled rather than be prohibited.
Strategy for Improvement of Quality of Life of LGBT Persons, an
LGBT policy, has been adopted by independent Montenegro, but
is not implemented. In this document, everything seems as if it
were written for some other country; one with a different mentality,
with serious institutions, and a longer democratic tradition.
The fact that the Prime Minister has a Councilor for us, the LGBT
population, is the breakthrough in Montenegro. This should be confirmation of discontinuity. And
this is in comparison with the blackmailing and the previous Prime Minister, who is now the ambassador
in the neighborhood, who proclaimed it policy that the LGBT population should not even
breathe, but should at the same time take care not to suffocate. Councilor of the Prime Minister
is, or at least he thinks he is, the national LGBT Coordinator. The Council for the Protection from
Discrimination, whose education earlier praised the government, which should take care about
the monitoring of the Strategy, is abolished without the supposed LGBT Coordinator’s knowledge.
The essence of LGBT policy implementation in Montenegro is reflected in the silent war between
minister and councilors, who are at the service of the same Prime Minister.
Cases on assaults have not been solved
With the great effort of LGBT organizations in Montenegro, the first LGBTIQ culture center has been
opened in Montenegro, which was the target of stoning more than 30 times and was demolished as well.
None of these assaults have been resolved. The Drop In Center and LGBT shelter have functioned for
years. LGBT organizations have initiated an intensive publishing production that has proved very useful
for the police, prosecution, and judiciary. The Confidence Team of the LGBT community and the Police
Directorate, the first of its kind, has been established. The Police LGBT contact network has also been
founded. Prosecution and judiciary have improved their capacities and devotion to standards through cooperation
with LGBT groups. We can proudly say that solid and correct criminal, legal, and judicial protection
is now provided in Montenegro. However, a number of incidents are still unresolved.
Activities of LGBT activists and meetings with opponents of equality, have done more for social acceptance
of LGBT persons (with active and visible participation in citizens’ protests) than all efforts
of the government as a whole.
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