Centre for Monitoring, in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, under the auspices of the European Union held a round table “Tolerance and anti-discrimination in Montenegro: experiences and recommendations” on 26th of April 2011. The round table was organized within the project “Strengthening the capacity of the office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms in Montenegro”.

Introductory remarks had Zlatko Vujovic, President of the Management Board of the Center for Monitoring, Clive Rumbold, Head of Political, European Integration and Trade Section of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, as well as Marijana Laković, Deputy Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms in Montenegro. In his welcoming speech highlighted the importance of adequate regulation of the protection against discrimination. He also pointed to the possible adverse consequences of delay in the adoption of the new Law, or the adoption of which is not formulated in an appropriate manner.

At the round table were representatives of civil society organizations dealing with protection against discrimination. Mrs. Daliborka Knežević (Ekvista), Ms. Maja Raičević (Safe House for Women) and Mr. Danijel Kalezić (Juventas) presented details of specific cases of discrimination in Montenegro, responding institutions in these cases and present projects of their organizations whose the aim is protection against discrimination.

In the third part of the round table was presented a representative of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Mr. Orhan Šahmanović, who presented the draft decision of the new Law on the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms and speaking about the responsibilities of the Ministry in the field of protection against discrimination.