Montenegro: NGOs left the Round table organized by the Council for protection against discrimination

A group of NGOs left the meeting earlier today as a protest against continuous reckless, ignoring and exploitative behavior of the Council for protection against discrimination.

Since the beginning of work, the agenda was not respected. Following the opening statements, a long unscheduled break has been made during which the lead spokesman’s left the event.

Prime ministers’ advisor Jovan Kojicic, who presided over the gathering, rejected the proposal from NGOs, to open a short but very important discussion. Even though the NGOs warned that with this kind of rescheduling the chance for everyone to participate in the discussion will cease to exist, Kojicic demanded that the discussion should be held at the very end of the several hours long round table, surprisingly insisting that the agenda, which has already been disrupted by him, should be respected.

Montenegro
This scenario is unfortunately already familiar to NGOs as a part of a usually implemented tactics which discredits the efforts and ignores the opinion of organizations that are working to protect the most endangered social groups. By abandoning this event this group of NGOs sent a clear message that cooperation is possible only if a mutual respect is administered, together with a constructive approach, which most certainly implies acknowledgment of needs of all participants.

Ljupka Kovačević, Center for Women and Peace Education ANIMA

Radoš Mušović, Center for development of Non Governmental Organizations

Ivana Vujović, NGO Juventas

Danijel Kalezić, Queer Montenegro

Ljiljana Raičević, Womens’ Safe House

Marina Vujačić, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro

Jelena Dacić, Member of the Working Group for Chapter 28 (Consumer and health protection)

Milan Šaranović, Center for antidiscrimination EKVISTA and a member of the Council for protection against discrimination

Daliborka Uljarević, Center for Civic Education and member of the Council for protection against discrimination