OSCE Mission joins in celebrating International Human Rights Day in Montenegro
Strong democracy and good governance are necessary prerequisites to ensure adequate protection of human rights, affirmed participants in an OSCE-supported conference held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December in Podgorica.
Courts along with other national institutions play a crucial role in protecting human rights together with civil society organizations and other national and international stakeholders, they concluded.
Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet said that human rights and democracy are inseparable, as human rights are an essential element of every democracy.
“The OSCE Mission remains committed to strengthening the Montenegrin democratic institutions and giving support to create better conditions for human rights,” said Daviet, adding that 10 December also marked the end of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign in which the OSCE was actively engaged.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin, Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms Šućko Baković, Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro Aivo Orav, and Acting Co-ordinator of the UN System in Montenegro and Permanent Representative of UNHCR Roberta Montevecchi, also participated in the opening panel.
The OSCE Mission also took a part in a charity basketball tournament, competing with 13 teams. The tournament winner donated EUR 637 in prize money to the Sports Equestrian Club Budućnost for hypo-rehabilitation treatment for children with disabilities.