On Monday, 18 March 2024, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina participated at a round table discussion upon the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Rector’s Office of the University of Maribor.

In the introduction, the Ombudsman brought the attention to the fact that on 10 December of last year, it has been 75 years since the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The document was created as a response to the atrocities of the Second World War and it established a new world order directed into the promotion and protection of human rights as a foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world. “Since that moment, human rights have been accepted as universal and indivisible and represent the fundamental values encompassing all cultures, religions, and continents. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the base for all further international legal and national instruments in the field of human rights. After its adoption, the United Nations have adopted more than 70 international treaties pertaining to human rights, while more than 100 international treaties have on its basis been adopted also by other international organisations,” emphasised Ombudsman Svetina.

He added that international mechanisms for the monitoring of the implementation of international standards of human rights are guarantors ensuring that the understanding of minimal standards of the respect of human rights is the same for all, regardless of where we come from. Thus, the respect of human rights represents an international care and the common achievement of humanity. “It is important that human rights can be felt by every individual. First and foremost, states or governments are responsible for ensuring and realisation of human rights, despite the fact that contemporary understanding of human rights is also spreading to the private sector, including business and industry. It is essential to raise awareness, promote and strengthen the culture of respect of human rights, to ensure greater accessibility to legal remedies, and to expand and strengthen informal forms of protecting human rights,” stressed the Ombudsman.

In 2023, the institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman considered more than six thousand cases and found more than 250 violations of human rights. “The violation of the principle of good governance has for years been the most frequently found violation followed by the violation of equality before the law and prohibition of discrimination. Hence, we cannot feel satisfied with the situation. Therefore, I expect from the competent institutions to act immediately and to make the provision of the respect of human rights their priority. Namely, numerous international recommendations have remained unrealised for years, just as far more than 100 recommendations of the Human Rights Ombudsman and increasingly more decisions by the Constitutional Court every year. Even though we still have much work ahead of us, we must not forget that we live in a country and region where from the global point of view life standard, including the respect for human rights, rule of law, and democracy, is relatively high,” also said Ombudsman Peter Svetina at the round table.

“Montenegro should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the prospects of further European integration to enhance its legal framework governing human rights and to ensure its full implementation”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, following her visit to Montenegro from 18 to 21 March 2024, which focused on social cohesion, combating hate speech and discrimination, and upholding freedom of expression.

Having noted the growing polarisation in Montenegrin society, and attempts by some to undermine diversity and multiculturalism, the Commissioner was pleased to receive assurances by the authorities of their readiness to protect these values and advance human rights protection. She encouraged them to move forward on a range of human rights-related areas in which the country has made commitments and adopted strategies. In particular, the Commissioner called for the prompt adoption of a set of media laws, the Law on Protection of Equality and Prohibition of Discrimination, and the Law on Legal Gender Recognition Based on Self-Determination, ensuring their full compliance with the relevant human rights standards.

In her meetings with officials, the Commissioner stressed the importance of confronting the violent past of the wars in the 1990s to secure justice for the victims, protect the truth and build societies based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. “Building on recent positive examples of memorialisation by some Montenegrin officials and political leaders, the authorities should continue efforts towards inclusive remembrance of past wartime crimes and the education of younger generations in the spirit of inclusiveness and respect for the other”, the Commissioner said. She also called for the adoption of legislation to ensure reparations for all civilian victims of wartime crimes without discrimination. During the visit, the Commissioner saw and was deeply moved by the Play “671-Hunt” (671-LOV), shown at the National Theatre of Montenegro, which honours the 20 victims of the war crime committed in Štrpci in 1993. It reinforced her conviction that young people are at the heart of building a better future in the region.

With regard to social cohesion more broadly, the Commissioner called on the Montenegrin authorities to take action to address polarisation in society and to encourage mutual respect in the exchange of opinions. She received information about a worrying rise of intolerant and hate speech, notably online. This phenomenon sharpens divisions along ethnic, religious and political lines and affects particularly negatively several social groups, notably Roma, LGBTI people and women in public positions. “Sexist and misogynist hate speech against women politicians, journalists and human rights activists undermines gender equality. The authorities should show zero tolerance for it and should take measures to prevent and combat it”, the Commissioner said. Highlighting the important role of Montenegrin women in society, she also called on the authorities to ensure increased political participation of women. The authorities should also step up their work on addressing the difficult living conditions of Roma in Montenegro and the discrimination they face in society.

The Commissioner called for the systematic recording of disaggregated data about cases of hate speech and hate crimes, which would help in the design of targeted policies to strengthen social cohesion while protecting diversity. “Strong condemnation by the authorities of hate crimes and hate speech would be another key step in this endeavour”, the Commissioner said. “I welcome a call by the President of Montenegro for the reinstatement of civic education as a compulsory topic in schools, strongly supported by civil society organisations. This would be highly beneficial so that children can learn about respect and tolerance in a multicultural, multi-ethnic and diverse society.” The Commissioner was further pleased to hear about the excellent cooperation between the Council of Europe and the authorities in many fields, including in implementing projects to combat hate speech and discrimination.

With regard to freedom of expression and media freedom, the Commissioner found it encouraging that there has been a reported decrease in acts of physical violence against journalists in recent times. She stressed, however, the importance of ensuring that all cases of violence and intimidation of journalists, and in particular the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović, are effectively investigated and that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The Commissioner was concerned by the reported increasing use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). The authorities should take concrete measures to prevent vexatious complaints against journalists, human rights defenders, writers and activists, drawing on Council of Europe and other relevant standards, as these have a profoundly chilling effect. “I welcome a recent call by the Minister for Culture and Media on all Montenegrin officials to create an environment for free and independent work of all media and journalists”, said the Commissioner. “Having received information about intimidation against academics, writers and activists, such as Boban Batrićević and Andrej Nikolaidis, I reiterate that, in a free and democratic society, it is imperative that that the freedom of expression of all civil society actors is fully upheld”.

Longstanding polarisation in the media sector, an unregulated online media environment, which enables the spread of disinformation, the lack of effective media self-regulation and insufficient media literacy are issues that require urgent attention by the authorities and media actors. The non-implementation of domestic court decisions concerning the appointment of the Director of Radio-Television of Montenegro (RTCG) raises questions with regard to respect for the rule of law, which also need to be urgently addressed.

Finally, the Commissioner highlighted the importance of ensuring good cooperation between the authorities and civil society, recalling the duty to ensure a conducive working environment for human rights defenders. A good practice example is the involvement of civil society organisations in the working groups that are set up to draft legislation. The Commissioner welcomed the contribution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman institution) to the reinforcement of human rights protection in the country. She stressed that the authorities should urgently initiate, in consultation with the Protector, a revision of the law governing the institution’s work, in order to ensure that it is operating fully in line with the UN Paris Principles and can be accredited with an “A” status by the UN Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.  

During her visit, the Commissioner met with the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović, the Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanović, the Minister of Justice Andrej Milović and the Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Gjeka. She also met with the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms Siniša Bjeković, as well as civil society organisations and journalists. The Commissioner also visited the exhibition “Stories of Srebrenica” at the War Crimes Documentation Centre in Podgorica, organised in cooperation with the Srebrenica Memorial Centre.

El síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana, Ángel Luna, insta a la Conselleria de Servicios Sociales, Igualdad y Vivienda a facilitar y simplificar los trámites para conseguir la acreditación de víctima de violencia de género, con lo que se evitaría también revictimizar a la mujer maltratada.

En su resolución, Luna pide que se amplíen los organismos con capacidad de emitir informes para conseguir la acreditación de víctima de violencia de género. Hasta ahora, sólo tienen capacidad para ello los Centros Mujer 24h, pero el defensor recomienda que también puedan hacerlo los servicios sociales municipales y las Oficinas de Atención a Víctimas del Delito (OAVD). En este último caso, como las OAVD dependen de la de Justicia e Interior, el defensor recomienda que se coordinen la Consellerias de Servicios Sociales y la de Justicia e Interior.

Asimismo, el Síndic requiere a Servicios Sociales que cumpla con su función inspectora y compruebe la adecuada prestación de los servicios de los Centros Mujer 24 h, los de Atención residencial a las personas adultas o a la infancia y la adolescencia, así como a los centros residenciales integrados en la Red de la Generalitat de Asistencia Social Integral a las Víctimas de Violencia sobre la Mujer.

Además, esta institución pide al gobierno de la Generalitat que evalúe el funcionamiento del sistema de acreditación/información del título de víctima de violencia de género desde su implantación y su posterior actualización en noviembre de 2021.

El Síndic inició el 9/05/2023 esta investigación de oficio a raíz de las quejas presentadas por particulares y por asociaciones que trabajan en el ámbito de la erradicación de la violencia de género de la Comunitat Valenciana, en las que denunciaban las demoras en dar citas en los Centros Mujer 24h, la revictimización que sufrían las mujeres y las dificultades para obtener la acreditación de víctima de violencia de género.

En las conclusiones de su investigación, Luna manifiesta que las Administraciones Públicas tienen la obligación de proporcionar a las víctimas, sobre todo a las de violencia de género, un estatus de protección y atención que evite que se pueda provocar una victimización secundaria; es decir, que genere a la víctima un daño o un perjuicio adicional a los ya derivados de sufrir la situación de violencia. No es admisible que el contacto de la víctima con el proceso administrativo le suponga un nuevo frente adicional al que ya ha venido sufriendo, sea físico y/o psíquico.

La victimización secundaria suele entenderse como las consecuencias psicológicas, sociales, jurídicas y económicas negativas que dejan las relaciones de la víctima con el sistema institucional, en el caso que nos ocupa de información y protección. Todo ello supone un choque frustrante entre las legítimas expectativas de la víctima y la realidad institucional, involucrando una pérdida de comprensión acerca del sufrimiento psicológico y físico que ha causado la violencia y el maltrato, dejando a la víctima desolada e insegura y generando una pérdida de fe en la habilidad de la comunidad, los profesionales y las instituciones para dar respuesta a sus necesidades.

Al obligar a la mujer que acude primero a los servicios sociales municipales o a las Oficinas de Atención a Víctimas del Delito donde cuenta su dura experiencia, a tener que repetirlo ante un Centro Mujer 24h, la Administración trasmite a la mujer una desconfianza de facto sobre la veracidad de su relato. Una desconfianza que se extiende también a las profesionales de los dispositivos de atención a los que ha acudido en primera instancia y a los propios organismos.

Es por ello que la obligatoriedad de que las mujeres y menores víctimas de violencia de género que son atendidas en otros dispositivos especializados (servicios sociales y/o OAVD), deban pasar por los Centros Mujer 24 h podría enmarcarse en la definición de victimización secundaria.

Consulta la Resolución completa del Síndic sobre este asunto.

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In a world where global events often fuel racism and hate, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a vital call to action. The Office of the Ombudsman in Malta, alongside Human Rights institutions, is committed to combating racial discrimination and advocating for a society where every voice is heard and valued.

Our role extends beyond advocacy; we promote tolerance, inclusivity, and understanding across all communities. By championing the principles of equality and human dignity, we aim to foster an environment where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated.

Education is a cornerstone of our approach to counter racism. Enlightening young minds and fostering empathy are critical in building a future where discrimination has no place. Our initiatives aim to instil values that champion human rights and respect for all, ensuring a legacy of inclusivity for generations to come.

This day reminds us of our shared humanity and the inherent equality of all individuals. It underscores the responsibility of states and institutions to eradicate discrimination in every sphere of life, emphasising that everyone has the potential to contribute positively to their community’s development and well-being.

As we observe this significant day, let us renew our dedication to a world where humanity overshadows prejudice. Let us unite in our diverse backgrounds to create a society where freedom, equality, and the potential to thrive are accessible to all. In doing so, we uphold the true spirit of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and aspire to a future where the human race is the only race that truly matters.

El Procurador del Común ha acudido esta mañana a los actos de celebración del Día Mundial de Síndrome de Down organizados por Down León-Amidown. Tomás Quintana se ha ofrecido a colaborar con la Asociación en todo aquello que puedan necesitar 'para defender sus derechos' y ha destacado la importancia de celebrar cada día los logros conseguidos y a la vez, seguir reivindicando nuevos avances y una mayor integración. Además, durante el acto se ha entregado al Alcalde de León el galardón 'Martillo Solidario'.