National conference „Montenegro – brighter spot on an LGBT map“
Podgorica, 28.03.2011.
Organised by: OKC „Juventas“
Part from presentation executive director LGBT Forum „Progress“ Zdravko Cimbaljević:
Nacionalna konferencija „Zajedno za LGBT prava“
Podgorica, 28.03.2011.
Organizator: OKC „Juventas“
Izvod iz izlaganja izvršnog direktora LGBT Foruma „Progres“ Zdravka Cimbaljevića:
Same day, when Montenegrin government adopted Action plan for monitoring implementation of recommendations given in the European Commission’s opinion, organisation „LGBT Forum Progress“ started its work as public, transparent and visible LGBT group.
The rights of the LGBT population in Montenegro are not being respected because of the existing legal and social norms, as well as tradition and general beliefs of society.
Individual rights, freedom and possibility to choose, including sexual and reproductive rights are threatened and negated. State and its responsible bodies of rule of law and protection of human rights have not developed their obligations to LGBT people and civil society.
Full recognition of human rights and protection of the sexual freedoms of every citizen hould be organized in accordance with contemporary standards of international and European law, and best practices from case law.
Entrenching all human rights contribute refrain of political parties. Particularly those of positions of democratic center and those who are in its work left oriented. For development of any rights it is not good political context that political parties refrain to help development of human rights and give transparent support being scared to loose part of their votes.
The application of existing anti-discriminatory legislation is extremely limited. Also are limited capacities and knowledge how to precess the cases of violent and discrimination towards LGBT persons. This produces a delay in the proceedings that discourages victims.
Presented views in public by representative of Government, that there is no reported violence and discrimination of LGBT persons are not true. On the contrary! Such examples are increasing. The other thing is that these cases are bad treated front of competent authorities.
There are no professional training courses for prosecutors, police officers, judges. Our last initiatives about this issue towards institutions, first of all Minister of justice, are denied. Right after acceptance of Action plan, LGBT Forum „Progres“ made initiative toward Center for training of the judiciary. After two urgencies/letters from us, from this very important institution there was no any feedback.
In Montenegro it is needed reaffirmations of principles of universality of human rights, which proclaims that „all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights“. Government officials and political representatives challenge the universality and indivisibility of human rights. Principle of non-discrimination requires that human rights are equal for every human being regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
The State shell/must (and not international community and donors), to give concrete support to processes of increasing of knowledge and learning about rights of sexual orientation and gender problems, tolerance in society and equality.
Any act of violence and discrimination, even if it comes from Government official, politician, religious representative, must include guarantee for adequate legal condemnation of such behavior and take appropriate measures regard to this.
Although from another side LGBT Forum „Progres“ is not supporting politicization of any other example. Regarding to this I want to tell you that we are not supporting politicization of public appearances/statements from some religious authorities in Montenegro. We believe that is does not confirming the consistency and the principle of equal treatment. Selective judgments are not good. Especially not for LGBT persons. These kind of judgments are increasing hate and hostility in some part of Montenegrin society, which is close to political and religious grounds.
We support the same treatment, especially from medias and institutions, and those and those statements or speeches that come from the mouth of senior government officials and representatives of the political elite.
Protection and rights of LGBT persons and cooperation with LGBT groups are ignored and neglected by Montenegrin government. That confirms the treatment of LGBT Foruma „Progres“. We also think that in Montenegro is effective institutional homophobia that always comes to the fore when it comes time to get the words into action.
Yet we are confident that in the prospect will come to increased reach and concrete international interest about position and rights of LGBT persons in Montenegro and because of that, we believe, improve the relationship between the Montenegrin Government towards this issue. Our offer to Government of Montenegro and will for close and intensive cooperation is open and permanent. From our side we will try as much as we can, have strength and impacts to identify any potential positive step of Montenego, regarding treatment of LGBT people and organizations that represent them and really examine the current state of human rights of these persons.
Changing attitudes and behavior towards LGBT people is essential
Advocating for LGBT rights is actually the support for democracy, tolerance and open society.
Talking about LGBT rights is actually promotion of equality for all people.
Recognitions and Protection of LGBT rights is nothing else then support European integration process and success on this path.
Zdravko Cimbaljevic
Executive Director
Istog dana kada je crnogorska vlada usvojila Akcioni plan za praćenje sprovođenja preporuka iz mišljenja Evropske komisije počeo je i javni rad nevladine organizacije „LGBT Forum Progres“ kao transparentne i vidljive LGBT grupe.
Ljudska prava LGBT osoba u Crnoj Gori nijesu zaživjela, jer se kose sa pravnim i socijalnim normama, tradicijom i vjerovanjima u društvu. Individualna prava, slobode i mogućnost izbora, uključujući seksualna i reproduktivna prava su ugrožena i negirana. Država i njena odgovorna tijela za vladavinu prava i zaštitu ljudskih prava nisu razvila svoje obaveze prema LGBT osobama i civilnom društvu.
Puno priznanje ljudskih prava i zaštita seksualnih sloboda svakog građanina trebaju biti organizovana u skladu sa savremenim standardima međunarodnog i evropskog prava, i najboljim primjerima iz sudske prakse.
Zaživljavanju svih ljudskih prava doprinosi i krajnja suzdržanost političkih partija. Naročito onih sa pozicija demokratskog centra i onih koji su po svojoj suštini lijeve. Nije dobar politički kontekst za razvoj bilo kojih prava kada se političke partije suzdržavaju da pomognu njihov razvoj i pruže im otvorenu podršku plašeći se da ne izgube dio svojih glasova.
Primjena postojećeg anti-diskriminatornog zakonodavstva je krajnje ograničena. Limitirani su kapaciteti i znanje kako da se procesuiraju slučajevi nasilja i diskriminacije prema LGBT osobama. To proizvodi odugovlačenje postupka koji žrtve obeshrabruje.
Nisu tačnu stavovi iznijeti u javnosti, predstavnika Vlade, da se ne prijavljuje nasilje i diskriminacija LGBT osoba. Naprotiv. Takvih primjera je sve više. Druga je stvar što se ti slučajhevi pred nadležnim organima loše tretiraju.
Ne organizuju se profesionalne trening obuke za tužioce, policijske oficire, sudije. Posljednje naše inicijative u tom pravcu prema institucijama, prije svega Ministarstvu pravde, su odbijene. LGBT Forum „Progres“, odmah po usvajanju Akcionog plana, obratio se Centru za obuku nosilaca pravosudnih funkcija. Ni nakon dvije urgencije od ove značajne institucije, nema povratne informacije.
U Crnoj Gori je potrebna reafirmacija principa univerzalnosti ljudskih prava, koji proklamuje da su “sva ljudska bića rođena slobodna i jednaka u dostojanstvu i pravima”. Vladini zvaničnici i politički predstavnici osporavaju univerzalnost i nedjeljivost ljudskih prava. Princip nediskriminacije zahtijeva da ljudska prava važe jednako za svako ljudsko biće bez obzira na seksualno opredjeljenje i rodni identitet ili izražavanje.
Država je dužna, a ne međunarodna zajednica i donatori, da pruži konkretnu podršku procesima povećanja znanja i učenja o pravu seksualne orjentacije i rodnoj problematici, toleranciji u društvu i ravnopravnosti.
Svaki akt nasilja i disktriminacije, bila to i izjava vladinog zvaničnika, političara, vjerskog predstavnika, mora uključivati garanciju za adekvatnu pravnu osudu takvog ponašanja i preduzimanje odgovarajućih mjera s tim u vezi.
Ipak s druge strane LGBT Forum „Progres“ ne podržava politizaciju bilo kojeg primjera. Sa tim u vezi želim reći da ne podržavamo politizaciju javnih istupa pojednih vjerskih autoriteta u Crnoj Gori. Smatramo da to ne potvrđuje dosljednost i princip jednakog tretmana. Selektivne osude nisu dobre. Posebno ne za LGBT osobe. One pojačavaju mržnju i odbojnost kod jednog dijela crnogorskog društva koje je blisko po političkoj i vjerskoj osnovi.
Podržavamo isti tretman, posebno od strane medija i institucija, i onih izjava ili govora koji izlaze iz usta visokih vladinih zvaničnika i predstavnika političke elite.
Zaštita i prava LGBT osoba i saradnja sa LGBT grupama ignoriše se i zapostavlja od strane crnogorske Vlade. To potvrđuje tretman LGBT Foruma Progres. Razmišljamo i o tome da je u Crnoj Gori zapravo na snazi institucionalna homofobija koja uvijek dolazi do izražaja kada dođe vrijeme da se sa riječi pređe na djela.
Ipak uvjereni smo da će u perspektivi doći do pojačanog i konkretnijeg međunarodnog interesovanja za položaj i prava LGBT osoba u Crnoj Gori pa će se u tom svijetlu, vjerujemo, poboljšati odnos crnogorske Vlade prema ovom pitanju. Naša ponuda Vladi Crne Gore i spremnost za blisku i intenzivnu saradnju sa njom je trajna. Sa naše strane trudićemo se koliko god imamo snage i uticaja da se prepozna svaki mogući pozitivni korak zvanične Crne Gore u pogledu tretmana LGBT osoba i organizacija koje ih zastupaju ali i realno sagleda trenutno stanje ljudskih prava tih osoba.
Promjena stavova i ponašanja prema LGBT osobama je neophodna.
Tome posebno moraju, svakodnevno, doprinositi vladini zvaničnici, pravosudni organi, političari i mediji.
Zalaganje za LGBT prava ustvari je podrška demokratiji, toleranciji i otvorenom društvu.
Priča o LGBT pravima ustvari je promovisanje jednakosti za sve ljude.
Priznanje i Zaštita LGBT prava nije ništa drugo do podrška evopskom integracionom procesu i uspjehu na tom putu.
Zdravko Cimbaljevic
Izvrsni direktor
