Programs
-
Rule of Law
Montenegro is a civic, democratic, ecological and the state of social justice, based on the rule of law. (Article 1, Constitution of Montenegro). The affirmation of the principle of equality before the law, as one of the fundamental postulates of the rule of law, is the primary function of Rule of Law Department.
CEDEM is the first NGO in Montenegro, which has organized seminars on international and European Union legal standards. Over 900 lawyers, judges, prosecutors and other government officials have participated in our training programs since 1999. Rule of Law Department, prepares draft laws and draft amendments to the law; organizing round tables and seminars for representatives of judicial bodies; performing monitoring of court proceedings; prepares, publishes and distributes publications, aim to encourage responsible, professional, efficient and transparent judiciary in Montenegro.
-
Human Rights
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms, without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.
In this area CEDEM has started its activities since its establishment in 1999 by organizing many training seminars and workshops in order to strengthen protection for human rights in Montenegro. Training program is designed for different society actors, such as civil servants, civil society activists, students... CEDEM made the first draft of the Anti-discrimination Law in 2005, which was followed by many educational programs in this area. During this year, CEDEM is implementing the project "Active Monitoring of Human Rights", which aims to demonstrate the level of protection of human rights in the country.
-
Euro-Atlantic integrations
European integration of Western Balkans remains one of the last challenges for building democratic and united Europe. The prospect of integration into EU and NATO is a powerful driver of reforms, economic prosperity and rule of law. They represent participation in European decision-making table and guarantees for security.
CEDEM is recognized as an organization strongly promoting the Euro-Atlantic values. One of the activities in this regard is writing policy proposal and policy briefs on the Montenegrin integration process toward NATO. In cooperation with foundations Konrad Adenauer (Germany) and Robert Schuman (France), CEDEM organizes annual regional conference – European integration of Western Balkan countries - challenges and constraints, which is being attended by high-ranking officials, representatives of international organizations and diplomatic corps and the academic community, civil society and media. Representatives of CEDEM are the organizers or participants in many panel discussions, presentations and public debates on this topic. Through this Department, CEDEM is successfully implementing an educational program on the EU, designed for the best students of the social science faculties in Montenegro.
-
Social Inclusion
Social inclusion is a process that allows those who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, to gain the opportunities and resources needed for full participation in economic, social and cultural life and to achieve prosperity and living standards that are considered acceptable in a society where they are living. Social inclusion ensures greater participation of citizens in making decisions that affect their lives and the realization of basic rights.
In October 2011 CEDEM was elected as a national partner organization of the Open Society Institute (OSI) in Budapest for the implementation of the "PGF Montenegro", which aims to strengthen the capacity of Roma NGOs and members of the RAE community to write proposals and project cycle management, with special emphasis on projects funded by the European Union. Also, Social Inclusion Department is in the preparation of the project and inclusion of RAE population at the local level, which will be implemented in three municipalities in Montenegro. The aim of this project is to improve the economic status and living conditions for the target population, through active recruitment and improvement of infrastructure in Roma settlements.
-
Security and Defense
Security is one of the most important preconditions for the realization of democracy, rule of law and human rights. CEDEM deals with monitoring of security sector reform as well as international and regional security dynamics, with special focus on Montenegro. Based on research findings, CEDEM publishes analysis and recommendations entitled to lawmakers, government officials, representatives of the security institutions, civil society, etc…
Within this Department, CEDEM has implemented two regional project "Civil Society Capacity Building for Mapping and Monitoring Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans 2008-2011", which results are publications and reports in various areas of security sector reform (transparency, democratic control and oversight, representation, etc.). CEDEM has become one of the seven members of a regional consortium of independent research centers in Western Balkans. With cooperation of Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) from Oslo, CEDEM is implementing the second research project with this regional consortium: "To what extent is security community being built in the Western Balkans?"
-
Research
Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) established Department for Empirical research in 1999. This Department is conducting research on various social and political phenomena in Montenegro, such as: index of democracy, value orientation and ethnic distance, research on discrimination, perception of corruption, media freedoms, etc.
The Political Public Opinion in Montenegro is particularly noteworthy study, which CEDEM is continuously conducting since 1999, thus enabling comprehensive empirical intersection of the political opinion structure in Montenegro. In addition to testing standard criteria of political opinion (citizens' trust in public institutions, government, political / public figures, political parties, media), the focus of our research is to present current issues of national political life (such as citizens' attitudes towards membership of Montenegro to EU and NATO)
