The Civic Alliance implemented training for the Human Rights Defenders group within the project “No impunity for human rights violations in Montenegro”, supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.
During the three-day training held from 25-27 April, the participants had the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty and prisoners about the CPT recommendations that must be respected, as well as the biggest challenges that Montenegro faces on that issue. Those present also made their own conclusions and recommendations based on the trainers’ instructions after having an insight into the state of certain institutions.
Siniša Bjeković opened the training with a presentation on human rights violations by police officers, the work of the NPM body and cooperation with the NGO sector. The Ombudsman pointed out that the most common form of deviation occurs from the moment of deprivation of liberty, that is, from the collection of information from citizens. He also cited the presence of an official during the conversation between the doctor and the person deprived of liberty as a problem.
Miloš Janković, lawyer and former Deputy Ombudsman for the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty, presented the similarities between the systems of Serbia and Montenegro through comparative practice. As a difference, he stated that there is a central prison for women in Serbia, which only encourages greater isolation of these persons, because in this way it is difficult for them to stay connected with their family members who do not live nearby.
Vladica Ilić from the Belgrade Center for Human Rights spoke about the implementation of the state’s positive obligations, but also about the experience and challenges in working with cases of strategic representation of torture victims.
Aleksandar Tomčuk, psychiatrist and a member of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, concluded part of the session with a presentation. He referred to the CPT standards in the context of police detention and emphasized the importance of properly determining the degree of injury by a doctor.
The last day of the training was reserved for a visit to the border crossing and the police station in Ulcinj, as well as the psychiatric hospital in Dobrota, in order for the teams to make their own conclusions and recommendations after the visit.
