On the conclusions of the Committee against Torture (CAT) on the report of Montenegro published today, Human Rights Action (HRA) executive director, which took part in drafting of the national report and submitted HRA alternative reports to the Committee, gives the following statement:
“Recommendations of the Committee against Torture, as well as those of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture address open wounds of Montenegrin justice system, such as non-objective appointment and promotion of judges and prosecutors, lack of impartial investigation of torture when police officers are clearly responsible, too lenient punishments, basing judgments on admission of guilt, ineffective investigation of cases which then become time-barred and supporting impunity for torture in general and specifically in relation to war crimes and attacks on journalists. HRA will continue to persistently urge the state authorities to implement the recommendations of international expert bodies, believing that this is the key to the rule of law in Montenegro and its European integrations.
HRA believes that it is necessary to urgently hold a special meeting of the Government open to the public for discussion of reports of both committees, particularly bearing in mind that a great number of key criticism and related recommendations in the reports are repeated from 2008.”
