Human Rights and Minority Rights School

Background and idea

Knowledge on human rights in Montenegro is adversely proportional to its actuality. They have for too long belonged to the set of crucial issues and problems to which almost no attention was paid. This is being changed in last couple of years, but education on human rights still represents an important, irreplaceable precondition for their concrete cognition, respect and appliance. The contribution of the Centre for Civic Education to this process is in organisation of programmes, such as Human Rights and Minority Rights School.

Human Rights and Minority Rights School provides wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge on the concept of human rights, it affirms the culture of human rights, inspiring and motivating people to pursue their rights, as well as the rights of those who are not in the position to do it themselves and to empower them to have direct influence in the society in future.

Aim of the School is establishment of continuous alternative education on human and minority rights, what would influence its introduction in the formal educational system. This includes:

- Developing conscience on importance of knowing human and minority rights through familiarization with the international principles, instruments and good practises in the field of human rights

- Promoting value of tolerance which would lead to better relations among different ethnic, religious and marginalized groups

- Stimulating participants to get involved as responsible citizens in the creation of their future and achievement of human rights.

Within the previous four generations, the School was successfully finished by 109 citizens of Montenegro, mainly activists of nongovernmental organisations, political parties, journalists, public servants from local self-government and republican ministries, students and other individuals who have shown interest to connect their activities to the public scene and give personal contribution to the effectuation of human and minority rights in Montenegro

Up to now, the lecturers in the Human Rights and Minority Rights School have been:

• Aleksandar Sasa Zekovic, who used to be the first Moderator of the School
  
• Slavica Bajic, Deputy Ombudsman in Montenegro
  
• Sinisa Bjekovic, Executive Director, Centre for human rights, University of Montenegro
  
• Cedomir Bogicevic, PhD, judge, Supreme Court of Montenegro
  
• Professor Ratko Bozovic, PhD, University of Montenegro and University in Belgrade
  
• Vladimir Cejovic, Lawyer, Podgorica
  
• Professor Cedomir Cupic, PhD, Faculty of Political Sciences, University in Belgrade
  
• Sabahudin Delic, Deputy Minister, Ministry for protection of human rights and minority rights
  
• Goran Djurovic, Programme Director, Centre for Development of Non-governmental organisations
  
• Nikola Gegaj, former MP in the Parliament of the S&M and official of the Democratic Party of Socialists
  
• Tanja Tankosic Kelly, trainer/consultant, Centre for Development of Non-governmental organisations
  
• Daliborka Knezevic, Legal adviser and researcher of the Centre for legal aid of Podgorica
  
• Ljubomirka Ljupka Kovacevic, Coordinator, Anima and ZINEC
  
• Avdul Kurpejevic, President, Matica muslimanska
  
• Professor Maja Kostic Mandic, PhD, Law Faculty, Pravni fakultet, University of Montenegro
  
• Tamara Milic, psychologist
  
• Stevo Muk, Executive Director, Centre for Development of Non-governmental organisations
  
• Suljo Mustafic, President of Executive Board, Forum of Muslims/Bosniaks
  
• Professor Veselin Pavićević, PhD, Faculty of Economy, University of Montenegro
  
• Koca Pavlovic, MP in the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro and President of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms
  
• Professor Srdja Pavlovic, PhD, University in Alberta
  
• Zoran Pažin, President, Basic Court in Podgorica
  
• Dr Radomir Prelevic, Lawyer, Podgorica
  
• Tea Gorjanc Prelevic, Lld, Lawyer, Podgorica
  
• Kemal Purisic, President, Bosniak Party
  
• Professor Vera Begovic Radovic, PhD, Faculty of Law, University of Montenegro
  
• Stevan Radusinovic, Programme manager in LGBT group »Duga«
  
• Professor Serbo Rastoder, PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Montenegro
  
• Professor Radovan Radonjic, University of Montenegro
• Björn van Roozendaal, International Consultant, COC Netherlands
  
• Damir Sindik, Official of Croatian civic initiative
  
• Nedjeljka Sindik, trainer of IMRG and Director of NGO ASK
  
• Orhan Sahmanovic, Secretary of the Ministry for human rights and minority rights
  
• Milan Saranovic, Executive Director, Association of Young People with Handicap
  
• Budimir Scepanovic, Deputy Ombudsman in Montenegro
  
• Professor Djuro Susnjic, PhD, University of Montenegro and University in Belgrade
  
• Mirjana Vlahovic, activist of NGO »Montenegrin Women Lobby«
  
• Professor Nebojsa Vucinic, PhD, Law Faculty, University of Montenegro
  
• Professor Srdjan Vukadinović, PhD, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Montenegro