Montenegro signs Protocol No. 15 amending European Convention on Human Rights

Podgorica, Montenegro (8 November 2013) – Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Duško Marković and Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland signed the Protocol No. 15 amending the European Convention on Human Rights in Podgorica earlier today.

Protocol No. 15, initiated at high-level conferences in Interlaken, Izmir and Brighton, is aimed at creating conditions for maintaining sustainability of the European Court of Human Rights and further developing the Council of Europe's political, executive and regulatory bodies. The Protocol has been signed by 22 CoE’s member states in order to reinforce efficiency and effectiveness of the European Court of Human Rights.

By signing this document, Montenegro committed itself to boosting mechanisms for protecting human rights at national level, thus relieving the European Court of Human Rights, DPM Marković told the press following the signing ceremony.The mechanisms will then undergo evaluation procedures by the European Court of Human Rights, he added.

CoE's Secretary-General Jagland emphasised on this occasion that Montenegro has already developed good track record in safeguarding minority rights, in particular the Roma people and LGBT population.