The costs of a gender-reassignment operation for transgender people in the future will be fully covered, not only in practice but also by the law. The costs of the process, instead of 80%, will be fully funded by the Health Insurance Fund in the future, as envisaged by the new amendments to the Law on Health Insurance, drafted at a public hearing by March 28th.

In the association "Spektra", the organization that works to promote and protect the human rights of transgender, gender-based and interpolate people, considers such a proposal an example of good analysis and that what occurs in practice only reflects into the legislative framework.

According to the head of the Association Jovan Ulicevic, amendments to the Law represent a simple recognition of the practice that the Health Insurance Fund finances health interventions, among which is the process of gender adjustment.

"In the practice so far, the costs for all the situations above have been covered in full, and not in the amount of 80%, taking into account the fact that supplementary insurance has never come to life in practice," he said to "Vijesti".

He also added that "Spektra" significantly contributed to the reduction of the costs paid by FZO during the gender reassignment process, in the way they managed to establish cooperation with doctors employed in the health institutions in Montenegro. 

"This is also significantly facilitated by the procedure for the community itself, which now has access to experts in the field of mental health, endocrinology, and some surgical interventions. In this regard, we consider that the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Health Insurance is an example of a well-analyzed current situation and a simple mapping of the real situation into the legislative framework. "

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Text by Damira Kalac, on March 22nd 2019, read more at Vijesti

Montenegro is ranked 73rd place in the world rankings of happiness, which includes 156 countries, according to the UN World Happiness Report 2019, published today.

Out of the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the happiest is Slovenia, which is 44^th place. Ahead of Montenegro is also Serbia in 70th place, followed by Croatia (75), Bosnia and Herzegovina (78) and Macedonia (84).

Out of the countries in the region, the happiest is Romania, which is 48^th place. Following it is Greece (82), Bulgaria (97) and Albania (107).

Finland is officially ranked the happiest for the second year in a row, and at the last position, this year is South Sudan. The UN launched a report in 2012 that ranked 156 countries at the level of citizens' happiness. The report consists of the results of citizens' surveys in countries on the ranking list. Respondents are invited to answer the questionnaire and grade from 1 to 10, which is the degree of certain factors in the country they live in, which include, among other things, compassion, freedom, generosity, honesty, and health.

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Text by Vijesti online, Agency BETA, on March 20th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Workers of the Housing Agency laid out a metal multifunctional training device in the parks on Cemovsko polje yesterday. The visitors were not pleased with the installation of a new mobile kit that will replace old wooden training devices.

These were set up in the park-forest a few years ago as part of the project "Be Responsible", and in the meantime, they broke partly due to the effects of atmospheric factors, but mostly due to the irresponsible users.

The manager from the Housing Agency Senad Koljenovic pointed out that the multifunctional devices, which were installed yesterday in the park-forest on Cemovsko polje, proved to be very useful in the rest of the city.

"These devices are high quality. They have been reinforced in the soil, and until now we had no case of them being devastated. The complete structure is welded and practically impossible to break. At the same time, on this multifunctional device, several people can exercise at the same time. This is the right solution for this park-forest," said Koljenovic, adding that the device contains a parallel ramp, a few shafts, "tarzanku", part for push-ups, and more. 

Dalila Hodzic, who regularly comes to run on the nearby trim route on Cemovsko polje, was pleasantly surprised by the placement of the outdoor exercise system.

"I often run here. I think it's the most beautiful hour of my day when I can afford it. I am in favor of training in nature, and sometimes I would come to run in the evening, but there are no lights on the trail. I think it needs better lighting. In any case, the installation of these devices is a hit," said Hodzic.

And one of the more regular visitors of the park-forest on Cemovsko polje, Rajko Papovic, did not hide the pleasure of installing new devices.

"This is the real thing. Only such devices, quality, made of metal, can survive in these places. Time has shown that wooden devices have collapsed relatively quickly, either because of the storms, or the fact that they were broken. These, I hope, will last for at least ten years, of course, if we preserve them," Papovic said, adding that the spring is the right time for setting up new devices.

And he agreed that lighting should be installed on the track.

A lot of people, especially in the summer, stay up until 10 or 11 pm to train, even though there is no lighting. The lighting is a significant lack of this place since it's not fenced. In this way, the devices and the mobile objects would be better protected," Papovic said. He said that the swings, seesaws and the slide in the playground have been waiting for repairs or replacement of parts for a long time, as well as broken boards on the equipment in the park for dogs, and garbage cans would be useful as well.

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Text by Pobjeda, on March 21st, 2019, read more at CdM

March 21, 2019 - To provide the more efficient disposal of abandoned and lost animals and their removal from the streets and poor living conditions, Adriatic Marinas financed the purchase of a vehicle for the Utility Company of Kotor, which operates in this and the Municipality of Tivat, under whose jurisdiction Asylum in Kavac.

19 March 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović and Head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro Aivo Orav visited the entrepreneurs in Podgorica, Golubovci and Tuzi, who benefited from the IPARD like programme.

Fourteenth companies from this region invested more than 1,25 million EUR, with potential grants of 535.000 EUR. The European Union has secured three-quarters of the money, while one quarter allocated from the national budget.

European Union Ambassador to Montenegro Aivo Orav emphasised that he is impressed by the concrete results of European Union support for Montenegrin entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture and food processing.

"I am convinced that entrepreneurship of farmers is improving the daily life of the citizens of Montenegro in terms of increasing production, but also meeting the high standards of processing, creating new jobs and contributing to the economic development of Montenegro," said Ambassador Orav.

The Government of Montenegro has been making continuous efforts towards systematic provision of fair conditions in the food market since farmers face numerous challenges in an open market game. These are the challenges that European manufacturers face.

"The new Directive on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, adopted by the European Parliament on 12 March, is a roadmap and framework for the Montenegrin agricultural policy," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović

Encouraged by the progress made in the agricultural sector, which significantly contributes to the overall development of the Montenegrin economy, job creation, preservation and improvement of the existing ones, DPM Simović noted that all possibilities should be used to strengthen producers and eliminate the elements of unfair competition.

"I take this opportunity to congratulate the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan on the historical breakthrough - the adoption of the Directive on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain. This directive will be very important for the future of European agriculture, for maintaining the stability of the income of agricultural producers and increasing the living standards of citizens who depend on agricultural and related activities," the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

JU Cultural Center "Nikola Djurkovic" Kotor, the city library and reading room, is organizing a Municipal Recital Competition for primary and secondary schools on the occasion of World Poetry Day, on March 21^st, at 1 p.m. in the Cinema "Boka".

The competition will take place in three categories: First category - elementary school pupils from the first to the fifth grade, 2nd category - elementary school students from the sixth to the ninth grade and the third category - high school students.

In 1999 UNESCO proclaimed March 21^st as the World Poetry Day highlighting that "the purpose of having a World Poetry Day is to contribute to the promotion of reading, writing, publishing and teaching poetry throughout the world, as well as the promotion of national, regional and international poetic movements."

The city library and reading room in Kotor joins the celebration of this significant date by encouraging young fellow citizens to show talent in the lovely poetry recitals, to cherish the love for poetry and to develop the right attitude towards art and culture.

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Text by CdM, on March 18th 2019, read more at CdM

After several delays, the 23^rd Festival of Wine and Ukljeva fish will be held this weekend in Virpazar. The festival program will open on Saturday, March 22^nd at 11 a.m. with the folklore performances of KUD "Jedinstvo”, chorus "Via profesori" and band "Zana", and at 2.30 p.m. awards will be given for the best songs about wine. The award-winning authors are Slobodan Vucinic from Podgorica, Sonja Milatovic from Niksic and Zarko Marovic from Virpazar. The decision was made by a jury consisting of Goran Radoicic, a literary critic, and members Rajko Jolicic, a poet and humorist, and Dragisa Simovic, an actor.

Then, on Saturday, they are followed by a concert of Dino Beharovic and "D band" and kayak regatta.

On Sunday, from 11 am, the folklore from Bar FA "Rumija" and KUD "St. Jovan Vladimir", Nina Strugar and "Crvena jabuka" will perform. At 2.30 p.m. awards for the best wines will be given, and the festival closes with the concert by Gula and Katapult.

The organizers of this popular event are MZ Crmnica, Association of winemakers "Crmnicki vranac", NGO "Days of Lake Skadar", with the support of Bar Municipality and TO Bar.

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Text by Radomir Petric, on March 19th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

March 20, 2019 - Photography of heavy construction works in Veslo Bay on the Luštica peninsula, in the belt to the sea itself, has disturbed the Bokelian public in recent days. In the responses of the Municipality of Herceg Novi to the journalists' questions, it is evident that the local administration does not know who is here and what they are building. But, the local administration stated that there is no relevant urban planning documentation for the site in question, from which it can be concluded that these works are being carried out illegally.

The city company “Zelenilo” renewed the children's playground in Radosav Buric street, in the Zabjelo district of Podgorica, and improved the surrounding area.

"With all the efforts invested in regular servicing of children's devices, vandalism and the inappropriate use of them led to rapid deterioration and their breaking, and therefore the playground in Radosav Buric street, unfortunately, could no longer fulfill its basic function, so the decision was made that the playground’s damaged mobile objects, which was only a potential threat, needed to be removed. “Zelenilo” has made great efforts to repair the removed playground’s devices for the youngest and today they have been returned to this area," stated the Capital.

In addition to the installation of the playground’s devices, the area has been enriched with new seedlings.

"We appeal to our fellow citizens to treat the built-in mobile objects and planted seedlings as their possessions, which they are, preserve them and adequately use them so that their functionality can be maintained for as long as possible," concluded the statement.

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Text by Vijesti online, on March 18th 2019, read more at Vijesti

17 March 2019 - It is an undoubted duty of every society that perceives justice as its core virtue to counter most fiercely against violence against women, said Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin at the opening of the conference "Violence against women - application of the Istanbul Convention and resistance to retrograde processes."

He noted that today the criminal legislation of Montenegro is mostly in line with the Convention.

"Additional protection of the physical, psychological and social integrity of women is ensured by the introduction of new criminal offenses. Stricter sentences have been introduced in the criminal offense of domestic violence or the family community in the way that the sentence for the basic form of this criminal offense is increased from one to two years, while the violation of the measure of protection against domestic violence determined by the court or other state body foresees a prison sentence of up to one year, instead of the previous six months," the Deputy Prime Minister explained.

To reduce the risk of re-execution of certain criminal offenses, the possibility has been introduced for perpetrators of the criminal offense of domestic violence to be imposed a measure of prohibition of approaching the victim or leaving the apartment. "In line with the Convention, new criminal offenses - rape and the conclusion of a null and void marriage, have been introduced. Furthermore, by amending the Law on Free Legal Aid, victims of domestic violence have been granted the right to free legal aid, in the same way as victims of trafficking in human beings," he underscored.

He pointed out that in September last year, a new Protocol on the Treatment, Prevention, and Protection against Domestic Violence was signed, which envisages improved procedures and closer cooperation between state authorities and the civil sector in combating domestic violence and violence against women.

"Regardless of what has been achieved, we can and must do more in this area. The recommendations of the last year's GREVIO Committee's report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Montenegro give us excellent guidelines in this direction," the Deputy Prime Minister stressed.

He added, however, that violence against women cannot be eliminated only by laws and penalties. "It is necessary that the entire society and all of us as individuals, both publicly and privately, raise the voice against violence against women and send a clear message that Montenegro cannot and will not tolerate it," said Deputy Prime Minister Pažin.

He expressed the belief that this is the only way to make the unsubstantiated condemnation of violence against women become a firmly established moral norm in Montenegro.

"Only then will we know with certainty that as a society we have achieved an enviable level of awareness of the true meaning of justice," he underlined.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the conference organisers, as well as numerous other partners from the civil sector and the international community, for significant efforts they have invested in the achievement of this valuable social mission. "Whether you provide support and protection to victims of violence, affirm female entrepreneurship or strengthen civil and political rights of women, you contribute to a safe, just and richer Montenegro. I assure you that on the path of emancipation and prosperity of the Montenegrin society, the Government of Montenegro remains your sincere and reliable partner," he concluded.

The Istanbul Convention is a partner initiative of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and the Women's Political Network within the Gender Equality Programme, funded by the Delegation of the European Union, and implemented by the UNDP.