Chairperson of the Committee Mr Halil Duković  reminded that the Committee adopted the Activity Plan for 2019, at its18th Meeting of 19 March 2018, drawn up on the basis of:  European Parliament Resolution on Montenegro of 16 March 2017, Non-paper of the European Commission on the state of play in Chapters 23 and 24 in Montenegro of November 2017, Strategy “A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans” of 6 February 2018, 2018 Work Programme of the Government of Montenegro, activities of the Parliament of Montenegro and aa number of non-implemented activities from the Committee’s 2017Activity Plan.

He said that out of 22 activities set out in the 2018 Plan, 13 have been implemented, while six have not been accomplished due to objective reasons.  In addition to these activities, established by the Plan, the Committee have undertaken additional 23 activities.

The Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms held 15 meetings - 14 independently and one jointly with the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, where it considered the total of 44 items of the agenda.

The Committee also held a control hearing of the Coordinator of the Coordination Committee for monitoring the implementation of the Strategy for Permanent Resolution of the Issue of Displaced Persons and Refugees in Montenegro, with Special Emphasis on Konik Area 2017-2019, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Mr Kemal Purišić.

Furthermore, three consultative hearings were held, on the topics:  “Activities in the field of providing accessibility for persons with disabilities in Montenegro”,  “Implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Protection of Children against Violence 2017-2021, and the activities undertaken to implement the recommendations from the Report on the Evaluation of the 2014-2017 Child Rights Monitoring System in Montenegro, prepared by the Coram International at the Coram Children's Legal Center, at the request of UNICEF” and “Conditions in prisons and pre-trial detention facilities in Montenegro”.

In November 2018, the Cooperation agreement between the Committee on Human Rights and Freedoms, Committee on European Integration, Legislative Committee and NGO “Civic Alliance” was signed.