Foundation Open Society Institute–Representative Office Montenegro

Activities supported and carried out by the Foundation Open Society Institute–Representative Office Montenegro in 2006 concentrated on helping advance reforms in education, public and local administration, and the judiciary, and on protecting the rights of marginalized groups such as Roma and women. In addition to pursuing its core mission of introducing EU standards and reforms to Montenegro, the foundation also contributed to the transparency of Montenegro’s 2006 statehood referendum, which resulted in voters choosing independence.

The following briefs describe some of the foundation’s activities and achievements in 2006.

Civil Society Monitors Montenegro’s Journey to Independence

Civil society monitoring helped ensure the fairness of Montenegro’s independence referendum in May 2006. The Center for Monitoring, supported by the foundation, monitored the administration of the referendum, the campaigning of political parties, and voting. International and local observers pronounced the referendum free and fair. Over 86 percent of eligible voters turned out, with 55.5 percent voting for independence, and the government followed this mandate by declaring independence in June.

Region’s Governments Meet on Corruption in Education

A conference organized by the Foundation Open Society Institute–Representative Office Montenegro provided the first ministerial-level forum for governments in the region to address corruption in education. Education ministry representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia reviewed problems such as academic fraud, unregulated private tutoring, and various forms of bribery and grade extortion among administrators, parents, and students. Participants committed to providing training for administrators and parents, and codes of conduct for teachers and students.