The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Simon Manley, delivered a statement at Montenegro’s UPR at the Human Rights Council.

Thank you, Mr President. Let me welcome the Minister and your team to Geneva.

Let me start by paying tribute to Montenegro’s role in this Council and welcome its progress in tackling organised crime as well as improvements to the legislative framework on more stringent penalties for attacks and threats against journalists.

We encourage Montenegro to address outstanding recommendations on accountability of the judiciary and to establish a track record for the implementation of anti-corruption law.

We recommend Montenegro:

1. Strengthen mechanisms to improve access to justice, including for victims of gender-based violence, and ensure prompt independent investigation of all complaints of police ill-treatment, and amend the Criminal Code to align with the Convention against Torture.
2. Ensure effective implementation of laws in the fight against corruption.
3. Improve application of the legal framework on the protection of journalists.

Thank you.

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