Anjet Lanting, UN Human Rights Advisor, noted that the daunting challenges many people face around the world are not signs that human rights have “failed”. She noted that these happen when human rights are not respected, not implemented and not prioritized, and exactly in such times, there is an urgent need to re-commit to the universality and indivisibility of the standards and principles that are set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She expressed appreciation of human rights pledges the Government will make next week in Geneva, and pledges already made by children and youth in Montenegro, and by journalists and editors in Montenegro, together with colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, to tackle discrimination and hate speech, among other things. Ms Lanting called on all to use the UDHR as a starting and end point for dialogue on how to tackle today’s global, regional and national human rights challenges.

Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, highlighted that today we witness the highest number of conflicts since 1945, where some of the most severe human rights violations occur, with a particular focus on gender-based violence against women and girls.

“This is not just statistics but a devastating reality affecting lives and communities. At the same time, the poorest and most marginalized among us face the most severe impacts of the rapidly intensifying climate crisis. All these challenges are deeply interconnected, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action and empathy. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, and at first glance, it seems we don’t have much reason to celebrate. However, the UDHR remains the most effective tool for preventing conflicts worldwide while simultaneously providing a solid foundation for ambitious efforts to combat climate change, the greatest challenge to human rights ever faced. UNDP in Montenegro will continue its mission and remain unequivocally committed to promoting the human rights of all citizens, without exception”, stated Paniklova.

In the first panel on the topic “The Role of the UN Human Rights System in Improving Human Rights Standards and Sustainable Development”, Anjet Lanting highlighted how the UN human rights system provides for sustained oversight and through dialogues in Geneva but also at the country-level that include all parties – Government, the National Human Rights Institution, civil society, the UN and international community - to resolve human rights issues. She offered support to Montenegro to establish a national mechanism for reporting and follow up to ensure stronger implementation of human rights standards and principles. Sarah Rattray, Senior Human Rights Adviser, at UNDP, spoke about the interconnectedness of human rights and the advancement of sustainable development goals. 

It was emphasized that human rights and UN Sustainable Development Goals are closely linked and inseparable processes. Achieving sustainable development goals, such as poverty eradication, decent work, education, and gender equality, goes hand in hand with respecting basic human rights, such as the right to life, freedom of expression, and access to basic needs. Therefore, integrating human rights into the planning and implementation of development initiatives and policies is crucial for creating a sustainable society that promotes equality, justice, and a dignified life for all citizens.

In the second panel on the topic “Impact of the UN Human Rights System – Examples from Countries”,  experiences from their countries were presented by Karl Miler, Ambassador of Austria to Montenegro, Janina Hřebíčková, Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Klara Laurenčikova, Government Plenipotentiary for Human Rights of the Czech Republic, Jakub Mačaka from the Department of Human Rights of the Government of the Czech Republic, and Ištvan Lakatoš, former Ambassador for Human Rights of Hungary and Senior Human Rights Advisor in the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.