Recognition of same-sex unions in Montenegro
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{{Same-sex unions|unions}}
File:Bandera gay Montenegro.PNG
Montenegro has recognised same-sex life partnerships since 15 July 2020. On 1 July, the Parliament of Montenegro passed a bill by 42 votes to 5 to recognise life partnerships offering several, but not all, of the rights and benefits of marriage. The bill was signed into law on 3 July by President Milo Đukanović, took effect on 15 July 2020 and became fully operational one year later. The first life partnership was registered on 25 July 2021.
Montenegro was the third country in former Yugoslavia, after Slovenia and Croatia, to recognise same-sex unions.
Life partnerships
{{Same-sex marriage map Europe|align=left}}
=Legislative action=
On 13 November 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković said that the government would prepare a bill granting some form of legal recognition to same-sex couples.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/montenegro-promises-gay-pride-and-some-marriage-rights131112/|title=Montenegro promises gay pride and some marriage rights|first=Tris|last=Reid-Smith|date=13 November 2012|website=Gay Star News}} The Ministry of Justice and Human and Minority Rights drafted a bill to legalise registered partnerships conferring some of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage, but excluding adoption or fostering rights. The Serbian Orthodox Church and the Democratic Front expressed opposition to the proposal, claiming it would "wreck Christian values and family life in Montenegro".{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2018/04/26/recognition-of-same-sex-unions-causes-controversy-in-montenegro-04-25-2018/|title=Plan for Same-Sex Unions Rouses Fury in Montenegro|date=26 April 2018}} On 27 December 2018, the government expressed its support for the draft bill. If enacted, it would have taken effect one year later.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gov.me/en/News/195166/Government-passes-Draft-Law-on-Life-Partnership-of-the-same-sex.html|title=Government passes Draft law on life partnership of same-sex partners|website=Vlada Crne Gore}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdm.me/english/lgbt-couples-in-montenegro-will-be-allowed-to-marry-but-not-to-be-parents/|title=LGBT couples in Montenegro will be allowed to marry but not to be parents|date=28 December 2018}} The bill was lodged in the Parliament of Montenegro on 24 January 2019,{{Cite web|url=http://zakoni.skupstina.me/zakoni/web/app.php/akt/1927|title=Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|website=zakoni.skupstina.me}} and on 27 February it was backed by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights.{{Cite web |url=https://slobodacg.me/crna-gora-priznaje-gej-brakove/ |title=Црна Гора признаје геј бракове |access-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074449/https://slobodacg.me/crna-gora-priznaje-gej-brakove/ |archive-date=1 March 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a464093/Montenegro-to-legalise-sam-sex-partnership-and-marriage.html|title=Montenegro's Parliamentary Committee supports same-sex communities|website=N1 Srbija}} However, it was blocked by parliamentarians, led by the Democratic Front, in a 38–4 vote with 39 abstentions on 31 July. The necessary majority of 41 votes was not achieved.{{cite news |last1=Wakefield |first1=Lily |title=Montenegro politicians block law recognising same-sex unions |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/08/02/montenegro-politicians-block-law-recognising-same-sex-unions/ |access-date=5 August 2019 |work=Pink News |date=2 August 2019}} The Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democrats and the Liberal Party supported the measure.{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2019/08/01/same-sex-union-vote-failure-dismays-montenegro-lgbts/|title=Same-Sex Union Vote Failure Dismays Montenegro's LGBT Community|work=Balkan Insight|date=1 August 2019|last=Kajosevic|first=Samir}}
On 12 December 2019, the government approved a second, similar draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.me/en/search/217748/Press-release-from-148th-Cabinet-session.html|title=Press release from 148th Cabinet session|publisher=Government of Montenegro|date=12 December 2019|access-date=26 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/Region/a551972/Vlada-Crne-Gore-ponovo-utvrdila-Predlog-zakona-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola.html|title=Vlada Crne Gore utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog polaVlada Crne Gore utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|publisher=N1|language=cnr|date=12 December 2019|access-date=26 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/413574/vlada-utvrdila-predlog-zakona-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola|title=Vlada utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|publisher=Vijesti|first=Miloš|last=Rudović|language=cnr|date=12 December 2019|access-date=26 June 2020}} It was introduced to the Parliament on 14 January 2020.{{cite web|url=http://zakoni.skupstina.me/zakoni/web/app.php/akt/2211|title=Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|publisher=Parliament of Montenegro|language=cnr|access-date=26 June 2020}} On 18 June 2020, the legislation was backed by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights,{{cite web|url=http://www.rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/282892/odbor-podrzao-zakon-o-istopolnoj-zajednici.html|title=Odbor podržao Zakon o istopolnoj zajednici|publisher=RTCG|first=Marija|last=Radulović|language=cnr|date=18 June 2020|access-date=26 June 2020}} and approved by the Parliament in a 42–5 vote on 1 July. The bill was supported by the Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democrats, the Social Democratic Party (except for one deputy), the Liberal Party and one deputy from DEMOS,{{cite web|url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/447509/izglasan-zakon-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola|title=Izglasan Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|publisher=Vijesti|language=cnr|date=1 July 2020|access-date=1 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/284369/usvojen-zakon-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu.html|title=Usvojen Zakon o životnom partnerstvu|publisher=RTCG|language=cnr|date=1 July 2020|access-date=1 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-montenegro-lgbt-lawmaking-trfn/montenegro-legalises-same-sex-civil-partnerships-idUSKBN24271A|title=Montenegro legalises same-sex civil partnerships|publisher=Reuters|first=Rachel|last=Savage|date=1 July 2020|access-date=1 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/07/02/montenegro-parliament-narrowly-votes-to-legalize-same-sex-unions/|title=Montenegro Parliament Narrowly Votes to Legalize Same-sex Unions|publisher=Balkan Insight|first=Samir|last=Kajosevic|date=2 July 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} but opposed by the opposition (which did not vote), as well as three parties representing ethnic minority communities (Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians). The bill was signed into law on 3 July by President Milo Đukanović, and was published on 7 July 2020 in the Official Gazette of Montenegro. It entered into force on 15 July 2020, and became applicable year later, on 15 July 2021.{{cite web|title=Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|url=https://me.propisi.net/zakon-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola/|work=Propisi.net|date=24 July 2020|language=cnr}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/drustvo/556393/zakon-na-snazi-ali-kasni-primjena|title=Zakon na snazi, ali kasni primjena|date=15 July 2021|accessdate=22 July 2021|language=Montenegrin|publisher=Vijesti|last1=Kalač|first1=Damira}}
| class="wikitable"
|+1 July 2020 vote in the Parliament of Montenegro{{cite web|url=http://zakoni.skupstina.me/zakoni/web/dokumenta/zakoni-i-drugi-akti/911/2211-13689-.pdf|title=Tačka dnevnog reda Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|website=zakoni.skupstina.me|language=cnr|date=1 July 2020}} | ||||
| Party | style="width:17%;"| Voted for | Voted against | Abstained | Absent (Did not vote) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{color box|#FFA500|G|border=darkgray}} Democratic Party of Socialists
| style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list|title=35 |1=Aleksandra Vuković |2=Ana Nikolić |3=Andrija Nikolić |4=Bogdan Fatić |5=Branimir Gvozdenović |6=Branka Tanasijević |7=Branko Čavor |8=Daliborka Pejović |9=Danijel Živković |10=Dragutin Papović |11=Filip Vuković |12=Halil Duković |13=Jovanka Laličić |14=Luiđ Škrelja |15=Maja Bakrač |16=Marija Maja Ćatović |17=Marta Šćepanović |18=Mihailo Anđušić |19=Milorad Vuletić |20=Miloš Nikolić |21=Miodrag Vuković |22=Mirsad Murić |23=Momčilo Martinović |24=Nada Drobnjak |25=Nada Nenezić |26=Nela Savković Vukčević |27=Nikola Divanović |28=Nikola Rakočević |29=Petar Ivanović |30=Predrag Sekulić |31=Radule Novović |32=Sanja Pavićević |33=Suad Numanović |34=Zvonko Vuković |35=Žana Filipović }} | – | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|darkblue|border=darkgray}} Democratic Front
| – | – | – |style="background-color:#FFD;"|{{collapsible list|title=18 |1=Aleksandra Vujičić |3=Branka Bošnjak |4=Branko Radulović |5=Budimir Aleksić |6=Jovan Jole Vučurović |7=Koča Pavlović |8=Ljiljana Đurašković |9=Marina Jočić |10=Milan Knežević |11=Milun Zogović |12=Milutin Đukanović |14=Predrag Bulatović |15=Slaven Radunović |16=Strahinja Bulajić |17=Veljko Vasiljević |18=Vera Bulatović }} | ||||
| {{color box|#FF6666|border=darkgray}} Democratic Montenegro
| – | – | – |style="background-color:#FFD;"|{{collapsible list|title=8 |1=Aleksa Bečić |2=Boris Bogdanović |3=Danilo Šarančić |4=Dženan Kolić |5=Momo Koprivica |6=Valentina Minić |7=Vladimir Čađenović |8=Zdenka Popović }} | ||||
| {{color box|#1a75ff|border=darkgray}} For the Benefit of All
| – | – | – |style="background-color:#FFD;"|{{collapsible list|title=6 |1=Aleksandar Damjanović |2=Anka Vukićević |3=Danijela Pavićević |5=Goran Radonjić |6=Srđan Milić }} | ||||
| {{color box|#C11B17|border=darkgray}} Social Democratic Party
| style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list|title=3 }} |{{collapsible list|title=1 |1=Džavid Šabović }} | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|#FD00FF|G|border=darkgray}} Social Democrats
| style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list|title=2 |1=Boris Mugoša }} | – | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|lightblue|border=darkgray}} DEMOS
| style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|{{collapsible list|title=1 |1=Neđeljko Rudović }} | – | – |style="background-color:#FFD;"|{{collapsible list|title=1 }} | ||||
| {{color box|#9BE89A|G|border=darkgray}} Bosniak Party
| – | style="background-color:#FFAEB9;" |{{collapsible list|title=2 |1=Ervin Ibrahimović |2=Nedžad Drešević }} | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|#FF0000|G|border=darkgray}} Croatian Civic Initiative
| – | style="background-color:#FFAEB9;" |{{collapsible list |title= 1 |1=Adrijan Vuksanović }} | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|#046d93|border=darkgray}} Liberal Party
| style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"|{{collapsible list|title=1 }} | – | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|#00AAE4|G|border=darkgray}} New Democratic Force
| – | style="background-color:#FFAEB9;" |{{collapsible list|title=1 |1=Genci Nimanbegu }} | – | – | ||||
| {{color box|#ff4444|border=darkgray}} United Reform Action
| – | – | – |style="background-color:#FFD;"|{{collapsible list|title=1 }} | ||||
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | Total | {{Yes|42|align=center}} | style="text-align:center;" | 5 | style="text-align:center;" | 0 | style="text-align:center;" | 34 |
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|42|81|1}}
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|5|81|1}} | style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|0|81|1|pad=yes}} | style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|34|81|1|pad=yes}} |
Prime Minister Duško Marković welcomed the law's passage, tweeting that it was "a great step in the right direction for Montenegrin society, its democratic maturity and integration processes. Equality and same rights for all are the cornerstone of human and European values. I want to thank the LGBTIQ community for dialogue and contribution. There can be no room for discrimination based on sexual orientation in a European Montenegro." The legislation established life partnerships ({{langx|cnr|italic=yes|životno partnerstvo}}, {{IPA|cnr|ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo|pron}}){{efn|In Montenegro's recognized minority languages: {{div col|colwidth=30em}}
- {{langx|sq|partneriteti jetësor}}, {{IPA|sq|paɾtnɛɾiˈtɛti jɛtəˈsɔɾ|pron}}
- {{langx|bs|životno partnerstvo}}, животно партнерство, {{IPA|bs|ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo|pron}}
- {{langx|hr|životno partnerstvo}}, {{IPA|hr|ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo|pron}}
- {{langx|sr|животно партнерство}}, {{transliteration|sr|životno partnerstvo}}, {{IPA|sr|ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo|pron}}
{{div col end}}}} for same-sex couples, guaranteeing many legal rights and obligations, including inheritance, guardianship, property ownership, hospital and prison visitation rights and domestic violence protections, among others.{{cite web|url=https://www.total-montenegro-news.com/politics/5686-law-same-sex|title=Law on Same-Sex Life Partnerships Adopted|website=Total Montenegro News|date=2 July 2020}} While not granting full adoption rights, the law allows a life partner to make emergency decisions regarding their partner's biological child, and grants them the same rights as married couples with regard to disputes over the protection of their child's rights. Although the law became operational on 15 July 2021, a deadlock in Parliament following Justice Minister Vladimir Leposavić's dismissal from office on 17 June, as well as a lack of adequate documentation by local registrars, caused a delay for same-sex couples to register.{{cite news|url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/crna-gora-lgbti-istopolne-zajednice/31358087.html|title=Crnogorski matičari spremni za sklapanje LGBT brakova|newspaper=Radio Slobodna Evropa|date=14 July 2021 |last1=Durović |first1=Aneta }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/328045/vjencanje-kod-maticara-ceka-20-istopolnih-parova.html|title=Vjenčanje kod matičara čeka 20 istopolnih parova|website=Radio and Television of Montenegro|date=15 July 2021}} The first partnership was conducted in the town of Budva between two women on 25 July 2021. Minister of Public Administration Tamara Srzentić congratulated the couple.{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/07/26/montenegro-makes-history-with-first-same-sex-marriage/|title=Montenegro Makes History With First Same-Sex Marriage|work=Balkan Insight|date=26 July 2021|last=Kajosevic|first=Samir}}
In June 2022, an LGBT advocacy group, LGBT Forum Progress, filed a lawsuit in Podgorica challenging the government's refusal to recognise same-sex partnerships performed abroad.{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/08/montenegro-sued-for-discrimination-against-same-sex-couples/|date=8 June 2022|work=Balkan Insight|title=Montenegro Sued for Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples|location=Podgorica|first=Samir|last=Kajosevic}}
=Statistics=
Between July 2021 and July 2022, 22 same-sex life partnerships were performed in Montenegro, a majority between Russian citizens. 18 of these partnerships were registered in Budva.{{cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/10/11/montenegro-eyes-tourism-potential-in-same-sex-weddings/|title=Montenegro Eyes Tourism Potential in Same-Sex Weddings|work=Balkan Insight|date=11 October 2022|first=Samir|last=Kajosevic}} By November 2023, 75 partnerships had been performed in Montenegro, mostly in Budva, Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Bar.{{cite web|url=https://kosovotwopointzero.com/en/they-say-i-do-in-montenegro-and-then-leave-the-country/|title=They say “I do” in Montenegro, and then leave the country|work=Kosovo 2.0|date=22 November 2023|first=Damira|last=Kalač}}
Same-sex marriage
The Constitution of Montenegro was ratified in 2007, one year after independence. Article 71 of the Constitution reads as follows: "Marriage may be entered into only on the basis of a free consent of a woman and a man. Marriage shall be based on equality of spouses."{{cite web|url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/me/me004en.pdf|title=Constitution of Montenegro|website=www.wipo.int}} The wording has been interpreted as banning same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=https://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/MontenegroLegal_E.pdf|title=Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gener Identity – Legal Report: Montenegro|first=Tea Gorjanc|last=Prelevic|work=Council of Europe|access-date=2 March 2024}}
Public opinion
A December 2022 Ipsos survey showed that 36% of Montenegrins considered same-sex marriage "acceptable" (18% "completely" and 18% "mainly"), while 61% considered it "unacceptable" (45% "completely" and 16% "mainly"). This represented a large increase of support from 2015 when 9% of Montenegrins supported same-sex marriage. With regard to special rights, 68% of respondents supported the right of same-sex couples to receive survivor pension benefits in case of the partner's death.{{cite web|url=https://lgbti-era.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Analytical-Report-2023-LGBTIQ-Public-Opinion-Poll-Western-Balkans-FINAL-compressed.pdf |title=Attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ people in the Western Balkans |work=ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turke |date=June 2023}}
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{cite web|url=https://www.paragraf.me/nacrti_i_predlozi/nacrt-zakona-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola.pdf|trans-title=Same-Sex Life Partnership Act|title=Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola|language=cnr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328031436/https://www.paragraf.me/nacrti_i_predlozi/nacrt-zakona-o-zivotnom-partnerstvu-lica-istog-pola.pdf|archive-date=28 March 2022}}
{{Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe}}
{{Status of same-sex unions}}
{{Marriage amendments}}