Montenegro has recognised same-sex unions since 15 July 2020. In July 2020, 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.
Life partnerships
edit
Legislative action
editOn 13 November 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković said that the Government of Montenegro would prepare a bill granting some form of legal recognition to same-sex couples.[1] The Human and Minority Rights Ministry drafted a bill to legalise registered partnerships, which would confer some of the rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage but would not include 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".[2] On 27 December 2018, the government gave its support to the draft bill. If enacted, it would have taken effect one year later.[3][4] The bill was lodged in the Parliament on 24 January 2019,[5] and on 27 February it was backed by the parliamentary committee on human rights.[6][7] However, on 31 July 2019, the bill was blocked by parliamentarians, led by the Democratic Front, in a 38–4 vote with 39 abstentions. The necessary majority of 41 votes was not achieved.[8] The Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democrats and the Liberal Party supported the measure.[9]
On 12 December 2019, the government approved a second, similar draft.[10][11][12] It was introduced to the Parliament on 14 January 2020.[13] On 18 June 2020, the bill was backed by the parliamentary committee on human rights,[14] and on 1 July 2020 it was approved by the Parliament in a 42–5 vote. 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.[15][16][17][18] It was opposed by the opposition (which abstained), as well as three parties representing ethnic minority communities (Croats, Bosniaks, and Albanians).[18] 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.[19][20] However, a deadlock in Parliament following Justice Minister Vladimir Leposavić's dismissal from office on 17 June 2021, as well as a lack of adequate documentation by local registrars, caused a delay for same-sex couples to register.[21][22] 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.[23]
| Party | Votes for | Votes against | Abstained or Absent (Did not vote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) | 35
|
- | - |
| Democratic Front (DF) | - | - | 18
|
| Democratic Montenegro (DCG) | - | - | 8
|
| For the Benefit of All (DSI) | - | - | 6
|
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 1
|
- | |
| Social Democrats (SD) | 2
|
- | - |
| DEMOS | 1
|
- | |
| Bosniak Party (BS) | - | 2
|
- |
| Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) | - | 1
|
- |
| Liberal Party (LP) | - | - | |
| New Democratic Force (Forca) | - | 1
|
- |
| United Reform Action (URA) | - | - | |
| Total | 42 | 5 | 34 |
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 (Montenegrin: životno partnerstvo, pronounced [ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo])[a] for same-sex couples, guaranteeing many legal rights and obligations, including inheritance, guardianship, property ownership, hospital and prison visits, and protections from domestic violence, among others.[25] While it does not recognize full adoption rights, the law allows a person in a life partnership to make decisions concerning their partner's biological children in emergency situations, and grants life partners the same rights as married couples with regard to disputes over the protection of their children's rights.
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.[26]
Statistics
editBetween 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.[27] By November 2023, 75 partnerships had been performed in Montenegro, mostly in Budva, Podgorica, Herceg Novi and Bar.[28]
Same-sex marriage
editThe 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."[29] The wording has been interpreted as banning same-sex marriage.[30]
Public opinion
editA 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.[31]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ In Montenegro's recognized minority languages:
- Albanian: partneriteti jetësor, pronounced [paɾtnɛɾiˈtɛti jɛtəˈsɔɾ]
- Bosnian: životno partnerstvo, животно партнерство, pronounced [ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo]
- Croatian: životno partnerstvo, pronounced [ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo]
- Serbian: животно партнерство, životno partnerstvo, pronounced [ʒǐvotno pârtnerstvo]
References
edit- ^ Reid-Smith, Tris (13 November 2012). "Montenegro promises gay pride and some marriage rights". Gay Star News.
- ^ "Plan for Same-Sex Unions Rouses Fury in Montenegro". 26 April 2018.
- ^ "Government passes Draft law on life partnership of same-sex partners". Vlada Crne Gore.
- ^ "LGBT couples in Montenegro will be allowed to marry but not to be parents". 28 December 2018.
- ^ "Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola". zakoni.skupstina.me.
- ^ "Црна Гора признаје геј бракове". Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "Montenegro's Parliamentary Committee supports same-sex communities". N1 Srbija.
- ^ Wakefield, Lily (2 August 2019). "Montenegro politicians block law recognising same-sex unions". Pink News. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
- ^ Kajosevic, Samir (1 August 2019). "Same-Sex Union Vote Failure Dismays Montenegro's LGBT Community". Balkan Insight.
- ^ "Press release from 148th Cabinet session". Government of Montenegro. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Vlada Crne Gore utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog polaVlada Crne Gore utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" (in Montenegrin). N1. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Rudović, Miloš (12 December 2019). "Vlada utvrdila Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" (in Montenegrin). Vijesti. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" (in Montenegrin). Parliament of Montenegro. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Radulović, Marija (18 June 2020). "Odbor podržao Zakon o istopolnoj zajednici" (in Montenegrin). RTCG. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Izglasan Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" (in Montenegrin). Vijesti. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Usvojen Zakon o životnom partnerstvu" (in Montenegrin). RTCG. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Savage, Rachel (1 July 2020). "Montenegro legalises same-sex civil partnerships". Reuters. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ a b Kajosevic, Samir (2 July 2020). "Montenegro Parliament Narrowly Votes to Legalize Same-sex Unions". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola". Propisi.net (in Montenegrin). 24 July 2020.
- ^ Kalač, Damira (15 July 2021). "Zakon na snazi, ali kasni primjena" (in Montenegrin). Vijesti. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Durović, Aneta (14 July 2021). "Crnogorski matičari spremni za sklapanje LGBT brakova". Radio Slobodna Evropa.
- ^ "Vjenčanje kod matičara čeka 20 istopolnih parova". Radio and Television of Montenegro. 15 July 2021.
- ^ Kajosevic, Samir (26 July 2021). "Montenegro Makes History With First Same-Sex Marriage". Balkan Insight.
- ^ "Tačka dnevnog reda Predlog zakona o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" (PDF). zakoni.skupstina.me (in Montenegrin). 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Law on Same-Sex Life Partnerships Adopted". Total Montenegro News. 2 July 2020.
- ^ Kajosevic, Samir (8 June 2022). "Montenegro Sued for Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples". Balkan Insight. Podgorica.
- ^ Kajosevic, Samir (11 October 2022). "Montenegro Eyes Tourism Potential in Same-Sex Weddings". Balkan Insight.
- ^ Kalač, Damira (22 November 2023). "They say "I do" in Montenegro, and then leave the country". Kosovo 2.0.
- ^ "Constitution of Montenegro" (PDF). www.wipo.int.
- ^ Prelevic, Tea Gorjanc. "Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gener Identity – Legal Report: Montenegro" (PDF). Council of Europe. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ people in the Western Balkans" (PDF). ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Turke. June 2023.
External links
edit- "Zakon o životnom partnerstvu lica istog pola" [Same-Sex Life Partnership Act] (PDF) (in Montenegrin). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2022.