Montenegro has passed a law allowing same-sex civil partnerships, in a move hailed by President Milo Djukanovic as "a step toward the family of most-developed democracies."
Forty-two lawmakers in the 81-seat parliament backed the Law On Same-Sex Partnership, which is to come into force in a year's time.
The law grants same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexuals, but without the possibility of adopting children.
It was previously rejected by parliament a year ago.
The vote in the Balkan country, which seeks to join the European Union, was welcomed by its political leaders and LGBT campaigners as affirming values such as tolerance.
The adoption of the law is “a confirmation that our society is maturing, accepting and living the differences,” Djukanovic posted on Twitter, while Prime Minister Dusko Markovic called it “a great step in the right direction for Montenegrin society, its democratic maturity, and integration processes.” Read more via RFE/RL
LGBTI Forum Progress: A Historical Step in the Struggle for Equality
The organization LGBTI Forum assessed the adoption of the law as a historic step in the fight for the human rights of LGBTI people in Montenegro.
"With the adoption of the law, which did not have the required majority of votes last year, a new page in the history of the Montenegrin LGBTI movement was written and a clear message was sent that the Montenegrin majority stands by those who have been disenfranchised and invisible in the eyes of the law." in a statement. “The NGOs LGBT Forum Progress and the LGBTIQ Social Center, as well as the entire community we gather, welcome the adoption of the Life Partnership Act and congratulate all LGBTI people on this historic day,” they said. They said that the fact that the Law on Life Partnership was finally adopted is of unspeakable importance for all LGBTI people in Montenegro.
"This is an inconceivable step forward for Montenegrin society, to the special joy of the entire LGBTI community. As an organization that has advocated for the legal recognition of same-sex communities for years and as active participants in the Working Group that created this law, we are very happy with this long-awaited outcome." What remains crucial now - the application of this law in practice - is the next big step in the process of protecting the human rights of LGBTI people, "the statement said. Bojana Jokić from LGBT Forum Progres said that although today's vote is a big thing for Montenegro, "I want to briefly look at the events that have shaken our society in recent weeks. As an activist and citizen, I am concerned about the restrictions on human rights and freedoms we witness
John M. Barac from the LGBTIQ Social Center said that the feeling is indescribable, but that the path to essential equality is ahead of us.
"The feeling that from today the love and partnership of all of us in the LGBTI community are recognized and acknowledged in the eyes of the law is indescribable. I cannot say that from today we are completely equal, because the path to real and essential equality is just ahead of us. a step forward in recognizing that we, same-sex couples, exist at all.The Assembly has sided with equality and love and sent a clear message that Montenegro is moving forward.I hope that the institutions will justify the trust and consistently implement this law, paving the way for "Today we have reason to celebrate and rejoice, and from tomorrow we will continue to fight for equality and dignity," he concluded. Read more via Vijesti