Actions taken:
Red Cross of Montenegro (RCM) has been since 2015 one of the lead humanitarian organization for provision of support to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Montenegro. The main activities that RCM has been providing and still continues to do is the provision of humanitarian assistance, psycho social support, assistance in access to health institutions and provision of medicines for migrants and asylum seekers in all reception facilities. Beside this, RCM continuously works on provision of support in social inclusion and integration for persons with granted international and subsidiary protection.
RCM is regularly organizing prevention and educational workshops for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees on first aid, hygiene promotion, access to their rights, prevention of human trafficking and land mines in bordering area with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
RCM work is based on the Law on Red Cross of Montenegro, Law on international and subsidiary protection, agreements with UNHCR and other donors and partners of Red Cross (IFRC, ICRC and PNSs).
The work of RCM is both highly appreciated but also more complex than for other organizations having in mind that RCM is only organization that provides assistance to all vulnerable migrants no matter legal status.
So far, the humanitarian role of RCM has been recognized and RCM has been given access to all facilities where migrants and asylum seekers are accommodated in order to provide timely necessary support.
RCM has established Community Center in vicinity of Reception center (due to lack of space in Reception center) to organize different activities for beneficiaries (distribution of food and NFI, organization of workshops and language lessons, creative workshops for children, assistance with homework for children in school and provision of RFL service…)
In all reception facilities (currently 2 – official reception center and alternative accommodation) has mobile team consisted of caseworkers, translators and when needed psychologist. RCM has 2 social workers in Reception center assisting in admittance of migrants and assessment of needs upon arrival of migrants and asylum seekers.
Since 2015, RCM has organized several trainings for staff and volunteers for response in migration with different topics (first aid, RFL, PSS, rapid need assessment…). The trainings were organized with support of experienced national and regional trainers but also through cross border study visits and cross border round tables.
Beside the operational field activities in direct communication with beneficiaries, RCM is working on advocacy with authorities through state working groups for implementation of Law on international and subsidiary protection and Strategy for integrated management in migration.
The field work information and challenges from the daily work, help RCM advocate and recommend the changes for legal framework and policy papers in order to provide better support to person of concern. When it comes to advocacy activities, RCM is also member of WG for Chapter 24 for pre-accession negotiation (Rule of Law, Justice and Asylum).
