A/HRC/10/74 Page 11 implementation. The funds are available also to local government and the non-governmental sector, including Roma organizations, with 24 projects selected in 2008. The Government envisions increasing these funds to 600,000 Euros in 2009, and coming near to having 0.2 per cent of the total national budget allocated to the Roma. A foundation implements projects related to the protection of health of the Roma, reproductive health, vaccination and the prevention of communicable diseases. 41. Montenegro reported on measures to integrate Roma in the formal education system, and has provided text books to all Roma children in primary school. Montenegro organized for Roma individuals in university studies to become teachers, and introduced Roma assistants for Roma pre-school and school children, removing language barriers. Special databases are established to follow the achievement on Roma children and the number of children going to school. All Roma attending high school and university are granted scholarships. The Statistics Office collected data on gender, education, health and housing; according to preliminary results, there are about 10,500 Roma in Montenegro. The delegation noted that databases are being established in the employment agency, and the Government gives tax reliefs to employers who employ Roma. 42. The delegation expected the Parliamentary elections in early 2009 to be held according to new electoral legislation under preparation, while Montenegro is trying to find the best way to ensure adequate representation of minorities. Of the 81 members of Parliament, there are five Albanians, eight Bosniaks, one Muslim and two ethnic Croats, indicating that, currently, the number of their representatives is proportionally higher than their share of the population. 43. The delegation noted that, while equality before the law and prohibition of direct and indirect discrimination are regulated by a set of laws, the Government wants to develop and adopt before the end of 2008 an anti-discriminatory general law. The delegation noted that the law gives a clear definition of discrimination, forms and fields of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity. The draft law envisions setting up a body to monitor discrimination on all grounds. 44. In response to several questions on refugees, Montenegro recalled that, in 1999, there were over 130,000 refugees in Montenegro and that at one stage there were 70 collective centres. In 2008, Montenegro has 23,000 refugees, which is 4 per cent of the domestic population. The Government signed the Sarajevo Declaration, which aims to find solutions. In referring to the Government’s action plan, Montenegro considered that unfortunately the efforts had not given proper results in tackling local integration and repatriation. Montenegro has started to integrate these individuals socially and economically and has built over 450 apartments, without discrimination on any grounds. Mechanisms of return were encouraged, and in the case of Kosovo opportunities were used in concluding bilateral agreements. The delegation acknowledged that, despite activities, a high number has not returned, including some 2,000 Roma. Montenegro referred to efforts made through international partners to find solutions for these people, and added that many partners have not expressed much interest. 45. The international community often insists that people have a status, but many wonder about what they should expect if they return to their countries of origin and if their economic rights will be protected. Montenegro has adopted a law on citizenship, a law on asylum and is about to adopt a law on foreigners. Internally displaced persons from Kosovo are allowed to keep their current status or settle their status in accordance with these laws and international instruments. In re-examining the status of refugees and internally displaced persons, Montenegro will reregister them. The delegation referred to a number of different categories of internally

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