A/HRC/23/12 8. The greatest attainment of Montenegrin independence has been the multiethnic harmony and continuation of free democratic elections, promotion of work and support to human rights activists. 9. On 29 June 2012, Montenegro opened the negotiation process for full membership in the European Union (EU). Through harmonization with the acquis, implementation of legislative framework and regular monitoring of the respect for human rights and freedoms, the negotiations will lead to further progress in implementing EU and United Nations standards. 10. Significant progress has been made to strengthen the independence and efficiency of the judiciary. The law prescribes more objective criteria for the election and promotion of judges and State prosecutors and the system for their appraisal, and election procedures have been upgraded. The composition of the Prosecutorial Council was changed in order to provide greater independence. Cooperation with international institutions, in particular the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), has been advanced. The Courts of Montenegro website (www.sudovi.me) now makes available final court judgments, ECtHR judgments against Montenegro, publications and characteristic judgments of the Strasbourg Court. 11. The biggest step forward in the provision of systemic conditions for the fight against discrimination in Montenegro has been the adoption of the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (2010) and the new Law on the Ombudsman (2011); their full implementation lies ahead. 12. The implementation plan for the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination, developed together with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), set the education plan and media promotion plan for anti-discriminatory action. 13. Three important international conferences have been organized so far (two of them took place last year), devoted primarily to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. 14. Cooperation with local self-governments concerning gender mainstreaming at the local level has continued and improved. However, more efficient implementation of legislation in this area needs further work, especially with regard to greater participation of women in leadership and combating violence against women. 15. Regarding the rights of the child, the development of the National Action Plan for Children is in the final stage of adoption. 16. In line with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), legislative, institutional and strategic frameworks for the exercise and protection of rights of persons with disabilities have been upgraded. 17. The Council for persons with disabilities was established; implementation of the Strategy for integration of persons with disabilities (2008-2016) is underway based on the action plan which articulates the efforts of all national resources in this area. The implementation of the Strategy for inclusive education is ongoing. 18. One of the major challenges in the exercise of the rights of persons with disabilities remains the inadequate architectural accessibility of public and other facilities in general use, which is a precondition for full social integration. 19. The Constitution of Montenegro, the Law on Minority Rights and Freedoms and other legal acts, as well as the accepted international documents, created the legislative framework that enables further promotion and protection of minorities. The Fund for protection and exercise of minority rights, the Centre for minority culture preservation and development, and the Minority Councils fully contributed to the exercise of minority rights. 4