UNHCR Montenegro

Yesterday in Berane, we supported the Fudbalski savez Crne Gore - Football Association of Montenegro, to organize a football festival as part of the project “Football for Unity: Integrating Refugee and Stateless Communities in Montenegro through Sport”.

Around 60 girls and boys — refugee children and children from the local community — played in mixed teams, enjoyed the game, and learned about teamwork, fair play, respect and acceptance through football.

Sport has the power to bring children together, break down barriers and build a stronger sense of community.

Europe Day is a reminder that solidarity matters.

With support from the European Union, UNHCR works across the region to help people forced to flee access protection, information, services and opportunities to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.

Together, we support stronger systems and more inclusive communities.

UNHCR Montenegro continues to support the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in implementing the closing benchmarks for EU accession chapter 24, foreseen by the Government’s Action Plan, while further strengthening the national asylum system.
At today’s workshop, representatives of the MoI’s Asylum Directorate and UNHCR discussed practical challenges related to identifying and assessing material elements of asylum claims, determining the credibility of applicants for international protection, and conducting interviews with children and other vulnerable groups. The discussion also revisited relevant international standards in these areas.
The workshop was supported by the European Union through the IPA III project Protection Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans ( ) and is being implemented regionally with FRONTEX, EUAA and IOM.

UNHCR Crna Gora nastavlja da pruža podršku Ministarstvu unutrašnjih poslova u sprovođenju završnih mjerila iz Akcionog plana Vlade za Poglavlje 24, kao i u daljem jačanju sistema azila.
Na današnjoj radionici, predstavnici Direkcije za azil MUP a i UNHCR a razgovarali su o praktičnim izazovima u identifikaciji i ocjeni materijalnih elemenata zahtjeva za azil, utvrđivanju kredibiliteta tražilaca međunarodne zaštite, kao i o izazovima u intervjuima sa djecom i drugim ranjivim grupama. Poseban fokus bio je i na podsjećanju na međunarodne standarde u ovim oblastima.
Radionica je podržana od strane Evropske unije kroz IPA III projekat Protection Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans ( ), a regionalno se sprovodi u saradnji sa FRONTEX om, EUAA i IOM om.

Together with the Frontex Fundamental Rights Office and the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro, UNHCR supported a two day training for Montenegrin Border Police and Frontex border guards deployed in Montenegro. 🇲🇪🤝
The training focused on identifying people in need of international protection within mixed migration movements, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as children, older persons, and victims of trafficking. It also highlighted the responsibilities of police officers in protecting the rights of asylum seekers.
Beyond learning, the sessions created space for exchanging experiences and discussing real life challenges faced in daily work.

Zajedno sa Kancelarijom Frontexa za osnovna prava i Ministarstvom unutrasnjih poslova Crne Gore, UNHCR je podržao dvodnevni trening za Graničnu policiju Crne Gore i Frontex granične čuvare raspoređene u Crnoj Gori. 🇲🇪🤝
Trening je bio usmjeren na identifikaciju lica u potrebi za međunarodnom zaštitom u okviru mješovitih migracionih kretanja, uz poseban fokus na ranjive grupe poput djece, starijih osoba i žrtava trgovine ljudima. Takođe je istaknuta odgovornost policijskih službenika u zaštiti prava tražilaca azila.
Pored sticanja znanja, treninzi su omogućili razmjenu iskustava i razgovor o stvarnim izazovima sa kojima se policijski službenici suočavaju u svakodnevnom radu.

✅ UNHCR Montenegro, in partnership with the Police Academy in Danilovgrad, successfully delivered a specialised workshop on international refugee law and Montenegro’s asylum system to 90 police cadets — the future officers of the Montenegro Police.
Over the course of two weeks, cadets strengthened their understanding of the rights and obligations of persons seeking international protection, the role of border police within the asylum system, and approaches to working with vulnerable groups.
The training combined theory with practice, giving participants the opportunity to apply their knowledge through real‑life case simulations at the Academy’s training grounds.
🤝 This activity was supported by the European Union through the IPA III project “Protection‑Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans.”
💬 Because protecting those in need begins with well‑trained first responders.

Home is not something people walk away from lightly.

When people become refugees, it’s because they had no other choice.

Because staying is no longer safe.

Show your solidarity with those forced to leave everything behind.

Save one life at a time.

Across multiple crises, families forced to flee and communities facing violence and disasters need protection and life-saving support.

This must be the year we choose solidarity over indifference.

Behind every refugee is a life interrupted by war, conflict or persecution.

Peace is the most urgent form of protection.

This is Ramadan in Za’atari refugee camp.
Shine the light of Ramadan on families who have been forced to flee.

At the request of the Ministry of the Interior of Montenegro UNHCR partnered with IOM and the Red Cross of Montenegro to deliver a workshop for security personnel working in the country’s two asylum reception centers — the first point of contact for people arriving in need of shelter and protection.
Throughout the session, security staff strengthened their knowledge of key asylum concepts, approaches to working with vulnerable groups, indicators of human trafficking, cultural mediation, PSEA principles, and the Restoring Family Links program.
Supporting frontline teams means reinforcing protection from the very first moment. 💙🌍