LocationsNational Charter on Social Cohesion Presented
March 26, 2026
Podgorica, 26 March 2026 – During consultations with representatives of national institutions, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro presented the National Charter on Social Cohesion, a document aimed at strengthening unity and solidarity within society.
This initiative represents an important step forward in the implementation of social cohesion principles, which in practice are reflected in the way citizens live and cooperate within their communities.
The mission of the programme “Together for the Common Good,” funded by the Peacebuilding Fund and jointly implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO in partnership with the Government of Montenegro, is to strengthen social cohesion in Montenegro.
The goal is to ensure that all citizens, regardless of personal characteristics, identity, or social status, have equal opportunities to participate in public, political, economic, and cultural life.
The foundations of this approach are mutual trust, the rule of law, strong and accountable institutions, and active citizen participation in decision-making. Social cohesion strengthens solidarity, reduces inequalities and polarization, encourages dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution, and contributes to the long-term stability, democratic development, and sustainable future of Montenegro.
Local Dialogue on Social Cohesion, Bijelo Polje
From Local Conversations to a National Document
The National Charter is the result of a unique, inclusive, and “bottom-up” process, based on real experiences, priorities, and the voices of citizens from five municipalities: Ulcinj, Bijelo Polje, Bar, Podgorica, and Pljevlja. In these municipalities, UNDP organized two-day local dialogues on social cohesion from October to December 2024.
These dialogues provided an open and stimulating space for the exchange of ideas, where initiatives for the common good were launched through an innovative and structured methodology. Participants had the opportunity to discuss important challenges in their communities, including hate speech, peer and gender-based violence, and the marginalization of certain social groups.
The local dialogues brought together 433 participants – citizens, children and youth, women, representatives of civil society, educators, parents, entrepreneurs, media, and local governments. This diversity contributed to a better understanding of different perspectives and experiences, ensuring the representativeness and legitimacy of the process.
Local Dialogue on Social Cohesion, Pljevlja
From Dialogue to Concrete Measures at the Local Level
Local governments translated the outcomes of the dialogues into Local Charters on Social Cohesion, which were adopted by the assemblies of all five municipalities. In this way, citizens’ recommendations became part of the local institutional framework, and municipalities assumed clear responsibilities for implementing concrete measures aimed at strengthening trust, inclusion, and community resilience.
This represents an important step toward shared responsibility and a stronger institutional response to the needs of all citizens.
At the same time, through Social Cohesion Innovation Labs, concrete solutions were tested and implemented, led by citizens themselves, further strengthening trust in participatory decision-making models.
Local Dialogue on Social Cohesion, Podgorica
Broad Partnership for Strengthening Social Cohesion
In addition to local dialogues, other programme activities made a significant contribution to the process. UNESCO organized academic dialogues in Kotor and Podgorica, in partnership with the University of Montenegro, bringing together students, professors, journalists, and decision-makers for open discussions on social challenges and innovative approaches to strengthening social cohesion through education and media platforms.
The national dialogue also incorporated UNICEF recommendations, while more than 100 children and young people participated in local dialogues, providing valuable contributions through their proposals.
Based on all collected inputs, a two-day National Dialogue on Social Cohesion was held in Podgorica on September 18 and 19, 2025. This dialogue continued the consultative process, aiming to consolidate local recommendations, adapt them to the national context, and define guidelines for action by state-level institutions.
The event gathered 120 participants – representatives of national and local institutions, children and youth, civil society, academia, international organizations, and informal civic initiatives. Through panel discussions, creative sessions, and group work, recommendations from local dialogues were analyzed, improved, and supplemented with new proposals, with a special focus on systemic challenges requiring coordinated action at the national level.
A Step Toward a More Resilient and Inclusive Society
Through this comprehensive process, citizens highlighted key challenges for strengthening social cohesion in Montenegro. The National Charter on Social Cohesion, as the final outcome, represents a unified vision and a shared framework for long-term strengthening of trust, inclusion, and social resilience, with clear potential for further institutionalization and application in other areas of public policy.
Learn more about the programme “Together for the Common Good” at:
https://www.undp.org/cnr/montenegro/projects/jacanje-povjerenja-gradana-u-institucije-i-izgradnja-otpornih-zajednica
www.opstedobro.me