The non-governmental organizations Centre for Civic Education (CGO), Human Rights Action (HRA), and the Center for Women’s Rights (CŽP), in line with the public call issued by the Parliament of Montenegro for the selection of members of the Council of Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG), have nominated Marijana Camović Veličković as a candidate for the RTCG Council from among organizations dedicated to the protection of human rights and freedoms.
Her nomination has been additionally supported by 26 other NGOs, making her the joint candidate of 29 civil society organizations working in the field of human rights.
In a joint statement signed by CGO, HRA, and CŽP, the organizations noted that those supporting Camović Veličković are active in various areas of human rights, including gender equality, the rights of persons with disabilities, labor rights, LGBTIQ rights, protection of vulnerable and marginalized groups, transitional justice, media freedom, freedom of assembly, environmental protection, youth rights, and more.
“Camović Veličković brings substantial experience to the RTCG Council, having previously served as its Vice President. During her previous mandate, she consistently pointed out irregularities and unlawful practices within the Public Broadcaster and played a crucial role in insisting on legal compliance in the process of appointing the RTCG’s Director General. She refused to participate in the illegal appointment of RTCG management, a decision that was later confirmed by final court rulings. Camović Veličković is also a witness in an ongoing case before the Basic Court in Podgorica, where several Council members are being tried for alleged abuse of office. Her past engagement in the Council represented an important voice in defense of professionalism, ethics, and public accountability”, they said.
The nomination was officially submitted to the Parliament of Montenegro on Friday, June 27, 2025, along with full documentation from the 29 NGOs, including a written vision for the future development of RTCG, authored by Camović Veličković. In this document, she clearly identifies key challenges faced by RTCG and offers concrete, feasible solutions to address them.
In addition to the nominating organizations—CGO, HRA, and CŽP—her candidacy has been supported by a wide spectrum of NGOs contributing to the advancement of human rights and democratization in Montenegro, including those focused on youth activism, media development, labor rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ rights, and environmental protection. These organizations come from various municipalities across Montenegro.
The statement concludes with the belief that this nomination represents an opportunity to strengthen the RTCG Council with a person of integrity, experience, and expertise—someone capable of consistently advocating for the public interest and contributing to reinforcing the role of the Public Broadcaster in a democratic society.