PRAVOSUĐE I CIVILNO DRUŠTVO U SRBIJI I CRNOJ GORI
JUSTICE AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

Author(s): Vesna Rakić Vodinelić
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Civil Society, Political behavior, Politics and society
Published by: CEDET Centar za demokratsku tranziciju
Keywords: judiciary; human rights; security; civil society
Summary/Abstract: The paper problematizes the basis of international relations and human rights today, so the question arises whether the key legal concept of human rights has been replaced by the use of a new concept that is not legally sufficiently defined - "state security". The basis for doubting this substitution is found in the legislative practice of the USA after September 11, 2001. In this general framework, the relationship between the judiciary and civil society in Serbia and Montenegro is considered. It was observed that the ideas of the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and a fair trial, were especially affirmed during the time of authoritarian rule in Serbia, and that the most important promoters of these ideas were the institutions of civil society. After the change of government in 2000, some of these ideas were accepted by the state administration. But, soon after the collapse of the ruling coalition in Serbia, and especially after the assassination of the Prime Minister of Serbia and after the implausible abandonment of criminal prosecution for human trafficking in Montenegro, there comes a time when the state administration increasingly ignores these ideas, essentially acting against them, while civil society institutions do not find an adequate response.

• Details
• Contents