AFTER NGO REQUEST: Montenegro Education Union ends cooperation with 'Vilina Vlas' facility, site of severe war crimes in Višegrad

(Patria) - The Centre for Civic Education (CGO) from Montenegro and the Association for Social Research and Communications (UDIK) from Bosnia and Herzegovina welcome the decision of the Montenegro Education Union (SPCG) to end cooperation with the rehabilitation centre "Vilina Vlas" in Višegrad and remove it from the offer of the travel agency "Prosvjeta", founded by this Union.

CGO and UDIK sent an initiative to SPCG on Friday, requesting that this cooperation be terminated and pointing out that there are numerous other options for vacation and rehabilitation in Montenegro and the region. Providing affordable vacations, including installment payments, as well as offering free packages by the Education Union, represents an important form of support for employees in education. The leadership of SPCG confirmed in a letter to CGO and UDIK, as well as in a public response dated 27 April 2026, that they had cooperated with the Višegrad spa due to more favourable prices compared to the Montenegrin market. However, CGO and UDIK believe that economic reasons cannot and must not override ethical standards.

https://nap.ba/de/post/zahtjev-crnoj-gori-zbog-objekta-vilina-vlas-sindikat-prosvjete-ne-smije-saradivati-sa-onima-koji-negiraju-zlocine

Zahtjev Crnoj Gori zbog objekta 'Vilina Vlas': Sindikat prosvjete ne smije sarađivati sa onima koji negiraju zločine

(Patria) - Nevladine organizacije Centar za građansko obrazovanje (CGO) iz Crne Gore i Udruženje za društvena istraživanja i komunikacije (UDIK) iz Bosne i Hercegovine juče su uputile Sindikatu...

We appreciate that SPCG recognised the seriousness of this issue and responded positively to our initiative, terminating cooperation with the "Vilina Vlas" spa this year.

We remind that during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, "Vilina Vlas" was a camp where approximately 200 women of Bosniak ethnicity were raped. This fact imposes a special responsibility on all institutions and organisations to be mindful of the symbolic and actual meaning of the spaces they choose for cooperation.

CGO and UDIK previously also sent an initiative to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Montenegro (PIO Fund) demanding the termination of cooperation with the "Vilina Vlas" spa, which sparked significant media interest in both countries. Ultimately, the PIO Fund of Montenegro terminated that contract.

CGO and UDIK believe that the termination of cooperation between SPCG and the "Vilina Vlas" spa is an important step towards a more responsible attitude towards the past and respect for victims, but also a reminder of the need to consistently embed ethical criteria in all institutional policies and programmes.

UDIK and CGO also call on other institutions and legal entities in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina that still offer "Vilina Vlas" for similar purposes to urgently terminate such contracts.