The joint European Union/Council of Europe action "Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro" continues with activities aimed at increasing the capacities of the Victim Support Services in Montenegro. On 7-9 July 2021, two training sessions were organised for the representatives of the Services in close co-operation with the Supreme Court of Montenegro and the NGO Women’s Rights Centre.

Montenegro has made progress towards the creation of the comprehensive support mechanisms for the victims involved in judicial proceedings. The services for support to the victims/witnesses of trafficking in human beings or domestic violence are established in all relevant courts in Montenegro, with the aim to reduce, as much as possible, secondary victimisation during the court proceedings.

Still, additional efforts are needed to strengthen the capacities and visibility of the services. The European Commission urged Montenegrin authorities to raise the awareness of the general public on the existence of such services and support available to victims.

Accordinlgy, in close co-operation with the Supreme Court of Montenegro and civil society organisations, the action has developed the Protocol for the Work of Services which provides clear instructions to employees in the process of supporting and protecting victims during court proceedings.

The Protocol was presented during the training, together with the main mechanisms for the support to the victims, while practical exercises were conducted on how to interview the victims, how to deal with children, victims and witnesses of the crimes. The presentations were followed by discussions, thus enabling the Services to present the main challenges and dilemmas they are faced with when working with the victims.

The action "Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro" is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”.