Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro
Future lawyers in the Western Balkans take on digital violence against women
“Violence knows no borders, but neither does our empathy.” The words of one participant capture the spirit of this year's Regional Summer School in Trebinje better than any programme agenda ever could. Inside a simulated courtroom, 30 law students from across the Western Balkans sit before a...
Making victims’ right to compensation work in practice in Montenegro
An event dedicated to enhancing the procedural rights of victims in criminal proceedings, with a particular focus on the right to compensation, was held in Podgorica. The training brought together representatives of judicial institutions and the Bar Association aiming to provide floor for...
New practical guidelines support judges and prosecutors in applying ethical standards in Montenegro
Montenegro has taken another important step towards strengthening judicial integrity and public trust through the adoption of practical Guidelines for the implementation of the Codes of Ethics for judges and state prosecutors. Following the adoption of the new Codes of Ethics in 2025, the...
Professional appraisal of state prosecutors: Ensuring fairness, accountability and quality in prosecutorial work
Clear and objective criteria are an essential prerequisite for strengthening the quality and efficiency of prosecutorial work. To support the implementation of the new Rules on the Professional Appraisal of State Prosecutors, a targeted training programme for heads of appraisal councils in the...
Montenegro’s judges and prosecutors strengthen ethical standards to reinforce public trust in justice
Judges and state prosecutors from across Montenegro gathered on 2–3 June to strengthen the application of ethical, integrity and accountability standards in their daily work, recognising these principles as essential for preserving public trust in the judiciary and upholding the rule of law. The...
Montenegro steps up protection of victims with specialised training for lawyers
Montenegro has launched a specialised training programme for lawyers providing free legal aid to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, aiming to strengthen access to justice for some of the most vulnerable groups in society. The initiative follows the 2024 amendments to the Law on...
Montenegrin judiciary strengthens response to domestic violence and violence against women
Representatives of the Montenegrin judiciary gathered in Podgorica for a two-day training aimed at strengthening the institutional response to domestic violence and violence against women, with a particular focus on improving cooperation and coordinated action in cases involving violence against...
Advancing ethical and disciplinary practices in Montenegro's judiciary
The Council of Europe and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the Judicial Council, Prosecutorial Council, Supreme Court of Montenegro and Supreme State Prosecution Office, organised a joint training course on Strengthening Ethical and Disciplinary Frameworks...
Montenegro adopts new Code of Professional Conduct for Lawyers, strengthening accountability and public trust
Montenegro has taken an important step forward in advancing the rule of law with the adoption of a new Code of Professional Conduct for Lawyers. The Code was developed with the support of the Council of Europe, drawing on European standards and best practices to reinforce professionalism,...
Further steps taken to strengthen legal aid for particularly vulnerable victims
Montenegro continues its activities aimed at improving the capacity of lawyers to provide legal aid to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking To support the implementation of the 2024 amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid, which require that victims of domestic violence and human...
Montenegro publishes Sentencing guidelines for cases of violence against women and sexual violence against children
New guidelines on sentencing in cases of violence against women and sexual violence against children have been published, making them accessible to both professionals and the public. They demonstrate a strong commitment by the judiciary to combat these serious violations of human dignity and the...
From standards to practice: How to strengthen victim protection in Montenegro
Protecting the rights of victims of criminal offenses requires continuous knowledge exchange and the professional development of justice professionals. This was the key message of a two-day training on procedural mechanisms for victim protection, with a focus on war crimes. The Center for...
Handbook for lawyers on combating human trafficking published
A new Handbook for lawyers on human trafficking has been published and is now available to both professionals and the wider public, marking an important step in strengthening the legal profession’s capacity to combat one of the most serious human rights violations of modern times. Organised in...
Montenegro advances implementation of the victims’ rights strategy
Montenegro has taken further steps to implement its Victims’ Rights Strategy and Action Plan, establishing a Council to monitor progress across key institutions involved in the protection of victims’ rights. The first coordination meeting of the Council, chaired by the Ministry of Justice on 16...
Key stakeholders discuss gender equality in the judicial system of Montenegro
The UNDP Gender Team in Montenegro, in cooperation with the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, through the action Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro, has conducted a comprehensive research on gender equality...
Montenegro publishes Guidelines on Victims’ Right to Compensation
The Guidelines for exercising the right to compensation to victims in criminal proceedings (for criminal cases of trafficking in human beings, domestic violence, war crimes, and other criminal cases) have been published and made available to both professional stakeholders and the general public....
Montenegro publishes Handbook for lawyers providing free legal aid to victims of domestic violence
In the context of the work aimed at enhancing the free legal aid services for the most vulnerable victims, the specialised training course for lawyers has been finalised in close cooperation with the Judicial Training Centre and Bar association. The publication of the Handbook represents an...
Communication Strategy of the State Prosecutor’s Office and Prosecutorial Council for 2026–2028 adopted in Montenegro
The Communication Strategy of the State Prosecution and the Prosecutorial Council for the period 2026 - 2028 was recently adopted by the Prosecutorial Council of Montenegro, setting out measures to strengthen co-operation with the media and establish a more proactive approach to informing...
Montenegro adopts Victims’ Rights Strategy
The Government of Montenegro has adopted the Victims’ Rights Strategy and Action Plan, marking a significant milestone as the country’s first comprehensive strategy that provides an overall framework for the protection of all victims of crime. The Strategy establishes a systematic and long-term...
Montenegro strengthens efforts towards a co-ordinated victim support system
In line with the recently adopted Strategy for the Protection of Victims’ Rights, Montenegro has initiated activities aimed at establishing an efficient and coordinated system of services for victim support. As part of this process, an expert mission took place from 19–23 January, with the...