A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) carried out an evaluation visit to Montenegro on 2-5 December 2024, as part of the fourth evaluation round of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.
This evaluation round of monitoring the implementation of the Convention focuses on vulnerabilities to human trafficking and measures taken by States Parties to prevent them, detect and support vulnerable victims, and punish the offenders. This includes the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which brings structural changes to the way offenders operate and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.
Prior to the visit, the Montenegrin authorities provided a reply to GRETA’s questionnaire for the fourth evaluation round. In addition to the new thematic focus, GRETA examined how the main recommendations made in its third evaluation report have been implemented.
During the visit, the GRETA delegation met representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, including the Department for the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Group for Combating Smuggling, Trafficking in Human Beings and Irregular Migration, the Border Police, the Directorate for Asylum, the Directorate for Foreigners, Migration and Readmission, the Directorate for Reception of Foreigners Seeking International Protection, the Group for Countering Cybercrime, as well as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family and Demography, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights. Meetings were also held with the prosecution authorities, representatives of the Supreme Court and High Court in Podgorica, and the Administration for Execution of Criminal Sanctions. Further, the delegation met with representatives of the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, members of the Parliament, and the Roma Council.
The GRETA delegation held separate meetings with non-governmental organisations. It also met with representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The visit provided an opportunity to visit the shelter for child victims and the shelter for adult female victims of human trafficking, as well as the reception centre for asylum seekers in Podgorica.
The visit was carried out by Ms Biljana Lubarovska and Mr Luka Mađerić, members of GRETA, who were accompanied by Ms Asja Žujo of the Secretariat of the Convention.
Following the visit, GRETA will prepare a draft report, which will be sent to the Montenegrin authorities for comments. GRETA will subsequently adopt a final report which will be published.
