HF III Montenegro - Enhancing Human Rights protection for detained and sentenced persons

The Action “Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro” in its third phase will build upon results of the two preceding Actions of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” in Montenegro through a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe initially launched in 2016. Council of Europe will support Montenegrin authorities to improve the protection of human rights of all persons deprived of liberty in the areas of police, prisons, mental health care institutions, and monitoring mechanisms.
The Action will work in partnership with the Ministry of Interior/Police Administration, Administration for execution of criminal sanctions, Ministry of Justice, Ombudsman/National Preventive Mechanism, State Prosecutor’s Office, and Ministry of Health as well as other national stakeholders, including prominent civil society organisations active on the protection and promotion of human rights of detained persons.
The Action’s main areas of intervention will strive to enhance the rights of persons deprived of liberty and achieve the following outcomes:

Treatment of persons detained in police custody is improved in line with the Council of Europe standards against ill-treatment and impunity;
Authorities in Montenegro strengthen their capacity to better protect prisoners’ human rights;
Detained persons in prisons receive improved health care services;
Better monitoring of detention facilities through enhanced capacity of the NPM Office.

The Action addresses the findings and the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the application of Conventions of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).
The duration of the project is set at 48 months, and will be completed by 31 December 2026, with an overall budget of 800,000 Euros.

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Back Montenegrin national institutions send a strong message of zero tolerance of all forms of ill-treatment and impunity

Vladislav SPIRLICENCO

A roundtable convened in Budva on 22-23 November gathered key investigating bodies in Montenegro to identify systemic shortcomings and jointly explore optimal solutions for the prevention of ill-treatment and combating impunity.

The event was inaugurated by the heads of the State Prosecutor's Office, Police Administration, Ombudsman and Deputy Minister of Interior and highlighted a resolute commitment to zero tolerance for any form of ill-treatment and impunity, resonating with the principles emphasized in country reports by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

Over the course of two days, a constructive discussion among representatives of the police, prosecutors, criminal lawyers, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) and the Montenegrin representative before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg addressed communication deficiencies and discrepancies in the interpretation of legal norms.

It is expected that this roundtable will help to implement additional safeguards against ill-treatment, providing citizens with enhanced means of protection, and thus improve Montenegro's investigating system. These proactive measures align with the Montenegrin aspirations for European Union membership and demonstrate the country’s commitment to streamlining its practices with international standards.

The roundtable took place within the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, implemented by the Council of Europe.

Budva, Montenegro 24.11.2023