The final Steering Committee meeting of the action “Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro” took place in Podgorica on 29 November 2022.
After three and a half years of implementation, the action’s Steering Committee members discussed the results achieved, obstacles encountered and areas for further improvement.
It was underlined that the action provided relevant support to the authorities in fulfilling the requirements stemming from the EU accession process and the implementation of European standards. Although the activities have been conducted under complex and demanding circumstances, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, global and Beneficiary-specific political changes, concrete and tangible results have been achieved, including but not limited to the alignment of the criminal legislation with the EU acquis and standards developed in the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. The Criminal Code and Criminal Procedural Code have been revised and prepared for the further adoption procedure. Moreover, expert support was provided in revising the Law on Free Legal Aid, Law on Domestic Violence and Law on Misdemeanours.
Particular focus is put on the victims’ rights, so as to improve the access to justice for the victims of domestic violence. The awareness-raising initiative #TellTheWholeStory led to an increase in the number of victims seeking free legal aid by more than 100%; however, further efforts are needed to strengthen the beneficiaries’ capacities to effectively respond to all forms of violence against women. With that aim, the work with the Bar Association continues to enhance the capacities of free legal aid providers.
Activities with law students continue, thus enhancing their practical knowledge and skills on human rights issues. The legal clinic that brings together law students from all three Universities in Montenegro is fully operational and provides legal aid and legal advice to vulnerable groups.
Under the next phase of the action, the results achieved so far will be built upon, with a particular focus on victims’ rights, capacity building of the Victims’ Support Services and implementation of relevant standards in the daily work of legal practitioners.
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”.
