In a move to combat human trafficking and protect victims’ rights, three workshops were organised across Montenegro in September — gathering local authorities, social welfare centers, labour inspections, law enforcement, and judicial representatives.

As part of the Strategy for the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings (2019 – 2024), the workshops aimed to equip institutions with the tools needed to ensure that victims are aware of their rights, particularly the right to free legal aid. Currently, no victims of human trafficking have requested this important support, underscoring the need to raise awareness about available resources. Coordination among authorities is one of the main pillars in the fight against trafficking in human beings, as emphasized in the strategy, and is crucial for effectively addressing these issues and supporting victims.

The workshops focused on the importance of effectively communicating with victims, fostering trust, and providing clear information on how to access protection and assistance.

These activities were implemented with the support of the action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro", which is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and in cooperation with the Supreme Court of Montenegro, Ministry of Interior Affairs of Montenegro, International Organisatio