Work in this thematic area focuses on prisons and police (including human rights in policing, healthcare in prisons and safeguards against torture and ill-treatment), human rights standards in the judiciary (focusing on enhancing the application of case-law of the European Court of Human Rights), the efficiency of justice systems (with a focus on analysing judicial statistics to optimise court administrations) and/or legal co-operation (which concentrate on increasing the individual independence of judges and prosecutors and the accountability of the judicial system).

Back Montenegro: Further steps taken to strengthen legal aid for particularly vulnerable victims

Podgorica 30 March 2026
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Montenegro: 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 trafficking are assisted by specially trained lawyers with at least three years of legal practice, steps have been taken to strengthen the specialisation of legal professionals in this field.

Within this framework, two training-of-trainers sessions were conducted: the first, dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence (10–11 March 2026), and the second, focused on human trafficking (30 March 2026). The trainings were organised in cooperation with the Bar Association of Montenegro and the Centre for Training in the Judiciary and State Prosecution.

During both trainings, participants enhanced their knowledge of international standards and relevant practices, as well as key aspects of working with victims, including understanding their needs, appropriate communication, and the prevention of secondary victimisation. Special attention was dedicated to practical approaches and methodologies for transferring knowledge to future participants.

In the coming period, trained trainers will have a key role in delivering specialised training for lawyers across Montenegro. The program will include an online component via the HELP platform, as well as a two-day practical training, after which participants will be tested.

Lawyers who successfully complete the entire program and achieve the required results will be accredited to provide free legal aid to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, thereby further strengthening the protection system and improving access to justice for the most vulnerable groups in society.

The initiative is supported by the Action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims’ rights in Montenegro,”, part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, international organisation GIZ and EU4FAST Project (European Union support in prevention and fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Western Balkans).

Actions under theme i: ensuring justice
  • Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Albania - Phase III  
  • Supporting enforcement of judicial decisions and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania           
  • Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania  
  • Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina  
  • Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Kosovo* -  Phase II  
  • Accountability of the judicial system in Montenegro - Phase II  
  • Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro  
  • Further enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro  
  • Strengthening independence and accountability of the judiciary in Serbia  
  • Strengthening the effective legal remedies to human rights violations in Serbia  
  • Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Serbia  
  • Supporting enhanced access to higher quality Free Legal Aid services in North Macedonia  
  • Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  • Supporting the implementation and reporting on the Action Plan on Human Rights in Turkey  
  • Judicial training institutes for Quality and Sustainability in the Western Balkans 
  • Initiative for legal certainty in the Western Balkans  
  • Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in the Western Balkans  
  • Towards a better evaluation of the results of judicial reform efforts in the Western Balkans  
  • Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) in the Western Balkans 
  • PACE cooperation with the parliamentary assemblies with a view to achieving legislative improvements in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.