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 Strategy for the Protection of Victims’ Rights: final public consultations take place in Montenegro

Podgorica / Montenegro 14 October 2025
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Strategy for the Protection of Victims’ Rights: final public consultations take place in Montenegro

As part of the public consultation process to discuss the Draft Strategy for the Protection of Victims’ Rights and related Action Plan for its implementation, a round-table was held in Podgorica. Montenegro is in the final phase of developing its first national Strategy for the protection of victims’ rights aimed at systematically addressing the rights of all victims of crime and ensuring their comprehensive protection. Through the support of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe – Horizontal Facility III, significant expert and technical assistance has been provided to the Ministry of Justice in Montenegro and the working group throughout this process, which required the alignment of domestic legislation and policies with international standards. “We now have a high-quality and sustainable document that will contribute to strengthening the rights of victims at the national level.”, said Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, Lejla Dervišagić.

The Director General of the Directorate for Criminal and Civil Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, Jelena Grdinić emphasised the importance of adopting this overarching strategic document, which aims to achieve full alignment with the EU Directive 2012/29/EU. She invited participants to contribute to the finalisation of the document through their comments and suggestions. The need for continued support was particularly highlighted, especially in the areas of expert and technical assistance.  The public consultations will remain open until 17 October, after which the document will be finalised taking into account the inputs provided during the public debate. The Strategy’s adoption is expected by the end of the year. This initiative is supported within 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”, which  enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards.    

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.