New guidelines on sentencing in cases of violence against women and sexual violence against children have been published, making them accessible to both professionals and the public.

They demonstrate a strong commitment by the judiciary to combat these serious violations of human dignity and the physical and psychological integrity of victims. The guidelines stress that such crimes are not isolated acts, but attacks on the fundamental values of a democratic society and call for a zero-tolerance approach in sentencing.

Courts are given a key role in enforcing this approach, both by protecting victims’ rights and by upholding justice, legal certainty and public trust.

The guidelines are based on Montenegro’s international obligations, including the Istanbul and Lanzarote Conventions, which require penalties to be effective, proportionate and dissuasive, while recognising the vulnerability of victims. They also form part of Montenegro’s broader Reform Agenda, reinforcing efforts to strengthen the rule of law and align judicial practice with international standards.

This initiative is supported in the framework of 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”.