With the aim of improving the work of state prosecutors, with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica and in co-operation with the Association of State Prosecutors of Montenegro, a Conference on priorities and further directions of the prosecutorial reform in Montenegro was held on 22 December.

The conference provided an opportunity for state prosecutors to analyse the recommendations from the 2023 European Commission's Report on Montenegro, as well as the recommendations of relevant Council of Europe bodies. Proceedings in cases related to trafficking in human beings, gender-based violence and domestic violence, as well as intimidation and attacks on journalists were analysed.

Efforts  should be strenghtened to identify and protect victims and consistently prosecute all organised forms of trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual and labour exploitation. In relation to domestic violence, the need to protect the rights of children - witnesses and victims of violence was emphasised, with particular reference to the GREVIO recommendations. The legal novelties aimed at greater protection of journalists were presented, as well as the results of the work of the Commission for monitoring violence against the media. The Association of State Prosecutors also considered the possibilities for strengthening co-operation with the media, with the aim of achieving a balance between the public's right to know and the protection of information in criminal proceedings.

The participants of the conference agreed that it is necessary to improve the implementation of international and Council of Europe standards, as well as opinions of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) related to the protection of independence and status of state prosecutors.

​The conference was organised with 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.