Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

On 31 July 2026, Montenegro adopted two important pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening the protection and rights of victims of violence: the Law on Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and amendments to the Law on Compensation for Victims of Criminal Offences of Violence.

The new Law on Protection from Violence against Women and Domestic Violence aims to further strengthen the legal and institutional framework for preventing and responding to violence against women and domestic violence, while further aligning Montenegro’s legislation with international standards, including those stemming from the Istanbul Convention.

At the same time, amendments to the Law on Compensation for Victims of Violent Crimes further strengthen the legal framework governing victims’ access to compensation and reinforce the State’s commitment to ensuring effective remedies and support for victims. The amendment concerns the date of application of the Law. Instead of providing that the Law would apply upon Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, the amended provision stipulates that it will become applicable as of 1 July 2027.

The adoption of these laws forms part of Montenegro’s broader efforts to strengthen victims’ rights, improve protection mechanisms and further align its legislation with European and international standards.

Through 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”, continuous support has been provided to institutions to strengthen victim protection mechanisms and further align the legislative framework with relevant EU directives and Council of Europe standards.