With the aim of promoting Judicial Ethics and Professional Conduct, a two-day workshop for judges and prosecutors took place in Podgorica on 16/17 May 2023 and was implemented in co-operation with the Judicial Training Centre of Montenegro. The workshop represents a part of the Training Curricula designed with the aim to increase the awareness and knowledge of judicial professionals of common ethical principles and concepts in the administration of justice for the benefit of the people.
Over the course of two days, more than 70 judges and state prosecutors from all regions of Montenegro engaged in lively discussions on fundamental principles of judicial and prosecutorial ethics, focusing on the implementation of the existing Codes of Ethics of judges and state prosecutors in Montenegro. Domestic frameworks concerning the ethics of judges and prosecutors were presented and discussed. Ethical dilemmas posed before judges and state prosecutors in the performance of their professional duties were addressed through practical examples and case studies, to deepen their knowledge and understanding of professional tools in ethics and allow them to practically apply the knowledge gained.
The participants were also exposed to international and European standards of judicial ethics, mainly the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, as well as to comparative examples from different countries. This approach encouraged the participants to reflect on the existing ethical frameworks and tools in view of the challenges faced in their daily work and to propose measures for improvements. Relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the opinions issued by the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) and the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) was presented and discussed.
This workshop was organised within the framework of the action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro” which is implemented as part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye".