Back Montenegro: Further steps taken to strengthen legal aid for particularly vulnerable victims

Podgorica 30 March 2026
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
  • Imprimer en PDF
Montenegro: Further steps taken to strengthen legal aid for particularly vulnerable victims

Montenegro continues its activities aimed at improving the capacity of lawyers to provide legal aid to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

To support the implementation of the 2024 amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid, which require that victims of domestic violence and human trafficking are assisted by specially trained lawyers with at least three years of legal practice, steps have been taken to strengthen the specialisation of legal professionals in this field.

Within this framework, two training-of-trainers sessions were conducted: the first, dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence (10–11 March 2026), and the second, focused on human trafficking (30 March 2026). The trainings were organised in cooperation with the Bar Association of Montenegro and the Centre for Training in the Judiciary and State Prosecution.

During both trainings, participants enhanced their knowledge of international standards and relevant practices, as well as key aspects of working with victims, including understanding their needs, appropriate communication, and the prevention of secondary victimisation. Special attention was dedicated to practical approaches and methodologies for transferring knowledge to future participants.

In the coming period, trained trainers will have a key role in delivering specialised training for lawyers across Montenegro. The program will include an online component via the HELP platform, as well as a two-day practical training, after which participants will be tested.

Lawyers who successfully complete the entire program and achieve the required results will be accredited to provide free legal aid to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, thereby further strengthening the protection system and improving access to justice for the most vulnerable groups in society.

The initiative is supported by 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”, international organisation GIZ and EU4FAST Project (European Union support in prevention and fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Western Balkans).

Puna në këtë fushë tematike fokusohet tek burgjet dhe policia (duke përfshirë të drejtat e njeriut në policim, kujdesi shëndetësor në burgje dhe masat mbrojtëse kundër torturës dhe keqtrajtimit), standardet e të drejtave të njeriut në gjyqësor (duke u fokusuar në përmirësimin e zbatimit të praktikës gjyqësore të Gjykatës Evropiane për të Drejtat e Njeriut), çështjet e migracionit, efikasiteti i sistemeve të drejtësisë (me fokus në analizimin e statistikave gjyqësore për të optimizuar administratat e gjykatave) dhe/ose bashkëpunimi ligjor (i cili përqendrohet në rritjen e pavarësisë individuale të gjyqtarëve dhe prokurorëve dhe llogaridhënies së sistemit gjyqësor).

Back Defamation & protection of reputation, and safety of journalists discussed with judicial professionals in Pristina

Defamation & protection of reputation, and safety of journalists discussed with judicial professionals in Pristina

The joint European Union and Council of Europe action on “Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media (JUFREX)” in co-operation with Academy of Justice organised a two- day roundtable with judicial professionals on Freedom of Expression: defamation and protection of reputation, and safety of journalists. The roundtable gathered members from the judiciary, prosecutions, police officers and lawyers from different municipalities. For two days, the participant had the opportunity to discuss and elaborate on issues related to freedom of expression and media freedom. 

Local certified trainers on freedom of expression and international experts discussed with participants the local and international legal and institutional framework, standards of ECtHR, and domestic jurisprudence on defamation and protection of journalists. Representatives of media actors and police officers shared their experience and knowledge and discussed the safety of journalists, including the local legal framework in place.

Local certified trainers on freedom of expression #FoE and international experts elaborated with participants on the local and international legal and institutional framework, standards of ECtHR, and domestic jurisprudence on defamation and protection of journalists.

This initiative is conducted in the framework of the the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”,  a co-operation initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, which aims at assisting Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans region and Turkey to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process, where relevant.

 

 

Pristina 1-2 June 2022
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page

* Ky përkufizim është pa paragjykim ndaj qëndrimeve për statusin, dhe është në përputhje me Rezolutën e Këshillit të Sigurimit të Kombeve të Bashkuara 1244/1999 dhe Opinionin e GJND-së mbi shpalljen e pavarësisë së Kosovës.