Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Prosecutors, judges, police officers and medical staff further improved their skills in combating and preventing ill-treatment during two consecutive capacity building sessions held in Podgorica on 27 and 28 January.

The sessions address findings of the CPT, which explicitly emphasises that it is “axiomatically clear” that an investigation has limited impact if sanctions for ill-treatment are inadequate and that lenient penalties can create a climate of impunity, as well as the EU Progress Report 2025, which notes that Montenegro “provides insufficient legal safeguards for the prevention of torture and ill-treatment, and that follow-up of cases requires improvement.”

As effective judicial outcomes require that all participants in the process—particularly medical professionals, whose findings often carry decisive evidentiary weight—have a thorough understanding of the Istanbul Protocol as a widely recognized international standard for conducting effective investigations, all relevant actors were invited to participate.

In cooperation with the Center for Training in the Judiciary and the State Prosecutor's Office and its national team of trainers, together with Council of Europe consultants, participants had the opportunity to hear key recommendations, relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and guidance from the Istanbul Protocol. This enabled them to jointly analyse their individual roles in the context of the overall objective and to identify shortcomings that contribute to ineffective investigations and consequently, lenient sentencing practices.

Joint exercises involving all key actors (prosecutors, judges, police officers and medical staff) in the investigation of reported cases of ill-treatment strengthened inter-institutional understanding of the problem, enhanced mutual understanding and cooperation fostering a coordinated approach to addressing and preventing this phenomenon.

Participants left with a stronger understanding of interactions, protocols and institutional roles in the fight against impunity, contributing to greater protection of Montenegrin citizens and bringing the country a step closer to meeting international human rights standards.

Sessions were organised under the action, “Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced person in Montenegro”, as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”,  implemented by the Council of Europe. This initiative plays a crucial role in supporting Montenegro's efforts in meeting Final Benchmark 3 in Negotiation Chapter 23 “Montenegro protects fundamental rights both in law and in practice and is fully prepared to apply the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and other relevant EU acquis upon accession.”