For the judicial institutions to be viewed by citizens as effective and transparent, it is vital that information placed in the public domain, whether about individual cases or work of the prosecution in general, is well-balanced, accurate and aligned with the core values of judicial independence and integrity. This was one of the key messages from the Workshop on the importance of communication in the justice sector held in Budva on 27 and 28 March. The workshop was  organised by the joint European Union and Council of Europe action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro".

The purpose of the workshop was to facilitate better understanding of communication challenges and opportunities and to assist judicial institutions in using the potential of media to better communicate with their target audiences. The new members of the Judicial Council, including the Acting Supreme Court President, members of the Council’ Secretariat, as well as members of the Prosecutorial Council and its Secretariat and judges and state prosecutors – spokespersons participated in the workshop. Opening speeches were delivered by Tatjana Begović, the Acting Supreme State Prosecutor, Vesna Simović Zvicer, Acting President of the Judicial Council and Elena Jovanovska Brezoska, Head of the Southeast Europe Unit in the Co-operation Programmes Division in the Council of Europe Directorate General for Human Rights and Rule of Law.

Council of Europe consultants facilitated the workshop and presented key communication standards, including those embedded in the CEPEJ Guide on Communication with the Media and the Public for Courts and Prosecution Authorities. They also illustrated practical examples of how judges and prosecutors may use different communication tools to produce an impact on public’s confidence in the judicial system. In addition to practical examples, communication risks and constraints were discussed, based on concrete case study materials and other relevant sources.

The action "Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro" is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.”