The Guidelines for exercising the right to compensation to victims in criminal proceedings (for criminal cases of trafficking in human beings, domestic violence, war crimes, and other criminal cases) have been published and made available to both professional stakeholders and the general public.

The document is primarily intended for judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other participants in criminal proceedings, with the aim of improving judicial practice where victims seek compensation within criminal cases. In practice, the right to compensation has often been the weakest element of the victim protection system. These Guidelines help bridge the gap between the normative framework and effective enforcement, contributing to the realization of compensation as a genuinely enforceable right.

As such, the Guidelines represent an important step toward harmonising judicial practice and strengthening the protection of victims’ rights, ensuring effective, timely, and fair compensation in criminal proceedings, in line with domestic legislation and international standards.

Further support will be provided, in close cooperation with UNODC, to ensure the effective implementation of the Guidelines through capacity-building activities and increased awareness among legal professionals.

The Guidelines were developed with expert and financial support from the action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims’ rights in Montenegro,” as well as with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.