LocationsPartnership between UNDP and the Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office on advancing gender equality and strengthening the rule of law
October 2, 2024
Podgorica, October 2, 2024 – The Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro have signed a statement of intent with clear expectations and goals – to advance gender equality and effectively address gender-based violence. This partnership marks a significant step towards strengthening the legal system and protecting human rights in Montenegro, while also contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
Data on gender-based violence in Montenegro serve as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of gender discrimination. According to the available 2024 judicial data, since the beginning of 2017, 17 women in Montenegro have been killed solely because of their gender. All of them were killed by emotional partners and relatives. The youngest femicide victim was 18 years old. OSCE analyses about public perceptions of gender-based violence conducted in 2022 are also discouraging, with one-third of the population believing that women falsely claim to be victims of psychological violence to gain attention.
As emphasized by UNDP, only 4% of citizens recognize sexual harassment as violence, while on the other hand, 74% of sexual violence victims have never told anyone about their experience. Further, 2022 MONSTAT and OSCE research has shown that although one in five women will face partner violence at some point in their lives, 62% of women in Montenegro hesitate to report it due to fear of their abuser. This highlights high distrust in institutions and underscores the urgent need for collaboration with the judicial system to foster a safer and more just society. .
The partnership was signed on the International Day of Non-Violence by the Supreme State Prosecutor, Milorad Marković, and the UNDP’s Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova. This occasion recognized their shared mission to improve gender equality and identify key areas for joint work.
Strengthening the the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office's capacity to effectively handle gender-based violence cases will be a priority in this partnership, with the integration of gender equality principles into all aspects of the judicial process, contributing to the broader goal of enhancing gender equality in Montenegro. The cooperation will also focus on improving the VDT’s ability to ensure the rule of law, protect human rights, and deliver justice through specialized training and support, ensuring that the public administration’s approach to gender-based violence aligns with international standards and best practices.
In addition, the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office and UNDP will work on improving mutual coordination to implement gender-sensitive approaches and policies, thereby strengthening efforts to combat gender-based violence.
Ekaterina Paniklova expressed confidence that this partnership will strengthen the judiciary’s response to gender-based violence and support the adoption of gender-sensitive standards, creating a framework where gender equality is deeply embedded in the principles of the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office.
“Integrating gender perspectives into prosecutorial functions is not just a procedural adjustment - it is a fundamental shift towards a more equitable legal system that fully addresses the vulnerabilities and experiences of women. Strengthening the capacity of the Supreme Sa to effectively handle gender-based violence cases ensures that gender equality is incorporated into every stage of the judicial process and that the rule of law is in place. This is not just about improving outcomes in individual cases; it is about institutionalizing gender-sensitive practices that will have a lasting impact on Montenegro’s legal system and contribute to the broader goal of advancing gender equality”, Paniklova stated.
Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković emphasized that cooperation with UNDP does not begin with the statement of intent, it rather continues and strengthens, in line with the planned strategy for improving gender equality and better recognition and response in cases of gender-based violence.
“Our plan and clear commitment is to transform the prosecutorial organization on various levels, but the segment we are discussing today will be part of the key transformation of the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office, as this issue touches the core of the prosecutor’s office work. Unfortunately, domestic violence and all other forms of violence against women are rarely recognized and linked to gender-based violence. This is a change that requires a lot of work and will ultimately be the result we want to see through this cooperation. I am confident that the activities we are set to implement will help change the mindset within the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office and establish an environment that ensures gender equality, which has a special meaning in the context of gender equality”, he stated.
