Montenegro

Montenegro’s Judiciary will continue to receive support in fighting corruption and organized crime

Podgorica, 27 August, 2012

Financially supported by the British Embassy, UNDP Montenegro will continue to help in strengthening country’s judiciary capacities for fight against corruption and organized crime until March 2013. The aim is further empowering of judges and prosecutors for the efficient fight and for more effective implementation of criminal legislative framework. The expected result is strengthening professionalism of judges and prosecutors, commitment to the code of ethics and improved knowledge about good legal practices in the area of organized crime and corruption.

In June this year, the European Union opened accession negotiations with Montenegro. According to the European Commission’s 2011 Progress Report, country’s key priorities concern legislative framework for elections and Parliament's legislative and oversight role; public administration reform; judicial reform; fight against corruption; fight against organised crime; media freedom and cooperation with civil society; implementation of the anti-discrimination framework and the situation of displaced persons.

Using its long-standing experience, in January 2008 the UNDP’s Rule of Law and Human Rights Programme and the Government of Montenegro launched the project “Strengthening the capacities of the judiciary to fight corruption and organized crime”. The project was financially supported by UNDP, the Governments of Norway and the Netherlands, and it was focused on drafting a new Criminal Procedure Code and Anti-corruption training programme for judges and prosecutors. Main partners were the Judicial Training Center of Montenegro, the Embassy of the United States and the OSCE. The project’s contribution to raising professional capacities of judicial function holders was specifically mentioned in the Montenegro 2011 Progress Report.

The project will now continue. H. E. Ms. Kate Knight-Sands, British Ambassador to Montenegro and Mr. Rastislav Vrbensky, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative signed a cost-sharing agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Nations Development Programme for the project extension.One of its components, the Anti-corruption training programme, that has already encompassed 291 participant judges and prosecutors as well as representatives of other relevant state authorities, has been singled out as an extremely positive example of the structural approach.“Fostering rule of law, government transparency and accountability are preconditions for a democratic society that respects, protects and practices human rights. We are glad that we can help in this process through the project extension,” said Ms. Knight-Sands. Mr. Vrbensky thanked to the British Embassy’s highest representative for recognizing the significance of the project and the need for more trainings and education in the areas of organized crime and corruption. “These are seen as top priorities both by the international community and UNDP in the EU accession process,” Mr. Vrbensky emphasized.