The Advocates for Human Rights, along with the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence, submitted a List of Issues Prior to Review domestic violence to the 128th Session of the Human Rights Committee.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) recognizes that certain basic rights are guaranteed regardless of a person’s race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, nation or social origin, birth or other status, and men and women have an equal right to enjoy those rights. Domestic violence is a violation of women’s rights recognized by the ICCPR, and it remains a serious problem in Montenegro. According to a 2018 survey, about one in five women in Montenegro has experienced violence by a partner or non-partner after age 15.
The government of Montenegro has taken critical steps toward protecting victims from violence by adopting the Law on Domestic Violence Protection (LDVP) and amending the Criminal Code. Problems persist with implementation, however; law enforcement does not use best practices to resolve and redress cases of domestic violence, which is the product of both policy and the attitude surrounding domestic violence issues within the judiciary.
The authors of this report propose the following suggested questions for the government of Montenegro