Contributed by: Irena Milatovic and Vanja Mikulic, Montenegro National VAW Monitors
The Department for Gender Equality and Combating Trafficking of the Council of Europe and the National Coordinator’s Office for Anti-trafficking organised the seminar, “Combating Trafficking in Human Beings in Montenegro – Protection of Victims and Criminal Prosecution of Traffickers,” which was held in Kolasin 5-6 July 2007.
The seminar focused on two topics, “protection and improvement of rights of victims of trafficking” and “material criminal law, in particular with regard to criminal prosecution of traffickers.” Through presentations and discussions, experiences were exchanged with regard to trafficking in human beings in Montenegro.
The seminar was attended by representatives of all relevant institutions and organisations that
deal with this issue. The following conclusions came out at the seminar:
• Continue making legislation on trafficking in human beings consistent with that of the EU
• Update the Memorandum of Understanding on combating trafficking between the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and the NGO "Montenegrin Women's Lobby" and NGO "Safety Women's House."
• Improve the cooperation of competent state institutions with the media in order to advance the reaction toward trafficking in human beings as one of the forms of organised crime, make it easier to identify and point out its very harmful consequences, in cooperation with NGOs and civil society.
• Strengthen cooperation and coordination between and within services.
Source: Gender Equality Office of the Government of Montenegro