Contributed by: Vanja Mikulic and Irena Milatovic, Montenegro National VAW Monitors

Work on the Initiative for the Adoption of the Witness Protection Law "Women’s Safe House" has started in September 2003 with cooperation of USAID/ORT/ Montenegro Advocacy Program and with strategic partnership of NGO "Group for Changes".

In October 2003, a working group consisted of Montenegrin eminent lawyers has been formed, and started to work on the creation of the Draft of the Witness Protection Law, preceded by detailed research work, analysis of the existing legal regulations, as well as by the work on comparative analysis of the appropriate laws from the region. Cooperation with the Ministry of Justice has been established and "Women 's Safe House" is pleased to announce that their work resulted with the acceptance of 90% of comments on the Ministry of Justice's Draft of Law, delivered by the "Women's Safe House's" working group.

This way, Initiative for Adoption of Witness Protection Law is a step forward in the path of the Non-Governmental Sector's inclusion in the legislation process that would, besides obtaining better and more comprehensive legal solution, also contribute to higher level of public participation in the judiciary reform process.  

With this aim, "Women 's Safe House" produced a TV clip and published a brochure that make a very useful informative material for the representatives of the administration of justice, government officials, ministers in the Republic of Montenegro Assembly, political parties and all non governmental organizations that are sharing interest in this subject.

Witness Protection Law will be enforced starting from April, 1st 2005.

Please click here for the Serbian version of the Witness Protection Law.

Source: NGO Women’s Safe House