Supreme Court President Valentina Pavličić begins mandate as member of the Venice Commission

Supreme Court President Valentina Pavličić began a four-year term as a member of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on June 20, the court confirmed.

They point out that this is one of the most important advisory bodies of the Council of Europe in the field of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The decision to appoint Valentina Pavličić as a member and Minister of Justice Bojan Božović as a deputy member of the Venice Commission was made by the Government, while the Secretariat of the Venice Commission confirmed their mandates.

The Venice Commission is an advisory body of the Council of Europe on constitutional matters that provides expert support to member states in improving their constitutional and legislative frameworks, in order to harmonize national legal systems with European standards in the areas of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

"The Commission brings together representatives of 60 member states, among whom are the most respected and prominent legal experts at the national and international level. Although they are proposed by the member states, the members of the Commission act in their personal capacity, independently and impartially, contributing to the development of European legal standards through the preparation of expert opinions and recommendations," the Supreme Court notes.

The Venice Commission was established in 1990 within the Council of Europe. Its activities cover issues of democratic institutions and fundamental rights, constitutional and ordinary judiciary, as well as elections, referendums and political parties. The Commission's headquarters are in Strasbourg, while plenary sessions are held in Venice four times a year.

Biography

The Supreme Court also submitted the biography of the president of that institution.

She was born in 1968 in Podgorica. She graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro in Podgorica in 1990. She passed the bar exam before the commission of the Ministry of Justice of the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Belgrade in February 1997.

"For many years, she worked as a criminal judge at the Higher Court in Podgorica, adjudicating some of the most complex criminal cases within the Montenegrin judiciary. She possesses extensive expertise in the Montenegrin judicial system, criminal justice and human rights protection. During her judicial career, she has gained extensive experience in handling cases related to organized crime and high-level corruption, demonstrating a strong commitment to the rule of law, the integrity of the judiciary and the efficient administration of justice," the biography states.

Since December 2024, she has served as the President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro.

From February 2024 to December of the same year, she was a consultant to the Council of Europe.

From September 2015 to February 2024, she was the Representative of Montenegro before the European Court of Human Rights.

From 2013 to 2015, she was the President of the Criminal Department of the Higher Court in Podgorica.

From 2008 to 2015, she was a judge of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Corruption, Terrorism and War Crimes of the High Court in Podgorica.

Since 2017, he has been a lecturer, expert and consultant within the joint project of the Council of Europe and the European Union, the "Horizontal Facility" program for the Western Balkans and Turkey.

From 2016 to 2019, she was a member of the Working Group on Freedom of Expression and Association with Other Human Rights of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH-EXP) in Strasbourg, France.

Since 2016, he has been a lecturer at legal academies and seminars on the rule of law.

Since 2015, he has been a member of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in Strasbourg, France.

Since 2015, he has been a member of the Committee of Experts on the European Convention on Human Rights (DH-SYSC) in Strasbourg, France.

Since 2014, he has been a lecturer at initial and continuous training courses at the Training Center for the Judiciary and State Prosecutor's Office of Montenegro.

Since 2014, he has been an expert of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ).

Since 2012, he has been an expert for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the field of human trafficking and cross-border crime.

They also listed her additional professional activities and engagements:

Since December 2024, he has been a member of the Judicial Council of Montenegro.

Since the same month, she has also been the President of the Commission for the Evaluation of Judges; President of the Commission for the Protection of Witnesses; Member of the National Council for the Fight against Corruption; Member of the Council for Monitoring the Implementation of the Judicial Reform Strategy; Member of the Council for the Rule of Law.

He leads the Steering Committee for the Improvement of the Judicial System within the European Union's EUROL 4 project and the introduction of an innovative artificial intelligence system that will involve all judges in order to improve national judicial practice.

Since 2021, she has been an external expert - a member of the Commission for the Verification of Competencies, Knowledge and Skills for Heads of Administrative Bodies and Senior Management Staff within the Human Resources Directorate.

Since the same year, she has been a member of the Commission for taking the state bar exam (in the subject of Constitutional Law) at the Ministry of Justice of Montenegro.

From 2019 to 2024, she was a member of the ad hoc negotiating group CDDH on the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ("47+1") within the Steering Committee for Human Rights.

From 2019 to 2024, she was a lecturer at the "Gavro Vuković" Summer School for Young Diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro.

From 2018 to 2024, she was a lecturer on the topic "Protection of human rights before the European Court of Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights Article 6 § 1 (right to a trial within a reasonable time in administrative proceedings)" as part of the professional training and development program for civil servants and employees.

From 2017 to 2024, she was a lecturer, expert and consultant within the joint project of the Council of Europe and the European Union - "Horizontal facility "Programme for the Western Balkans and Turkey" within the Programme Office of the Council of Europe (CoE) in Podgorica.

From 2016 to 2019, she was a member of the Drafting Group on Freedom of Expression and Links with Other Human Rights of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH-EXP) in Strasbourg, France.

From 2016 to 2024, she was a lecturer at legal academies and seminars on the rule of law, organized by the NGO "CEDEM".

From 2015 to 2024, she was a member of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in Strasbourg, France, within the Council of Europe (CoE).

From 2015 to 2024, she was a member of the Committee of Experts on the System of the European Convention on Human Rights (DH-SYSC) in Strasbourg, France, within the Council of Europe (CoE).

From 2015 to 2024, she was a lecturer at the School of Political Studies, organized by the NGO "Civil Alliance".

Since 2015, he has been a lecturer at legal clinics at the Faculty of Law in Podgorica; University of Montenegro.

Since 2014, she has been a lecturer in various initial and continuing education programs within the Center for Training in the Judiciary and State Prosecutor's Office of Montenegro.

In 2014, she was an expert of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), Council of Europe (CoE).

Also, in 2012, she was an expert for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); Council of Europe (CoE).

From 2011 to 2013, she was a member of the Negotiating Group for Chapter 24 "Justice, Equality and Freedom", in which capacity she participated in the explanatory screening in Brussels in March 2011 and was a rapporteur regarding the harmonisation of national legislation with European legislation in the area of ​​"Trafficking in human beings, confiscation of property and counterfeiting of euros", as well as a participant in the development of the Action Plan for Chapter 24 "Justice, Equality, Freedom" in the Government of Montenegro.

From 2008 to 2016, she was a member of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), Council of Europe (CE), and from 2003 to 2005, a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Judges of Montenegro.

Valentina Pavličić is, they add, the author of numerous publications intended primarily for the professional and academic community, i.e. legal practitioners, with the aim of promoting and disseminating knowledge about the application of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the standards of the Convention, as well as a lecturer at numerous domestic and international seminars and conferences:

- editor of the Guidelines for Sentencing in Cases of High-Level Corruption and Cases with Elements of Corruption;

- editor of the Guidelines for Imposing Criminal Sanctions in Cases of Serious and Organized Crime;

- editor of the Guidelines for imposing criminal sanctions for the criminal offenses of unauthorized production, possession and distribution of narcotic drugs (Article 300 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro);

- editor of the Guidelines for the exercise of the right to compensation for damages to victims in criminal proceedings (for crimes of human trafficking, war crimes, domestic or family violence and other crimes);

- Editor of the Guidelines for Imposing Criminal Sanctions in Cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence;

- editor of the Analysis of the penal policy of Montenegrin courts for the criminal offense of illegal possession and carrying of weapons and explosive materials;

- editor and author of the strategic document "Uniform Program for Resolving Backlogged Cases for the Period 2025-2027";

- author of the Council of Europe national study "Multi-country study on domestic capacities in a number of countries for the prompt execution of judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights" regarding Montenegro;

- author of the Council of Europe study "National Study of Montenegro: Analysis of Existing National Enforcement Mechanisms and Identification of Best Practices and Effective Models in Light of Recommendation CM/Rec (2008)2";

- Legal proofreading of the "Handbook on the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the use of electronic evidence" - Council of Europe;

- author of the article "Judiciary and Fundamental Rights: Proposal for Reform in the Context of Improving Human Protection" - Publication on the occasion of 18 years of independence "A Step Forward towards the EU", NGO Civic Alliance;

- author of the publication "Analysis of Practice Regarding the Protection of Minority Rights" - NGO "Center for Democracy and Human Rights" (CEDEM), with the support of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro;

- author of the publication "Analysis of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Montenegro issued in 2022";

- editor and author of the publication "Analysis of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Montenegro for 2021";

- author of the article "Protocol on the Reform of Convention Law No. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights" (entry into force);

- author of the publication "Guidelines and overview of selected case law of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights - right to freedom of expression";

- editor and author of the Handbook with selected case law within the framework of the latest case law of the European Court of Human Rights;

- co-author of the publication "Analysis of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Montenegro issued in 2020";

- author of the article "COVID-19 and its impact on human rights";

- author of "A Guide to Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights with a Special Focus on Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities";

- author of "Guide to Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights";

- co-author of "Guide to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Prohibition of Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment";

- co-author of the "Analysis of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Montenegro for 2018 and 2019";

- co-author of "Guide to Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to a fair trial";

- co-author of the XIX bulletin of the School of Political Studies;

- co-author of the publication "Analysis of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Montenegro";

- author of the paper "Best Practices for Victim Protection" within the framework of "The Key Role of the Judiciary in Combating Human Trafficking";

- co-author of the Regional Manual "High-Tech Crime (Practical Guide to Contemporary Criminal Law with Practical Examples)";

- author of the paper "Detention/alternative ways of ensuring the presence of the accused in criminal proceedings";

- author of the paper "Criminal Offences Related to Cybercrime, with Special Reference to the Implementation of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime";

- author of the work "Indictment under the new Criminal Procedure Code of Montenegro";

- author of the paper "Criminal Offenses Against Payment Transactions and Business Operations - with Special Reference to the Criminal Offense of Money Laundering".

He speaks English and Italian fluently.