Operational Team: The system still does not provide adequate, timely and comprehensive protection for victims of violence

The system still does not provide adequate, timely and comprehensive protection for victims of violence, especially in cases involving children, assessed the Operational Team for Combating Domestic Violence and Violence against Women.

The semi-annual work report for the period from October 1 last year to April 1 this year states that the Operational Team analyzed eight new cases of domestic violence and violence against women, while continuously monitoring the work of competent institutions and the implementation of previously given recommendations.

The operational team pointed out the challenges in the operations of social work centers, especially the Social Work Center Podgorica, stating that they can partly be linked to insufficient staffing capacities and increased workload.

The report notes that in some cases, practices have been recorded that indicate the need for further improvement of standards of work with victims and perpetrators of violence, including organizing joint meetings without always adequately providing protection measures.

"The practice of organizing joint meetings in the center's premises without always adequately providing protection measures has been noted, which may pose a challenge in ensuring full safety and a sense of protection for victims," ​​states the report, which was discussed at the last government session.

It is added that some decisions were made with strict adherence to administrative rules, but without sufficient flexibility in circumstances requiring an urgent response and priority protection of the victim.

Additionally, differences in practice between individual centers were noted, indicating the need for further harmonization of standards of practice and strengthening legal security for users.

The team also assessed that there is room for a stronger and more proactive approach by social work centers, especially in situations that require a more decisive response to protect the education, development, and overall interests of the child.

When it comes to the Police Directorate, the report emphasizes that the practice of acting is uneven.

"The actions of the Police Directorate are characterized by unevenness, with some cases recording a high level of professionalism and lawful action, while others demonstrate a lack of sensitive action and understanding of the phenomenon of violence," the report states.

As it is added, positive examples show that police officers, when acting in accordance with the law and protocols, take all necessary actions, including timely collection of information, communication with the victim and continuous monitoring of the case.

The operational team specifically pointed to cases from the previous period in which violence was not prosecuted ex officio, despite the existence of medical documentation and witnesses indicating that violence had occurred.

The lack of timely exchange of information between the police, courts, prosecutors' offices and health institutions on the status and movements of suspects was also highlighted as a serious systemic problem.

"A serious systemic problem is the lack of timely mutual communication, specifically when the police do not have information from the court, prosecutor's office or health institution about the movement or status of suspects, which is why it is proposed that clear instructions on the obligations of all acting institutions be prescribed in the new Protocol on Procedure in Cases of Domestic Violence and Violence against Women," the report states.

In the part related to prosecutors' offices, the Operational Team assessed that the implementation of the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office Instructions has improved the actions of prosecutors, but that it is necessary to further strengthen multisectoral cooperation and improve communication with victims.

The report also pointed to uneven judicial practice, especially in cases related to divorce disputes and proceedings in disputes for the protection of children's rights and in disputes for the exercise of parental rights.

The operational team warned that recommendations from professional bodies and social work centers are not always followed consistently, especially when it comes to determining a child's contact with a parent reported for violence.

"Such conduct may call into question the principle of the best interests of the child, which should have priority in all decisions," the report states.

It is emphasized that it is necessary to improve the practice of informing victims and other involved institutions (primarily the police and prosecutor's office) about court decisions and the course of the proceedings, in order to ensure the safety and sense of protection of victims and the effective action of institutions.

The conclusions of the Operational Team, as stated in the Report, "clearly and unequivocally confirm that the existing system of protection of victims of violence against women and domestic violence, especially in cases involving children, still does not provide adequate, timely and comprehensive protection."

The team warned that key problems in the institutions' actions persist despite continuous monitoring, initiated inspections and repeated recommendations, which, it is assessed, indicates systemic weaknesses, rather than individual failures.

"The operational team strongly insists on urgent and substantial improvement of the work of all competent institutions, which must go beyond the formal fulfillment of obligations and be directed towards real, measurable results in the protection of victims," ​​the report states.

The team recommended continuous education of all experts involved in the protection system, strengthening of the human and technical capacities of institutions, full specialization of prosecutors and judges in domestic violence cases, as well as the establishment of functional and responsible inter-institutional cooperation.

The operational team announced that it will continue to monitor the work of institutions and publicly point out shortcomings, emphasizing that real changes depend on the willingness of all stakeholders to act decisively, in a timely manner, and in the best interests of victims of violence.