Criminal offences against sexual freedom against children could soon become statute-barred in Montenegro. The Ministry of Justice has partially accepted a proposal to introduce statute-barring for these offences when committed against minors. Amendments to the Criminal Code are being finalized, to be harmonized with domestic institutions and forwarded to the European Commission.
As Jelena Grdinić from the Ministry of Justice said in our "Colors of Morning", the law is a priority due to its importance and will be processed at an accelerated pace.
"No statute of limitations would mean that there are simply no limitations when it comes to criminal prosecution. This means, to simplify, when a victim decides to say that something happened, to file a criminal report, that the deadlines prescribed by the Criminal Code relating to the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution will not be observed," said Grdinić.
Kristina Mihailović from the Parents Association emphasizes the importance of stricter punishments and more consistent application of the law, and recalls the proposal to make the register of those convicted of sexual crimes against children public, adding that the association is aware of ongoing cases in which the statute of limitations has expired.
"Currently, there is a case of a family, or rather a girl, and then a girl who experienced sexual abuse. So the question now is how this will affect the specific case or not, we expect that it will, regardless. Although I have said several times that there are some complications, now that I am looking into the details, I expect that the right thing will be done," says Mihailović
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