OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Justice Ministry present draft Law on Compensation of Victims of Criminal Acts

The draft Law on Compensation of Victims of Criminal Acts was presented to representatives of relevant state institutions and civil society at an OSCE roundtable discussion held on 19 December 2012 in Podgorica.

The event was organized as part of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s continuing support for the reform of the Montenegrin judiciary and its compliance with international standards, especially the European Convention on Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes.

Opening the event the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Dusko Markovic said that: “Recognizing the importance of restorative justice in society, the Ministry of Justice envisaged, as a key priority, ratification of the European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes in the National Program of Montenegro to join the European Union”.  He added that with the draft law adopted last December, “Montenegro will join the circle of states which within their legislation seek to carry out the purpose of the European Convention.”

The Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, said at the opening of the event: “I am very pleased at the good co-operation and respect shown between the Ministry of Justice and civil society, whose representatives have also been invited today to provide their comments and suggestions prior to adoption of the Law”.

The OSCE Mission’s ongoing co-operation with the Justice Ministry is based upon a renewed memorandum of understanding, signed in December 2011.