Addressing the participants of the meeting dedicated to the implementation of Article 6 of the UN Firearms Protocol, President Pavličić emphasized that Montenegro approaches this issue with full awareness of its gravity, especially considering the negative experiences that have further highlighted the need for a strong and timely institutional response based on the principles of the rule of law.
She recalled that the Supreme Court of Montenegro has launched a comprehensive analysis of penal policy in cases of criminal offences involving firearms, in order to review case law and identify areas for its improvement. The results of the analysis showed the need for additional strengthening of penal policy, especially in terms of its uniformity and deterrent effect, bearing in mind that in some cases, milder sanctions were imposed that did not fully reflect the gravity of the committed offences and the risk to public safety. Pavličić said that the system's ability to recognise room for improvement is its greatest strength, and that the goal is to create a more predictable, consistent and effective penal policy in line with international standards.
Speaking about the implementation of Article 6 of the Protocol, Pavličić pointed out that the courts in Montenegro have shown a high level of responsibility and consistency when it comes to the permanent seizure of weapons used in the commission of criminal offenses. She emphasized that in all cases in which weapons were identified as a means of committing a criminal offense, they were permanently seized, thereby actively contributing to reducing the risk and removing illegal weapons from the possession of citizens. She also pointed out the importance of the legislative reforms of December 2023, which further improved the Criminal Code of Montenegro and specified the obligation to seize weapons, their parts, ammunition and explosives.
Pavličić also spoke about the importance of preventive action by institutions, stating that the competent authorities in Montenegro take measures to confiscate weapons even before the commission of criminal offenses, especially in cases of domestic violence or when a person no longer meets the legal requirements for possessing weapons. Such coordination between administrative authorities and the judiciary, she emphasized, represents an important early response mechanism and contributes to preventing the most serious consequences.
The President of the Supreme Court met with the Head of the Global Firearms Programme, Simonetta Grassi, with whom she discussed the importance of international cooperation in combating the misuse of firearms, as well as further improving cooperation between UNODC and the Supreme Court in the field of monitoring case law and training judicial officers. During the meeting, the role of the Supreme Court of Montenegro as a leading institution in national activities in this area was highlighted, while such an approach was assessed as innovative and recognized as an example of good practice in the region.
The Working Group on Firearms, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), brings together representatives of UN Member States, international and regional organizations, as well as experts from various fields, with the aim of improving international cooperation and information exchange in the fight against the illicit trade and misuse of firearms. The meeting in Vienna discussed issues of improving normative frameworks, standardizing procedures and implementing operational activities in accordance with the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Firearms Protocol.
