It was emphasized that the introduction of femicide would contribute to the imposition of stricter sentences for the most serious forms of violence against women, but would also have a strong preventive effect, acting as a deterrent to potential perpetrators.
The panel "Fighting Femicide: Legal Framework and Practice of EU Countries" was organized by the Ministry of European Affairs, in cooperation with the non-governmental organization "Center for Women's Rights".
Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević said that without real protection of women, it is not possible to talk about a strong state and the full implementation of the principles of the rule of law.
"We must ensure that everything we do as institutions is aimed at making it easier for victims to access the protection and support of the system. In such situations, the state must show the utmost responsibility and willingness to react," said Gorčević.
She emphasized that the fight against gender-based violence requires coordinated action by all institutions.
"Institutions must act together, not only through amending laws and sanctioning violence, but also through building a system that will recognize the problem in time and provide full protection to victims," said Gorčević.
Minister of Justice Bojan Božović said that Montenegro is one step away from introducing femicide into the Criminal Code and that the European Commission's opinion on the proposed changes is currently awaited.
"We are waiting for the opinion of the European Commission and I believe that it is only a matter of days before we receive it. After that, we will immediately initiate further procedures so that the amendments to the law can be submitted to the Parliament as soon as possible," said Božović.
He emphasized that sanctions alone are not enough.
"Femicide is just the tip of the iceberg. Sanctions come only when the most severe outcome occurs, and our goal is to react much earlier, to protect the victim in time, and to change social patterns that normalize violence," said Božović.
The President of the Gender Equality Committee in the Parliament of Montenegro, Jelenka Andrić, said that violence against women should not be a private matter, nor can it be justified by any excuses.
"Femicide is almost always preceded by violence against women. If we have to react only when the most severe outcome occurs, then it is already too late," said Andrić.
She also emphasized the importance of cooperation between institutions and the civil sector in the fight against gender-based violence.
"Almost every woman has experienced some form of violence at some point, although many have never reported it. That is why strong synergy between institutions and the non-governmental sector is needed, with a clear message that without a decisive separation of the victim and the perpetrator, there is no real progress," said Andrić.
The Italian Ambassador to Montenegro, H.E. Andreina Marsella, shared the experience of Italy, which recently introduced femicide into its legal system as an aggravating circumstance in murder cases.
She emphasized that violence against women is a social and institutional problem that requires a systemic response.
"The law is important, but it is not enough on its own. A holistic approach is necessary that also focuses on prevention. It is also important to respond to cases of violence and, in this sense, it is crucial that victims are protected to make it easier for them to report their attackers," said Ambassador Marsella.
Executive Director of the Women's Rights Center Maja Raičević pointed out the need for stronger systemic support for victims and their families.
"In our society, the most invisible victims of violence are often children. That is why, through amendments to the Criminal Code, we have sought institutional and systemic support for children of victims of femicide, including support in education and housing," said Raičević.
She emphasized that the fight against violence against women cannot be reduced to legal mechanisms alone.
"We cannot rely only on the legal framework, we must change attitudes and cultural patterns that normalize violence. Greater participation of women in politics contributes to these problems being spoken about more loudly and to sending clear messages to society," said Raičević.
The panel was implemented within the EU4ME project funded by the European Union.
