At its 58th meeting held today, attended by representatives of the judiciary,  Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, NGOs and international organisations, the Gender Equality Committee presented the Research on perception of domestic violence and violence against women by the representatives of judiciary.

The Research was carried out by the renowned international agency IPSOS Strategic Marketing, within the project “Access to justice for victims of domestic violence”, implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with the Women's Rights Centre, Ministry for Human and Minority Rights - Department for Gender Equality Affairs, and with financial support by the Embassy of Norway in Belgrade. 

The primary goal of this study is to collect and analyse personal views of representatives of the judiciary (judges, prosecutors, assistants and deputy prosecutors, as well as attorneys) on gender based domestic violence, as well as their perception of institutions and stereotypes built therein, which reflect in the treatment of victims of domestic violence during court proceedings.

In the introductory part, the speakers were Chairperson of the Committee Ms Nada Drobnjak, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro Ms Fiona McCluney, as well as President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro Ms Vesna Medenica. Representatives of IPSOS Strategic Marketing Mr Marko Uljarević and Ms Dunja Anzlem presented the Research on perception of domestic violence and violence against women by the representatives of judiciary, while Executive Director of Women's Rights Centre Ms Maja Raičević who imparted practical experiences from the viewpoint of confidential persons.

The meeting was attended by President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro Ms Vesna Medenica, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro Ms Fiona McCluney, judges of the Misdemeanour Court in Podgorica, Basic Court in Podgorica, and Basic Court in Cetinje, member of the Judicial Council, representatives of the Centre for Judicial Training, representative of the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, representatives of NGOs and international organisations, and of the US Embassy.

The meeting was organised in cooperation with the UNDP Office to Montenegro and Women's Rights Centre.