Implementation of Montenegro’s Domestic Violence Legislation July 2017 Implementation of Montenegro’s Domestic Violence Legislation A Human Rights Report The Advocates for Human Rights Minneapolis, Minnesota USA SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić Nikšić, Montenegro Women’s Rights Center Podgorica, Montenegro July 2017 This report is dedicated to the women of Montenegro. ABOUT THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS The mission of The Advocates for Human Rights is to implement international human rights standards in order to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law. By involving volunteers in research, education, and advocacy, we build broad constituencies in the United States and select global communities. The Advocates has produced more than 80 reports documenting human rights practices in more than 25 countries, and works with partners overseas and in the United States to restore and protect human rights. The Advocates for Human Rights holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. The Advocates for Human Rights 330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800 Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA 612-341-3302 [email protected] www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org ABOUT SOS HOTLINE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE Nikšić SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić was founded in 1998 by a group of activists, who dream about a society in which equality and social justice are core values. SOS Hotline is recognized as one of the leading NGOs in Montenegro in the fight for women’s rights. SOS Hotline seeks to be a powerful instrument for women in economic, social and political empowerment. SOS Hotline’s vision is a world where all women and all children live in peace and dignity. Its mission is to help the positive development and appli- cation of capacity and potential of women and children in the family and society, through the promotion and protection of women’s and children’s rights in order to create a dedicated, responsible, and open community. SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić 81400 Nikšić Montenegro +382 68 024 086 [email protected] |[email protected] ABOUT THE WOMEN’S RIGHTS CENTER WRC was established in 2012, on the basis of the founders’ long-term experience in providing support to women survivors of gender-based violence and other violations of women’s human rights. The Women’s Rights Center (WRC) empowers women to fight for a better position in society and access to justice, offering them counselling, psychological and legal assistance. Through advocacy, monitoring and promotion of women’s creativity, the Women’s Rights Center improves conditions and the social atmosphere in which women exercise their rights. WRC advocates for gender equality as one of the priorities of Montenegro in the European integration process. Women’s Rights Center Bokeska 20 81000 Podgorica Montenegro +382 20 66 41 93 [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was authored by The Advocates for Human Rights, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence – Nikšić, and the Women’s Rights Center. Special thanks to Oak Foundation and Sigrid Rausing Trust for providing the financial support to produce this report. Special thanks and acknowledgments are due to Natasha Medjedović, Maja Raicevic, Amy Bergquist, Theresa Dykos- chak, Angela Liu, Rosalyn Park, Robin Phillips, Julie Shelton, Megan Walsh, Dechert LLP, Greene Espel PLLP, and the dedicated staff of the SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence – Nikšić, and Women’s Rights Center. The authors would like to thank the following volunteers, interns, and others: Mary Ellingen, Elizabeth Cutter, Sanaa Assa, Johannes Davies, Thomas Dickstein, Christina Everling, Cory Georgop- oulos, Toni R. Greer, Sara Halimah, Elizabeth Hazekamp, Natasha Holtman, Ceena Idicula Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Elizabeth Kelleher, Ashlynn Kendzior, Alexander King, Ellen Koneck, Julia Makayova, Sarala Mina Miljevic, Morusupalli, Hannah Pollard-Garber, Paula Duro Ridruejo, Renata Sardelic, Catherine Ulrich, Deanna Whelan, Molly Whitley, Yang You, and Max Zimmerman. © 2017 The Advocates for Human Rights All rights reserved. Published 2017. ISBN: 0-929293-80-0 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................................... 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 6 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 11 POLICE ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 ATTITUDES OF POLICE ............................................................................................................................. 17 TRAINING FOR POLICE ............................................................................................................................ 18 POLICE PROCEDURES IN RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROTECTING VICTIMS .............. 19 Police rarely issue three-day eviction orders ...................................................................................... 20 Police rarely initiate applications for orders for protection ............................................................... 22 INVESTIGATION ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Police investigative practices can re-traumatize victims and discourage victims from reporting and pursuing legal remedies ...................................................................................................................... 24 Poor investigation practices impede collection of relevant information ........................................... 26 Police record-keeping is deficient ....................................................................................................... 28 POLICE USE OF WARNINGS ..................................................................................................................... 30 CENTERS FOR SOCIAL WORK (CSWs) .......................................................................................................... 31 CSW ATTITUDES ...................................................................................................................................... 32 VICTIM SAFETY ........................................................................................................................................ 33 CSW’S ROLE IN COURT CASES ................................................................................................................. 34 Supervised Visitation .......................................................................................................................... 37 MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) .......................................................................................................... 39 MISDEMEANOR COURTS AND JUDGES ....................................................................................................... 41 OVERVIEW OF MISDEMEANOR COURT FUNCTIONS UNDER THE LDVP ................................................. 41 ATTITUDES OF MISDEMEANOR COURT JUDGES ..................................................................................... 42 TRAINING FOR MISDEMEANOR COURT JUDGES .................................................................................... 44 OVERVIEW OF MISDEMEANOR COURT RESPONSES ............................................................................... 44 Misdemeanor court judges do not provide adequate information to victims ................................... 44 Misdemeanor court judges do not regularly conduct risk assessments ............................................ 45 Misdemeanor courts rarely issue emergency OFPs ............................................................................ 46 Courts and police lack tools to address avoidance of service ............................................................ 48 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECURITY IN MISDEMEANOR COURTROOMS AND WAITING AREAS ..................................................... 50 EVIDENTIARY REQUIREMENTS FOR LONG-TERM OFPS .......................................................................... 51 Judges lack sensitivity in hearing testimony from victims .................................................................. 51 LENGTH OF LDVP PROCEEDINGS ............................................................................................................ 52 Prompt adjudication increases the likelihood that victims will cooperate and testify ...................... 54 EVIDENTIARY ISSUES ............................................................................................................................... 55 Confrontation imposes unnecessary burdens on victims ................................................................... 55 Misdemeanor judges sometimes require medical documentation.................................................... 57 Misdemeanor judges often fail to consider the offender’s history of domestic violence .................. 57 Judges create barriers to the admission of additional evidence ........................................................ 59 ORDERS FOR PROTECTION