Expert Discussion on Gender-Based Violence

July 18, 2025

A round table meeting with participants discussing, a projector displaying information. — UNDP/Ivan Mandić

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, organized an expert discussion dedicated to improving the institutional response to gender-based violence, with a particular focus on specialized services for survivors. The aim of the discussion was to exchange views, experiences, and recommendations on key elements that contribute to a more effective, accessible, and sustainable system response to gender-based violence.

As Montenegro prepares to adopt a new Law on Social and Child Protection, the discussion brought together representatives of relevant institutions, experts, civil society organizations, and international partners. Participants jointly analysed existing practices, identified challenges in the area of licensing specialized services, and highlighted examples of good practice that could serve as models for the further development of the support system for survivors of gender-based violence.

A panel of six speakers sitting at a table, discussing in a bright conference room.

Five women sit at a conference table, attentively listening, with drinks and notes nearby.

A woman speaks at a conference table, surrounded by attentive listeners.

Three people seated at a table, focused on laptops, during a meeting or discussion.

Four women engage in a discussion at a conference table, with glasses of water in front of them.

Two women seated at a conference table, engaged in discussion, with microphones and glasses of water.

A woman in a white blouse speaks at a conference table, engaged in discussion.

Two women speak at a conference table, one gesturing while the other listens attentively.

A woman with brown hair speaks at a round table amid blurred participants.

Special emphasis was placed on the standards and criteria applied in the licensing process, as well as on mechanisms that ensure the quality, continuity, and accessibility of these services in practice. It was emphasized that by strengthening specialized services, enhancing multisectoral cooperation, and establishing clear procedures, we can improve the effectiveness of the institutional response and the protection of survivors.

This activity was carried out within the project United in Gender Equality, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of Montenegro and funded by the European Union. It is also part of the global Gender Justice platform, which promotes justice and equality by strengthening institutional mechanisms to combat gender-based violence.