Implementation of a moot court learning-based model to improve anti-trafficking response in Montenegro 

23-25 November 2022, Budva, Montenegro: In an effort to combine practical and theoretical knowledge and create a learning by doing environment, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) kicked off the second mock trial exercise on human trafficking in Montenegro under the auspices of the Government of Montenegro and in close collaboration with the Centre for Training in Judiciary and State Prosecution.

A total of 27 practitioners from police, judiciary and civil society who were selected based on their professional experience related to countering human trafficking, and their commitment to actively contribute to ending impunity of traffickers and supporting justice for victims took part in the exercise.

The learning focused on the challenges in legal qualification and identification of victims of trafficking; the victim's position in criminal proceedings of human trafficking and the penal policy among others. The expertise of national experts and experienced practitioners was incorporated in the UNODC training methodology using an illustrative real-life case from a recently conducted review and analysis of human trafficking cases. The prosecutor and judge in charge of the case in question also participated in the mock trial exercise and highlighted their challenges when handling the case.

The project: UN.Locking Impunity of Traffickers and Supporting Justice for Victims of Trafficking in Persons in Southeastern Europe" (2021-2024) is implemented by the UNODC Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section (HTMSS) in cooperation with the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and with the financial support of the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

This activity contributes to SDG 16, particularly Target 16.2 to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

https://sdg-tracker.org/peace-justice#targets