Ivanović Meets Kari Johnston: Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking Remains Montenegro’s Priority

Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Dr Filip Ivanović, met with Kari Johnston, the OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, to discuss improving cooperation in this area, protecting victims and further strengthening Montenegro’s institutional capacities. The talks focused on Montenegro’s activities under negotiating Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security, with particular attention to aligning national legislation and policies with European Union standards, migration management, preventing labour exploitation, and improving mechanisms for identifying and protecting victims of human trafficking. Speaking about aligning visa policy with EU standards, Ivanović noted the start of implementing new visa-regime rules, stressing that this was an important step in fulfilling obligations under negotiating Chapter 24 and the Reform Agenda. He highlighted the importance of coordinated action by the relevant institutions, the timely identification of potential victims of human trafficking, and the effective functioning of mechanisms for referring them to appropriate protection and support services. In this context, the need to further strengthen the capacities of diplomatic and consular staff, provide specialised training and improve cooperation with the competent institutions of host countries and international organisations was emphasised. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović thanked the OSCE representative for the organisation’s engagement and support to participating States in improving policies and mechanisms to prevent human trafficking, expressing Montenegro’s readiness to continue and further intensify cooperation with the OSCE in this area.