Montenegro recognizes gender-motivated murder in Criminal Code

Montenegro has implemented amendments to its Criminal Code that explicitly recognize gender-motivated murder for the first time. The changes, adopted by Parliament on September 16 and effective as of September 22, include gender-based motives under the provisions for aggravated murder in Article 144.

Maja Raičević, Executive Director of the Center for Women's Rights, welcomed the recognition of gender-motivated murder as a signal that institutions are taking the issue seriously. However, she noted a critical distinction: femicide was not introduced as a standalone criminal offense but remains categorized as a form of aggravated murder.

Raičević warned that the effectiveness of this law will depend on how prosecutors and courts interpret and prove gender-based motives. She emphasized that treating femicide as a specific crime would provide better visibility in statistics and legal practice, whereas the current classification relies heavily on judicial determination of motive.