PODGORICA, 29.07.2024 – The Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro issued an opinion with recommendations, after seven months, regarding the rape threats made against female journalists from several media outlets in Montenegro.
At the end of last year, the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM), through the Safe Journalists network, approached the Protector, expressing concern over the rape threats made against Montenegrin female journalists.
The Protector initiated proceedings on their own initiative and issued an opinion with recommendations on July 25.
The journalists who received rape threats were Danica Nikolić, Tamara Nikčević, Bojana Dabović, Mirka Dević, and Slavica Kruščić Vasović.
According to the Protector’s opinion, police officers took measures and actions within their jurisdiction regarding the reported threats, both independently and through international legal and police assistance and cooperation.
“However, the measures and actions taken did not lead to establishing all the facts, identifying and prosecuting the responsible parties, nor were steps taken to determine the existence of a connection between the threats made against the journalists and their personal attributes, as a motive of hatred, which could be reflected in their gender, as well as their journalistic activities and contributions to public debate,” the Ombudsman’s opinion states.
As stated in the opinion, although the police officers did not remain passive in response to the submitted reports, there was a lack of action towards collecting data that would answer the question of whether the reported behavior was related to a motive based on prejudice against the journalists.
The Protector notes the absence of concrete results that would be essential for ensuring the trust of the journalists, as victims of unlawful behavior, and for preventing suspicion of tolerance of illegal actions and behavior, and ultimately for deterring perpetrators from repeating the same or similar acts.
In accordance with the stated opinion, the Ombudsman’s Office issued a recommendation to the Police Directorate to diligently examine indicators of prejudice to identify a potential motive based on prejudice against the journalists who received threats.
“The Ombudsman’s Office also recommends that the Police Directorate continue to implement measures and actions within their jurisdiction, including through international legal assistance, to collect evidence, identify, and adequately prosecute the responsible parties.
As concluded, the Police Directorate is obliged to submit a report on the actions and measures taken to implement the recommendations within 30 days from the date of receipt of the opinion.