In light of the increasing incidents of hate speech directed at women civil activists and politicians, we would like to clarify that our organizations express deep concern about the rise in violence and discrimination that women face in the public sphere, especially on social media. Not only is this violence on the rise, but it is also taking on more severe and brutal forms.

In a democratic society, regardless of the positions they hold, women have the right to express their views without fear of persecution or violence.

Although politicians, especially those in power, must endure heightened criticism, which may include exaggerations and provocations, even such criticism is not without limits. Unjustified insults, threats, and sexist remarks, especially toward female politicians, are unacceptable.

Civil activists demand enhanced protection, because, unlike politicians, they do not have privileges such as immunity, official status, or support from party infrastructure, and they act without institutional protection.

We especially want to emphasize that a subtle attack on civil activists from the corner of the authorities, such as the recent attack on Vanja Ćalović, must serve as a special alarm. If we allow the authorities to deal with dissidents who do not have the same privileges in this manner, we are shooting democracy in the foot, as we allow the authorities to maintain power through fear.

This kind of attack poses a greater individual and societal threat than insults launched on social media by individuals who are not connected to the authorities or do not act as agents of political entities (so-called “bots”), although that form of verbal violence is also unacceptable and worthy of condemnation. This type of aggression is intensively practiced on social media, it is painful and offensive, especially when it involves family members who do not participate in public life.

This also applies to the information published yesterday by the PRESS Online Portal about the “inappropriate and disturbing content” allegedly posted by a “URA sympathizer” on their Facebook profile (which the Women’s Rights Centre was alerted about by a member of parliament from PES, insisting on action). We would like to emphasize that it is shortsighted, unfounded, and malicious to expect our organizations, with a small staff, to notice and respond to every insult or hate speech. We particularly do not want to participate in partisan maneuvering, which we do not fall for, especially since we enjoy the trust of women from all political, national, religious, and other backgrounds, whose interests we have represented consistently and indiscriminately for years.

Responding to hate speech is not just the job of women’s organizations. We call on all political parties to stand in defense of women and report the attacks they endure, even when they come from individuals or profiles linked to those political parties.

We also call on member of parliament Jelena Nedović to report all the “memes” she has received, and for the prosecution to take action. But we also call on parliamentarian Nedović to consistently fight against hate speech and stop preventing the prosecution from taking action against MP Marko Kovačević, who is already being prosecuted for hate speech.

We remind that the number of women in responsible positions, female politicians, and activists is a nominal indicator of the level of democratic culture and overcoming the shackles of patriarchy, but fundamentally, it is about combating hatred toward women.

It is in the best interest of both current and future generations that women freely and actively participate in public life!

NGO Women’s Rights Centre

NGO Human Rights Action