Human Rights Action welcomes the efficient prosecution of medical doctor V.P., who was reported by Gradska TV journalist Magdalena Čelanović for insults, threats and harassment.

We advised the journalist to report the very first incident of verbal sexist violence, as shown in the photo on the left. In the meantime, several similar messages followed, some of which are shown in the photo on the right. Such sexist behavior and stalking are completely unacceptable, and we expect it to be appropriately sanctioned.

Women who have the courage to speak publicly are not “clay pigeons”! We emphasize that journalists—both women and men—are specifically protected under criminal law.

We also expect the Medical Chamber of Montenegro and the Clinical Center of Montenegro to defend the dignity of the medical profession and to condemn the inappropriate conduct of the doctor.

We call on all women who are exposed to this type of sexist violence to report it!

The Police Directorate today issued a statement saying it “strongly condemns all forms of offensive, threatening, and inappropriate behavior towards media employees, especially behavior that insults the dignity of women working in journalism. The police, within the scope of their authority, are prioritizing and taking non-selective measures and actions against all individuals whose behavior endangers the safety, integrity, and right to free and objective expression and reporting, in order to create a safe environment for the lives and work of media employees”.