Juventas: Immediately do everything to prosecute and punish the perpetrators

The non-governmental organization Juventas strongly condemns the attack on a member of the NGO LGBT Forum Progres and points out that this attack confirms the general feeling of insecurity of LGBTI people in Montenegro, which is unacceptable and should alarm us all.

"It has been proven that when political and social tensions and polarization among society increase, those who are perceived as weaker are the first to be hit. The state has the task of ensuring everyone's safety, indiscriminately and fairly. The horrific description of violence and humiliation of a member of the LGBT Forum Progres reminds us of the enormous tensions in society that must be adequately addressed. Juventas' message is clear: everything should be done immediately to shed light on the details of the case, to prosecute and punish the perpetrators, but also to strengthen adequate preventive mechanisms for the future," said the NGO.

It was announced that the attack on an activist of the LGBT Forum Progres in the last year is the most severe form of violence, and, unfortunately, indicates a worrying trend of increasing hatred, intolerance and misogyny in Montenegrin society.

"There are already too many examples. Much less dangerous, but still illustrative, is the fact that in the 10 years since the Drop-in center for LGBTIQ persons, run by the NGO Juventas, was first attacked two days ago. Fortunately, no one was injured and no material damage was caused. In the past year, there has been an increase in domestic, psychological, physical and cyber violence. Violence has moved dominantly to the field of politics, and the public discus is colored by intolerance. "Our society has been in a constant political crisis for a long period of time, and this crisis has escalated and become more and more visible since the election campaign and the parliamentary elections of the previous year, until today," they said from Juventas.

As they said, the institutions of the system, parties, politicians, the non-governmental sector and the media, and every citizen individually, must contribute to stopping violence, homo/transphobia, misogyny and political, religious and national intolerance.

"Nevertheless, the greatest responsibility rests with the state authorities, so we hereby demand that they do everything possible so that their rhetoric does not inflame, but reduces tensions, and that they oppose more strongly all forms of inhumane and humiliating treatment suffered by our citizens", Juventas concluded. .