Ombudsman: Society still has a problem with ensuring freedom of expression

The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro condemned the threats and insults addressed to the editor of the M portal Danica Nikolić, as well as to other journalists and other public figures who were targeted with messages of extremely mundane and disturbing content.

"We expect that in the shortest possible time the perpetrator(s) who dared to threaten the physical and psychological integrity of journalists, as well as all other subjects whose views and opinions they don't agree," the announcement states.

This is the only way, the Ombudsperson points out, to break the circle of calls for violence and endangering the basic safety of not only journalists, but also others whose opinions are published in the public, as well as their families.

The ombudsman stressed that he is concerned about the frequent series of different types of pressure, attacks and other examples of threats to media freedom, which he considers to be an indicator that obviously as a society we still have a problem to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and at the same time limit hate speech, improve the climate of tolerance and culture dialogue, in general.

"Even though the content of the messages with which the public is familiar today is controversial and shameful from beginning to end, from the point of view of protection against discrimination, we especially condemn the brazen and vulgar insult to the dignity of women and all misogynist and sexist qualifications," the Institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms announced. .

All possible objections and objections that may arise in connection with the work of any media, the Ombudsperson points out, need to be resolved by institutional mechanisms, through the provided procedures, so that the position of members of this profession is not jeopardized.