Gender-based violence, which is constantly increasing in Montenegro, is an escalation of the normalization of sexism and misogyny in everyday life, said Jovana Davidović, a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Political Sciences.
The Police Administration previously announced that 2019 women have been killed in Montenegro since the beginning of 16, and the perpetrators are spouses, emotional partners, former partners or family members. Most of the victims had previously reported violence or threats to the police.
Davidović, who also conducts research in the field of gender equality, told the MINA agency that these data are a tragic indicator of systemic violence, the many causes of which are normalized, not recognized and not resolved.
According to her, gender-based violence, femicide and selective abortion are the ultimate outcome of patriarchal patterns in which a woman and her life are not worth enough.
Davidović believes that the main problems in Montenegro arise from the absence of a systemic gender-responsive approach and procedures for people who have experienced violence, limited specialization among judicial, social, health and police workers who deal with gender-based violence, but also the fact that the measures were pronounced in as a misdemeanor and the punishments in the criminal procedure are dominantly mild.
"Violence, which is continuously increasing in Montenegro, is an escalation of the normalization of sexism and misogyny in everyday life," stated Davidović.
As she reminded, patriarchy is a system that has existed for a very long time.
"In such a system, desirable female and male gender roles are created from the earliest ages. One of the consequences of patriarchy, which is omnipresent and all-pervading, is the internalization of patriarchal beliefs, that is, the unconscious adoption of patriarchal norms," explained Davidović.
She pointed out that in the patriarchal system, women are taught that their value is proportional to their reproductive role, and that men should be responsible for the economic well-being of the family.
"Women are taught that they are only as good as the sacrifices they make, and men that they have to be the stronger sex and the father of a male child," said Davidović.
"The imposition of these and similar patterns creates pressure that easily turns into frustration, aggression and violence in a society like Montenegrin, which has no supporting institutional mechanisms and ridicules and "punishes" deviation from patriarchal norms," said Davidović.
When asked whether changing attitudes and narratives about gender roles and women is a prerequisite for the adoption and adequate application of the legislative framework, Davidović answered in the affirmative, stating that it is an important prerequisite for an effective fight against gender-based violence, gender stereotypes and discrimination.
"Such changes happen slowly, but in Montenegro we have been tolerating various forms of violence and delayed reactions to misogyny and sexism for too long," said Davidović.
As she added, the public's reactions to cases of femicide, when the history of the relationship between a woman and a man is often investigated, in order to find justification for the perpetrator, show how far-reaching the consequences of such tolerance are.
When asked whether decision-makers in Montenegro are truly fighting to improve the situation regarding gender-based violence, Davidović said that in order for them to really deal with these issues, they first need to understand the importance of gender-responsive policies, but also to believe into a gender equal society.
In other words, as she added, it is necessary for decision-makers and public figures to be guided by the values of gender equality in their personal and professional behavior.
Davidović emphasized that the institutional response to gender-based violence in Montenegro is inadequate, although, as she believes, there have been certain improvements in the legal framework in the past period.
Speaking about key problems and potential solutions, Davidović assessed that one of the key challenges is the absence of a systemic gender-responsive approach and procedures for people who have experienced violence.
"Another important issue is the limited specialization among judicial, social, health and police workers who deal with gender-based violence," said Davidović, adding that this lack represents a significant obstacle in effectively addressing and supporting victims.
She added that the imposed measures in the misdemeanor case and the punishments in the criminal procedure are dominantly mild, which, as she pointed out, was also criticized by the GREVIO committee.
"It is necessary to establish enough centers for victims of violence, provide adequate training for those who directly contact victims in institutions, and develop additional funding opportunities for non-governmental organizations that provide specialized support services for victims of violence," pointed out Davidović.
Commenting on the connection between the patriarchal social structure, gender stereotypes and discriminatory policies and women's inability to empower themselves, Davidović said that this connection is direct and that these practices create a predisposition for gender-based violence.
As she clarified, discriminatory practices such as unequal labor rights, family and community discrimination, or renunciation of property by women serve as instruments for preserving the patriarchal order, which are not only deeply unjust, but also create a constant predisposition for gender-based violence.
"Gender stereotypes that are imposed through the patriarchal structure influence the formation of generalized expectations and norms of behavior towards women and men," said Davidović.
She emphasized that violence often stems from the power imbalance inherent in the patriarchal system.
"For an effective fight against violence and the empowerment of women, it is necessary to work on fundamental changes in social norms and in the institutions that are obliged to provide adequate protection and security to victims," concluded Davidović.
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