LGBT Forum Progres submitted 58 reports to the Police Directorate of Montenegro due to hate speech directed at LGBTI people in the online public space, the non-governmental organization (NGO) announced.
They said that these reports were the result of a reaction to offensive and discriminatory messages towards the LGBTI community during the pride parade in Podgorica and accompanying events.
"During the past ten years of active monitoring of public space, the LGBT Forum Progresa Hate Speech Monitoring Team submitted thousands of reports to the Police Directorate, which ensured continuous pressure to recognize hate speech as a serious problem, which still prevails in Montenegro. It ensures the continuity of reports cases of hate speech against the LGBTI community is crucial in the fight against discrimination and creating a safer environment for all LGBTI people in the country," the statement said.
LGBT Forum Progresa said that reporting hate speech has a key role in raising awareness of the problems faced by the LGBTI community, but also in creating responsibility among individuals and institutions.
"Each report contributes to the record of this negative phenomenon, enabling institutions to take adequate measures to suppress violent behavior and protect vulnerable groups. Regular reporting not only sends a clear message that hate speech will not be tolerated, but also encourages social change through education and improvement of legal frameworks ", the announcement reads.
They point out that hate speech is often a prelude to more serious threats to physical security and violence against LGBTI people.
"Which is why this process is of inestimable importance both for the protection of the integrity of the LGBTI community and for wider social development. LGBT Forum Progres will continue monitoring the online public space in the future and will inform the public about the presence of hate speech and the effectiveness of the response of the competent institutions in fight against this problem," said this NGO.
"This activity is implemented within the project 'Together against hate - Support for the improvement of the quality of life of LGBTI persons in Montenegro', which is supported through the Supported = Empowered program, within the grant scheme 'Active participation', which is implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship in partnership with The local community development foundation 'Slagalica' from Croatia. The program is financed by the European Union and co-financed by the Ministry of Public Administration," the announcement concludes.
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