World-famous Montenegrin athletes have joined the campaign of the OSCE Mission in Montenegro against gender-based violence, the organization announced.
The OSCE Mission in Montenegro said that today they launched the campaign "See for yourself, you are not small", joining the international campaign "16 days of activism against gender-based violence".
As they said, this year the initiative is supported by the Basketball, Handball, Water Polo and Swimming Associations of Montenegro, together with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography and the non-governmental organization (NGO) Safe Women's House.
"World-renowned athletes Nikola Vučević, Petar Popović, Nebojša Simić, Miloš Vujović, Petar Tešanović and Stefan Vidović are participating in the campaign, who play a significant role in raising awareness of gender-based violence against women and girls," says the announcement.
It is stated that the campaign, whose creative author is Andrijana Vešović - Zombijana, deals with stereotypes and tries to break the silence when it comes to violence against women and girls.
"In the coming weeks, interesting posts with the aforementioned athletes will be shared on social networks, namely on the campaign's Instagram platform (@vidjisam), the Mission's Facebook page and the platforms of other partners, in order to start conversations and inspire and encourage young people to react," it added. in the statement.
The OSCE Mission said that the sports federations have sent strong support to the initiative, stressing the importance of sportsmen's participation in promoting social change.
As stated by the Basketball Association, the participation of Vučević and Popović shows their commitment to creating positive changes outside the court.
"They inspire young people to embrace the values of respect and equality." Their presence reminds us that being a true champion goes beyond the boundaries of sports - it's about standing up for what's right," the statement said.
The Handball Association said that Simić and Vujović are examples of how athletes can deeply influence attitudes in society.
"They are an example that taking a stand against violence is the ultimate indicator of strength and integrity," the statement said.
The water polo and swimming association stated that it is the duty of the community, sportsmen and women of all ages to promote the Olympic spirit and values, one of the most important of which is education and prevention of all forms of discrimination.
The announcement states that Tešanović and Vidović have brought unprecedented commitment to this campaign, showing that everyone can contribute to the fight against gender-based violence.
"They remind us that team cooperation and solidarity are key, both in sports and in the fight for this goal. That's why our "Sharks" are united in conveying the message - stop violence against women and girls," the announcement states.
The Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Montenegro, Giovani Gabasi, emphasized the transformative power of sports in encouraging social changes.
"This campaign, together with educational initiatives aimed at young people, represents a significant step in building a culture of respect, empathy and zero tolerance for violence," said Gabasi.
The announcement states that the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography has confirmed its unwavering commitment to raising awareness among boys and men about all forms of gender-based violence, not only on November 25, but every day.
"No girl or woman should be alone in this fight. It is the athletes who are calling for joint opposition to violence," the statement said.
The NGO Safe Women's House pointed out that early prevention and education are important.
"It is our duty to work intensively on prevention, raising awareness among boys and girls that violence against women is never acceptable and that gender equality is the norm," the announcement says.
As it is stated, the participation of famous athletes, who are role models for young people, strengthens those attitudes for building a society with zero tolerance towards violence.
The OSCE Mission said that the central message of the campaign is "See for yourself, you are not small. Be better than violence against women" is a call to action for individuals, communities and institutions to take a stand against violence and advocate equality and respect for all.
The international campaign "16 days of activism against gender-based violence" begins today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and lasts until December 10, Human Rights Day.
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