Protector: Vujović not to discriminate or stigmatize Roma and to publicly apologize

The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms recommended the lawyer Bojan Vujović, founder of the Center for the Protection of Men's Rights, to not discriminate against or stigmatize Roma men and women in future public statements, and to speak with special sensitivity about their position.

The Ombudsman also asked him to issue a public apology to Roma men and women for the statements made in the show "Zorom" on TV Adria.

The Roma Council and an NGO filed a complaint with the Ombudsman due to what they said were offensive and discriminatory statements by Vujović.

The complaint of the Roma Council states, among other things, that the statements made in the lawyer's public appearance are seriously offensive, discriminatory and stereotypical towards the Roma population, and that they directly threaten the dignity and rights of Roma in Montenegro.

“That the main problematic statements relate to the stereotyping of the Roma community: ‘Go to Vrela Ribnička and see how those people live, that they are outside the system’.” It is further stated that such statements suggest that the entire Roma community lives in a social vacuum, that the claims ‘they sell children, marry children off or forcefully marry children off’ represent a generalization of crime and forms of human trafficking, and that they criminalize the entire Roma community without evidence, which contributes to stigmatization and strengthening of negative stereotypes. The Roma Council adds in its complaint that the statement ‘these women often throw children into containers’ denies individuality, and that making such generalizations without context further encourages hate speech. It is also stated that the statement ‘You see five-year-old children and none of us raise our voices. They beg, they smoke...' dehumanizes children, and Roma children are unjustly accused of deviant behavior without regard to causes such as poverty and marginalization." The NGO stated in its complaint that it is unacceptable that prejudice, stigma, and generalization of the RE community in public broadcasting, which is offensive and discriminatory, go unpunished, and that accusing the entire community of members of the RE community throwing babies into containers represents a serious act of discrimination and incitement to segregation.

The Center for the Protection of Men's Rights responded that the founder's statements were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

"And that it is clear, when the entire presentation in which the Roma population is mentioned is reviewed, that the statements do not contain offensive, discriminatory or malicious elements, or that the essence of the statements was focused on the fact that non-governmental organizations for the protection of women's rights do not pay attention to the issue of women and girls of Roma origin, who are often forced to beg in inadequate clothing and under extreme weather conditions."

The Ombudsman believes that Vujović's statements had the potential to discriminate, stigmatize and insult Roma men and women, and that negative stereotyping affected their sense of self-worth and self-confidence, producing consequences for the private lives of members of this community.

"In this regard, the controversial representation of Roma men and women has led to unjustified interference in the sphere of private life by undermining their identity, contrary to Article 40 of the Constitution of Montenegro and Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and as such cannot enjoy the protection of the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Convention," concludes the Ombudsman.

In the opinion of the Protector, signed by the deputy Nerma Dobardzic, writes that this institution recognizes the inviolable importance of freedom of expression, but at the same time emphasizes that rights and freedoms also imply obligations, such as, among others, avoiding to the greatest extent possible speech, written word, images and other forms of expression that offend others and constitute an attack on their rights.

"Although the disputed statements do not contain elements of a direct call for violence against the Roma community, they send discriminatory, stigmatizing and accusatory statements, generalizing the community as deviant, or as a group that lives outside the system and is even inclined, as the lawyer states, to sell children, marry children off or forcefully marry children, that women often throw children into containers, and that Roma are the people whose children you often see driving carts, begging, smoking...", the opinion states.

The Protector believes that such representation of the Roma community is particularly concerning given that the statements were made, among other things, by lawyers, a profession that is expected to publicly express views and observations without discrimination and stigma, or to problematize the position of Roma and Egyptians based on relevant data, taking into account causes such as poverty, marginalization, and social exclusion.

"Therefore, the disputed statements have provoked condemnation from the Roma community, deepening the sense of isolation, marginalization and distance to which Roma are still exposed, according to relevant sociological research," the Ombudsman's institution concludes.