Pljevlja Municipal Assembly adopts Declaration on Social Cohesion, Ječmenica: In vain when the government does not behave like this

The Pljevlja Municipal Assembly adopted the Declaration on Social Cohesion, a document that aims to strengthen solidarity, mutual respect and security of all citizens in the community.

The President of the Municipal Assembly, Jovana Tošić, said that social cohesion must not remain just a formal concept in local government documents, but must represent the real ability of a community to, despite differences, remain connected and safe for every individual.

She pointed to the increasing presence of hate speech in public spaces, especially on social media, where young people, women in politics and members of different national, religious and social groups are often targets of insults, threats and discrimination. As she pointed out, attacks are often directed not at work and attitudes, but at gender, age and personal integrity.

"This is no longer an individual's problem, but a problem of society that is slowly starting to normalize intolerance," Tošić emphasized, asking whether we as a community are ready to consistently protect the dignity of every person or whether we condemn hate speech selectively.

The adopted Declaration, as she explained, should be the beginning of more concrete activities - stronger institutional protection against hate speech, greater support for youth and women in public life, and strengthening the culture of dialogue and responsible public action of all office holders.

Special emphasis was placed on the role of young people, who grow up in an environment of aggressive communication and lack of empathy. If, as she stated, they are not offered a different model of behavior, there is a risk that intolerant patterns will become accepted as the norm.

Tošić pointed out that citizens are aware of the difference between strategies and recommendations that are written and actual reactions when they are most needed.

"No charter or declaration will by itself stop hate speech unless we as a society develop a personal and collective responsibility to condemn such phenomena clearly and without calculation," she said.

The adoption of the Declaration on Social Cohesion represents, as it was concluded, an important step towards building a more tolerant, safer and more just society in which the dignity of every citizen will be equally protected.

Independent councilor Saša Ječmenica believes that "it is difficult to talk about social cohesion when someone undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state in which we live."

"It is ridiculous to talk about social cohesion in these circumstances. Talking about social cohesion when you are developing nationalism to the point of disgusting is truly ridiculous. Today, Pljevlja is wandering without any social, ideological, intellectual, professional or any kind of cohesion. And when we don't have everything else and we don't have a strategy, don't bother us with this charter on social cohesion at this moment. A priori, I reject the charter on social cohesion and I call on citizens to all reject it until the creation changes," said Ječmenica.