The Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) and the United Nations (UN) Team in Montenegro have called for joint action to combat hate speech, strengthen the culture of dialogue, respect for human rights and social cohesion.
In a joint statement on the occasion of the International Day Against Hate Speech, they warned that, in a time when digital platforms allow information to spread faster than ever, hate speech poses a serious challenge to social cohesion, as it disrupts interpersonal relationships, weakens trust and the sense of belonging to a community.
"Combined with disinformation, hate speech deepens social divisions, fuels discrimination, and makes it difficult to build an inclusive and resilient society," the statement said.
Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović said that the fight against hate speech is not a matter of restricting freedom of expression, but rather protecting the right of every individual to live free from discrimination, intimidation and violence.
"Therefore, it is the responsibility of all of us – institutions, media, the education system, civil society and citizens – to foster a culture of dialogue, critical thinking and mutual respect. Only by acting together can we build a society in which diversity represents wealth, not a reason for division," Vujović emphasized.
The Ministry and the UN emphasized the importance of the National Network against Hate Speech and Disinformation, which the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Culture and Media are establishing with the support of UNESCO, UNICEF, and UNDP.
As stated in the statement, the network, which brings together institutions, media, academia, civil society organizations and international partners, represents a platform for cooperation and coordinated action of various actors with the aim of preventing and combating harmful narratives, promoting responsible communication and strengthening media and information literacy.
UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Caroline Tiso said that hate speech cannot be responded to with individual reactions alone when the damage has already been done.
According to her, a joint, long-term approach is needed that connects education, media, culture, institutions and local communities.
"It is encouraging that Montenegro, through the National Network against Hate Speech and Disinformation, is building precisely such a model of cooperation, because inclusive and resilient societies are created when each of us takes on our share of responsibility for the public space we share," Tiso pointed out.
The Ministry of Culture and Media and the UN said that the International Day against Hate Speech is an opportunity to remind ourselves that, as UNESCO specifically emphasizes, hate speech cannot be suppressed solely through moderation and content removal, nor through regulatory mechanisms.
"The long-term resilience of society is built through education, the development of critical thinking and media literacy, which enable citizens to recognize manipulative content, participate responsibly in public communication and contribute to preserving the integrity of information in the digital space," the statement emphasizes.
The Ministry of Culture and the UN Team called on all social actors to contribute to the creation of a public space in which different opinions can be expressed with mutual respect, and human dignity remains a value that is consistently protected.
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