Türk commended Montenegro's progress, but expressed concern about hate speech, divisive narratives

Podgorica, 19 May 2025

I have just concluded the first visit by a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Montenegro since independence. I would like to thank the Government for its invitation and the constructive discussions, including with President Jakov Milatović, various Ministers, the Ombudsperson for Human Rights and Freedoms, parliamentarians and civil society.

I am impressed by the progress this country has made since independence. Montenegro today has solid legislation to safeguard human rights, complemented by various strategies to ensure its implementation. The country's national human rights institution, the Protector for Human Rights and Freedoms, enjoys broad respect among citizens and the authorities. 

An open and inclusive dialogue is crucial, everywhere in the world, especially in a country like Montenegro, with its rich ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. I am therefore concerned by hate speech and divisive narratives – on TV, on the internet, at sports events, and even in schools. Some politicians also resort to divisive rhetoric, and sometimes outright hate speech, for perceived political advantage. And, as we see elsewhere, hate speech is often directed against women and marginalised groups, including Roma, Egyptians, the LGBTIQ+ community and persons with disabilities. I would like to mention in particular women in public or political office who are often disproportionately affected by violent misogynistic discourse.

Politicians and public figures have a particular responsibility and role to play in this regard. Their actions need to be consistent with international human rights standards and be guided by a spirit of unity and equality for all. It is important for Montenegro to boost accountability for hate speech. I also encourage the Government to accelerate efforts to integrate human rights into the education reform. My Office stands ready to support Montenegro in this area. 

Montenegro is blessed with a vibrant civil society that not only provides critical services to people in need but also acts as a custodian of universal human rights principles in society. It is therefore key to guarantee them a free, open and safe space to continue doing their important work.

We have seen positive measures to strengthen the legal and strategic framework on freedom of the media and the protection of journalists. At the same time, my Office is still monitoring cases of attacks against journalists, both online and offline. Last year’s instruction by the Supreme State Prosecutor to intensify investigations into violence against journalists were a very important step. Of late, in a welcome development, convictions were made in four such cases. But full accountability is yet to be achieved in some older cases, including the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović more than 20 years ago.

In 2020, Montenegro legalized same-sex partnerships. To build on this positive step, I have encouraged the authorities to submit draft legislation on legal gender recognition based on self-determination to Parliament, and to abolish the current practice of sterilisation.

For the protection of children, in particular girls, it is also crucial to move forward with legislation to ban marriage under the age of 18. 

In my meetings with the authorities today, I stressed the importance of making more progress on transitional justice. After years of stagnation, Montenegro adopted a new War Crimes Investigation Strategy, re-opened old war crimes cases, and passed legislation that has already paved the way for compensation to victims and their families. These are all positive steps, which will also help to counter revisionist tendencies.

I hope that my visit will further strengthen cooperation between my Office and Montenegro to advance human rights both domestically and globally. 

Thank you very much.