Finding a Way Out: Video tutorial for victims of domestic violence

Victims of domestic violence are at the centre of a four-minute documentary “Domestic Violence – Finding a Way Out” produced within the joint initiative of the UN System and the Government of Montenegro for this year's campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women.

Short movie created by Zoran Zonjo Marković, renewed Montenegrin producer and movie director, outlines the steps which victims can take to find a way out of the violent situation. It also features structure of system response to violence and number of actors who provide support and assistance to victims of domestic violence.

Speaking at the movie launch at the UN Eco House in Podgorica, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro Fiona McCluney highlighted that all available research in this field indicated that most victims never report violence, while only some of them took concrete steps to find a way out.

“The reasons are many, including fear from consequences and shame, but also insufficient knowledge of the resources available in the society to address their problem. We have therefore joined forces with representatives of different state institutions responsible for responding to cases of violence, alongside movie director Zoran Marković, to jointly create a video-tutorial for the victims of domestic violence”

Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator in Montenegro

The movie “Domestic Violence – Finding a Way Out” was produced on the basis of the Protocol on action in cases of violence in family and violence against women, which entered into force on 1 January 2019.  

Importance of Protocol was particularly highlighted by the State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Vukica Jelić, as a document which determines responsibilities of different institutions in cases of domestic violence.

“The Protocol aims to achieve three most important goals: application of the Istanbul Convention in the work of institutions and organisations in order to provide efficient and swift protection to victims of violence; exchange of data and information through information systems between relevant institutions and organisations; and alignment of methodologies of data collection with relevant institutions and organisations in order to form a single database”

Vukica Jelić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare

The author of the movie, director and producer Zoran Marković Zonjo, expects the movie to have an impact and to influence certain changes in the society.

“It seems to me that marginalised groups in our society are becoming increasingly visible lately, and that they are managing to exercise their rights more and more. Violence against women is still a taboo topic in Montenegrin society, but I hope that this movie will change that”

Zoran Marković Zonjo, author of the short documentary

Violence against women is one of the most prevailing forms of human rights violation. It can be physical, sexual, psychological and economic. According to a survey conducted by UNDP Montenegro, one in two women were victims of violence at least once in their lifetime. Most victims never report the violence: two thirds of them fear the consequences, and one forth of them because of shame.