We express our strongest protest against the attack by MP Zdenka Popović of Democratic Montenegro on human rights defender Tea Gorjanc Prelević, a woman who has, for years, consistently and indiscriminately fought for the rule of law. In doing so, Popović – Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro, member of the Women’s Leadership Network, and Co-President of the Women’s Club of the Parliament – demonstrates unquestioning loyalty to her party leaders and the leadership of the security sector, instead of affirming gender equality and democratic dialogue.
From someone who claims to have “worked for years on empowering women to take leadership roles — in politics, the economy, and society” and who “supports every initiative that opens space for women’s equal participation,” we would expect, at the very least, a call on her party colleagues to restrain themselves, if not a condemnation of their aggressive discrediting of an activist subjected to orchestrated public attacks solely because of her civic engagement. We wouldalso expect her to criticize the notorious tactic of dragging the business of Tea Gorjanc Prelević’s husband into the debate — a silencing strategy, rather that insisting on reasoned responses to legitimate questions and criticism, which should be the minimum standard of a democratic culture of dialogue.
Instead, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament publicly told Tea Gorjanc Prelević that she was “transparently and pathetically pretending to be a victim, allegedly attacked by someone.” At the very moment when she had the chance to show integrity and genuinely stand behind the principles she publicly advocates, Popović chose instead to align herself with party rhetoric, using the same inflammatory and degrading language to send the unmistakable message to a victim of attacks: “I don’t believe you.” This is the oldest weapon of patriarchal violence — one that MP Popović clearly is not ready to relinquish.
When women who have reached the highest positions, thanks in part to the efforts of human rights defenders who fought for legal quotas to ensure greater political participation of womenm use their authority to attack those same defenders, they send the message that women’s solidarity and the struggle for gender equality are principles of “lesser importance,” expendable commodities to be traded for daily politics and party loyalty. Such actions erode women’s trust in politics and public life and discourage them from influencing social change. Women in senior positions have not only the opportunity but also the additional responsibility to use their power to build integrity, mutual respect, and trust – not to discipline and belittle those who fight for all of us.
Despite this and similar disappointing practices, we will continue to advocate for greater participation of women in politics, firmly convinced that future generations of female politicians will be true creators of narratives and public policies that reflect the needs of all citizens, not blind followers of their male colleagues, even when they pursue wrong policies and attack civil society without arguments, driven by narrow party interests.
1. Maja Raičević, Executive Director, Women’s Rights Center
2. Ana Jaredić, Women’s Rights Center
3. Zorica Konatar, Women’s Rights Center
4.Teodora Balšić, Women’s Rights Center
5.Teodora Ciriviri, Women’s Rights Center
6.Tanja Markuš, Women’s Rights Center
7. Anita Stjepčević, Women’s Rights Center
8. Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director, Center for Civic Education
9. Sara Čabarkapa, Center for Civic Education
10.Ervina Dabižinović, Coordinator, ANIMA – Center for Women’s and Peace Education
11. Ljupka Kovačević, ANIMA – Center for Women’s and Peace Education
12. Milena Popović Samardžić, Executive Director, Ipso Facto
13. Marijana Camović Veličković, Vice-President, Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
14. Marina Vujačić, Executive Director, Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro
15. Milka Tadić Mijović, Executive Director, Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro
16. Zenepa Lika, Executive Director, Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association
17. Nikoleta Đukanović, Executive Director, Sociological Center of Montenegro – SOCEN
18. Mila Radulović, President, Association of Professional Journalists of Montenegro
19. Aida Perović, Executive Director, Prima
20.Olivera Nikolić, Executive Director, Media Institute of Montenegro
21. Ivana Vujović, Executive Director, Juventas
22. Jelena Čolaković, Juventas
23. Marija Jovanović, Activist, Association Spektra
24. Danijela Nikić, Association Spektra
25. Aleksandra Kraljević, Association Spektra
26. Milva Milić, Association Spektra
27. Iskra Đurišić, Association Spektra
28. Nevenka Vuksanović, Executive Director, Center for Democracy and Human Rights
29. Sabina Talović, Executive Director, Bona fide
30. Slavica Striković, Board Member, Women’s Action
31. Mira Saveljić, Director, Safe Women’s House
32. Ana Dedivanović, Executive Director, Association of LBTQ Women “Stana”
33. Staša Bistrica, Executive Director, Montenegrin LGBTIQ Association Queer Montenegro
34. Marija Backović, Executive Director, Empty Space
35. Fana Delija, Executive Director, Center for Roma Initiatives
36. Kristina Mihailović, Executive Director, Parents Association
37. Zorana Marković, Executive Director, Center for Development of NGOs
38. Azra Vuković, Executive Director, Green Home
39. Jovana Janjušević, Executive Director, Center for Protection and Research of Birds
40. Nataša Nelević, Executive Director, Profemina
41. Velida Hodžić, Executive Director, Ikre Rožaje
42. Bojana Jokić, Executive Director, LGBT Forum Progres
43. Nataša Međedović, Executive Director, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence – Nikšić
44. Sonja Dragović, KANA/Who If Not the Architect
45. Aleksandra Kapetanović, EXPEDITIO
46.Tatjana Rajić, EXPEDITIO
47. Biljana Maslovarić, Director, Pedagogical Center of Montenegro
48. Aida Petrović, Executive Director, Montenegrin Women’s Lobby
49. Aleksandra Radoman Kovačević, Executive Director, Center for Training and Education
50. Lidija Guberinić, Executive Director, Municipal Association for Multiple Sclerosis Bijelo Polje
51. Martina Markolović, Human Rights Action
52. Bojana Malović, Human Rights Action
53. Amra Bajrović, Human Rights Action
54. Elizabeta Mrnjačević, Human Rights Action
55. Ivana Živaljević, Human Rights Action
56. Dina Bajramspahić, Civic Activist
57. Jovana Marović, Civic Activist
58. Paula Petričević, Activist
59. Ivana Čogurić Rašović, Activist
60. Nađa Durković, Literature Professor
61. Olivera Lakić, Journalist
62. Milena Bešić, Civic Activist
63. Vesna Rajković Nenadić, Journalist
64. Maja Boričić, Journalist
65. Tamara Milaš, Civic Activist
66. Maša Elezović, Women’s Rights Activist
67. Varja Đukić, Actress
68. Milica Kankaraš Berber, Activist
69. Željka Zvicer, Journalist
70. Tamara Milić, Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature
71. Marina Đurović, Civic Activist
72. Mersida Ličina, Association “Štrpci – Against Oblivion”