Centre for Civic Education (CCE) points out that even on this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women we are witnessing distressing facts – during this year, four femicides have been committed in Montenegro. Each of these lost lives confirms that the system failed to protect women, that institutions did not react in time and that society continues to tolerate violence ending with the most tragic outcome.
While the world marks 30 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, violence against women remains one of the gravest forms of human rights violations. The CCE emphasises that these cases are not isolated incidents, but a warning that as a society we still do not recognise violence as a problem affecting us all. When perpetrators receive lenient sentences, when victims are not believed, and when warnings are ignored, violence becomes normalised and encouraged.
A serious problem was also noted in the European Commission’s 2025 Report, highlighting data indicating that only 10% of convictions for violence result in imprisonment, as well as that, according to public opinion research, a third of citizens believe that women fabricate claims of psychological violence, even though it is precisely this form of violence that is the most widespread in Montenegro. Also, the latest research conducted by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, and the Safe Women’s House shows that every fifth woman has experienced some form of violence, while more than half did not seek help, with the indication that the actual prevalence is likely even higher due to underreporting.
These worrying data testify to deeply rooted distrust towards women, the minimisation of violence, and systemic impunity which discourages victims. Despite the continuous efforts of civil society organisations, stricter sanctioning of femicide and more effective protection of women are still lacking. Particularly concerning is the finding that almost a third of respondents advised victims to remain silent.
In addition to physical, psychological, economic, and sexual violence, an increasingly prevalent form of abuse is digital violence, which is also the focus of this year’s “16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. Digital violence includesthreats and online harassment, coordinated misogynistic attacks, sexual harassment on the internet, unauthorised sharing of intimate content, as well as manipulated digital material. In the age of artificial intelligence, women and girls are particularly exposed to these forms of violence, which often accompany or precede physical violence.
Society must be aware of all forms of violence against women, unequivocally provide support to victims, and consistently oppose violence. Only through collective responsibility, education, and timely institutional response is it possible to break the cycle of violence and ensure that women live safely and equally.
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is marked on 25 November, in memory of the Mirabal sisters, who were murdered in 1960 in the Dominican Republic for their fight for democracy and human rights.