The report “Mapping Hate Speech in Montenegro” was presented today in Podgorica identifying key challenges and gaps in responding to hatred and protecting its victims, especially those from marginalised groups. Based on multi-year research, it shows that hate speech is increasingly normalised, especially online, and highlights the urgent need for stronger prevention, education, and coordinated institutional action.

Opening the event, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović stressed that hate speech has moved from the margins into everyday public discourse and warned against accepting it as normal. “Hate speech is not an opinion or criticism – it is a message that someone is worth less or should be erased from public space. We must not accept this ‘new normal’, and our response must be based on prevention, education and responsible public communication,” Milatović said.

Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Gjeka underlined that hate speech is a deep societal issue that goes beyond legal frameworks and requires a shared response. “Freedom of expression must never be an excuse for undermining human dignity. Our society is measured by how it protects the most vulnerable, and this report will help us develop better policies and a more effective institutional response,” Gjeka stated.

The Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro, Siniša Bjeković, drew attention to the scale of hate speech online and the risks of its escalation if left unaddressed. “No conflict starts without words. When hate becomes normalised, we lower the threshold of what is socially acceptable, and that inevitably leads to violence. Institutions must respond decisively and consistently,” Bjeković emphasised.

Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović highlighted the importance of balancing freedom of expression with protection from hate speech, particularly in the media and digital environment. “Hate speech has no place in professional media. Through the Media Strategy 2023–2027 and alignment with the EU Digital Services Act, we are strengthening media literacy, accountability and systemic mechanisms to address online abuse,” Vujović said.

Lejla Dervišagić, Head of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica, said that the Council of Europe provided the first definition of hate speech as early as 1997 in one of its recommendations, thereby establishing common European standards. “In line with contemporary challenges, this definition was expanded in the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation of 2022. Combating hate speech remains one of the Council of Europe’s priorities, as emphasised in the New Democratic Pact for Europe. One of the key objectives of the Pact is to protect democracy and social cohesion- both of which can be seriously undermined by hate speech if we do not respond in a timely, coordinated, and decisive manner,” Dervišagić noted.

Riccardo Serri, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, said that in recent years, hate speech has increasingly been amplified through large digital platforms, which carry a particular responsibility. "The EU has taken decisive steps to address this, notably through the Digital Services Act, which strengthens accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights online. Our approach is based on a simple rule, what is illegal offline is illegal online, and the EU will apply these rules no matter how big or powerful digital platforms are,” Serri said.

The report was presented by Federico Faloppa, Professor of Language and Discrimination at the University of Reading and Council of Europe expert, together with Nevenka Vuksanović, Director of CEDEM, followed by a discussion with representatives of institutions, independent bodies and international partners.

The report was produced within the action “Combating hatred and intolerance in Montenegro”, implemented under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM).