The Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, serving as a crucial institutional mechanism for promoting gender equality, condemned the misogynistic and derogatory attack aimed at the Executive Director of the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS), Vanja Ćalović Marković. This attack was publicized through the “Narodna sloga” page on social media.

“Such an assault is an unacceptable effort to publicly undermine a woman who, through her extensive work, plays a vital role in combating corruption, enhancing transparency in institutional operations, and safeguarding public interest. The sexist rhetoric employed to undermine her dignity and professional reputation constitutes a form of gender-based violence and hate speech, which society must not ignore,” stated the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, under the leadership of Fatmir Đeka. They emphasized that gender-based violence aimed at women in public spaces, particularly targeting those in prominent positions across civil society, media, politics, or other sectors, poses significant risks to democratic structures and equitable access to public discourse.

“We urge the relevant institutions, especially the Police Directorate and the Prosecutor’s Office, to swiftly identify and hold accountable those responsible, and to clarify to the public that Montenegro will not tolerate any form of violence, misogyny, or discrimination,” the statement asserted.

A photo referencing the smear campaign against Ćalović Marković in “Informer” in 2014 was shared on the Facebook page of “Narodna Sloga.” The Montenegrin edition of this tabloid, which had previously collaborated with DPS in executing smear tactics against critics, was shut down in late 2016.

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