Daniela Gašparíková, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro

Introductory speech at the panel debate named “Internet – a shelter for cyberbullies or a mechanism to fight online violence”, which was organized within a creative project of the NGO Good Life, as a part of the Regional programme: Elimination of violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey, implemented by UN Women and UNDP Montenegro and funded by the European Union.

Dear panellists, dear participants, dear partners,

It is my pleasure to be here with you today and discuss such an important societal issue.

I would also like to congratulate our partners at NGO “Dobar Zivot” on a creative and successful project, realized within the scope of the Regional Programme “Ending violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey” which is implemented by UN Women and UNDP in Montenegro, and financed by the European Union.

Let me start by saying that gender equality, women’s empowerment and their full participation in all spheres of society, including participation in the decision-making process, are fundamental for the achievement of equality, development, and peace.

History teaches us that processes of development are happening in cycles and are highly affected by social and political events.

Women on global level, and therefore in Montenegro, are still the only majority that is being discriminated and live in fear of or experience violence. UNDP’s assessment revealed that every third woman in Montenegro experienced some form of violence during lifetime, and every fifth woman suffered from the violence over the last 12 months.

Considering the today’s topic, I would like to address one of the more recently proliferated form of violence – online gender-based violence.

We may often read how online GBV could not have been imagined some 30 years ago. I beg to differ. What we see today -online - is very much what we have seen in the analogue world in the print media, and before that on the posters plastered on the walls and fences of the cities, towns and villages.

This form of violence, embodied, amongst the others, in the misogynist sexist hate speech across public spheres and in the media, especially in the social media, exists within a context similar to what happens in real life and it is just as destructive as the offline violence.

It did not start, nor it was triggered by the increased use of the social media. It represents an overt expression of the deeply rooted gender inequalities in our societies.

While there is still a lack of comprehensive global definition and data on online GBV, initial research suggests that women are both disproportionately targeted and suffer serious consequences as a result.

Although men are also being harassed online, the evidence further suggests that women with multiple identities, such as LBTIQ community, ethnic minority, and those with disabilities, are more often targeted online through hate speech.

The fact that during COVID-19 so many of our interactions have moved to the virtual communication world of social media made this trend more visible.

Online GBV, hence, became a public health crisis in the shadow – with very detrimental effects. It results in physical, sexual, psychological as well as economic harm, and erodes victims’ self-esteem.

As a result, women’s voices and participation as active digital citizens may be censured through increasing harassment and violence online.

While the digital technology offers the promise of addressing many developmental challenges and can facilitate the empowerment of women, these tools come with the risk of perpetuating and worsening inequalities, discrimination and injustice experienced in the real world. 

We have all recently witnessed the employment of online forms of traditional ‘devices’ varying from prejudice, creation of structural obstacles, to threats of violence, insults based on appearance to humiliating references to a woman’s attractiveness, etc. to attack, belittle, silence, shame and undermine female high-ranking officials, politicians, and women active in the today’s public life in Montenegro.

Therefore, enhancing the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology to promote the empowerment of women, requires the elimination of online violence against women.

The legislation around the globe, inclusive of Montenegro, is yet to catch up with these notions and the ever-evolving technology.

The ensuing impunity of on-line perpetrators must be addressed as part of the struggle to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence.

UNDP, therefore, continues to be committed to support research, analysis and co-creation of lasting solutions with our partners that will allow countries to achieve gender equality and addressing violence. 

Let me conclude by saying that all the beforementioned tells us that the road to achieving gender equality is long and challenging, that it requires a comprehensive approach, responsibility, and joint action by all: institutions, CSOs, media and individuals. It requires the incorporation of core values into all our professional and personal endeavours. Hence, I am calling upon you to join the hands with UNDP in raising awareness and co-creating possible solutions in addressing online GBV and all other forms of violence and discrimination.