Short Country Report—Criminalising Hate Speech: Montenegro

In Montenegro, hate speech has escalated into violence and hostility and it is mostly present in media content. The most frequent victims are women, members of the Roma community, LGBT persons and persons with disabilities. The state is obliged to apply provisions related to the prohibition of hate speech, which are defined in the Criminal Code and other acts in accordance with international standards and ECtHR jurisprudence. The state's response to hate speech did not produce the expected results. The reactions of the public to hate speech, which are often not the consequent and condemning, are worrying. The state must suppress hate speech more effectively with the help of international institutions.