Let's Put an End to the Justification of Violence, It's Time for Change

Speech made by Jelena Hrnjak, Program Manager at the NGO Atina, at the event "Digital Reality" held on December 3, 2024, at the European House in Belgrade, organized by UN Women as part of the global campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence."

"Dear citizens,

I address you this way because, today in Serbia, we often forget that we are, first and foremost, citizens, with all of our freedoms - freedom of speech, freedom of thought - but also with our obligations.

Atina's research shows that only 16% of citizens believe that the victim is not to blame for the violence they experience online. Why is this the case? This data reveals deeply ingrained stereotypes and prejudices in our society. We still believe that a woman "must have provoked it," "posted something inappropriate," or "attracted attention." This way of thinking is not accidental – it is the result of years of learning that women are responsible for the behavior of others.

But let us think for a moment:

Is someone at fault for stealing their wallet just because they were on the street?

Would we blame someone for being robbed because they had an expensive phone?

Of course not. So why do we blame women for expressing themselves in the digital space? This way of thinking not only justifies violence but also encourages perpetrators. We send them the message that violence is justified because "she provoked it." This further harms the victims and distances them from justice and support.

Every woman has the right to be who she is – to be creative, loud, quiet, entirely in line with herself. She has the right to choose how she looks, what she says, and how she presents herself, without the fear that by doing so, she will justify violence.

The truth is simple: THE VICTIM IS NEVER TO BLAME FOR VIOLENCE.

The perpetrator is to blame. Those who support them are to blame. And it is our responsibility as citizens to stop looking for reasons in the victim’s behavior and start working on the prevention of violence.

Dear citizens, let’s all work together to turn this 16% into 100%. Let every woman be wherever she wants – on the internet, on the beach, in the library, or wherever she pleases – without the company of uninvited judges.

We are changing the paradigm today: Violence is the responsibility of the perpetrator, not the freedom of women. Let every woman be free and safe where she wants to be."

The event "Digital Reality" was held on December 3, 2024, at the European House in Belgrade, organized by UN Women. The theme of this special event was gender-based digital violence on social media. The installation "Digital Reality," created by artist Iva Kuzmanović, used large mirrors to show how we are daily exposed to negative messages online. The goal of this installation was to educate citizens about the seriousness of gender-based hate speech and the importance of society’s response to this form of violence. This event was part of the global campaign "16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and Girls."

Participants in the event included many prominent figures, such as Paul Jukic from the U.S. Embassy, Plamena Halacheva from the EU Delegation, Brankica Janković, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, as well as representatives from organizations such as UN Women and the NGO Atina. The event also featured speeches by actress Anđelka Prpić, activists Lana Nikolić and Marija Lukić, singer Zejna, and journalist Maja Uzelac. This event sent a clear message: we must all work together to make the digital space safer and strengthen initiatives fighting against online violence.