Jelena Hrnjak, NGO Atina

Violence in the online world is just as dangerous as violence behind closed doors; every fourth person in Serbia is a victim

This December, the world once again united in the “16 Days of Activism” campaign to combat violence against women. This year’s theme is digital violence. Every fourth person in Serbia is exposed to this form of violence, most often women and girls.

Prepared by Suzana Duka

“Some data truly point to the dramatic nature of the situation. Only one percent of victims reported the violence due to various circumstances, and 84 percent of respondents said they partially blame the victim for risky behavior online,” says Jelena Hrnjak from the organization Atina.

Violence in the online world is just as dangerous as the violence that happens behind closed doors. The rapid expansion of digital space gives predators almost unlimited opportunities, particularly because the digital world does not recognize national borders.

“Harassment, threats of rape, posting intimate images without consent, modern technology has enabled all of this. The United Nations and the international community have therefore committed to taking action against digital violence,” says Michelle Cameron, Ambassador of Canada to Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.

Jelena Sekulić Nedeljković from UN Women Serbia stated that violence does not stop when it shifts to the internet or moves behind a screen.

“It is the responsibility of all of us, state institutions, organizations, society, the international community, and digital platforms, to create a space where all women can learn, work, and live,” said Sekulić Nedeljković.

Serbia, as one of the first signatories to the Istanbul Convention, has amended its laws and regulations to ensure legal protection against violence. Yet, this increasingly present form of online violence affects every fourth person in the country.

“We expect amendments to the Criminal Code that will specifically address the use of photo and video content without the victim’s knowledge, what we commonly refer to as ‘revenge pornography.’ I sincerely hope that stricter measures in this area will help raise awareness. Still, as I said, without strong preventive actions, we will not achieve the desired results,” stated Tatjana Macura, Minister for Gender Equality and Prevention of Violence Against Women.

Prevention begins in families and schools. States respond locally, but the problem must be solved globally, as international criminal networks do not recognize borders.

The full report is available on the RTS website: Nasilje u onlajn svetu jednako opasno kao i ono iza zatvorenih vrata – žrtva je svaka četvrta osoba u Srbiji | Društvo | RTS