Brankica Janković, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality issued a warning to the public following newspaper columns published in Politika daily which contain impermissible and insulting justifications of recent cases of violence against women, intimate partner and domestic violence which resulted in death. By belittling and accusing women and by trivializing responsibility for such actions, at a moment when all competent government authorities and social players are comprehensively engaged towards responding adequately to this serious problem and towards making the protection system more efficient, a damaging and unacceptable message was sent out to the public that the victims in fact are responsible for the suffered violence.

The media have the obligation to abide by the Journalist Code of Conduct and are responsible for each and every uttered and printed word. Moreover, the media can play an important role in combatting and suppressing domestic violence, said Commissioner Janković in conclusion.