Serbia: CFWIJ Condemns The Verbal Abuse Of Journalist Nataša Miljanović-Zubac By Politician Vojislav Šešelj.

Location: Serbia, Belgrade
Date: February 5 2021

Founder and president of the far-right Serbian Radical Party, as well as a convicted war criminal, Vojislav Šešelj verbally abused journalist Nataša Miljanović-Zubac. Nataša was targeted on live television during the politician’s January 30 appearance on the Weekend Morning show on Happy TV. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Nataša during this tumultuous time.

Vojislav Šešelj targeted Nataša with misogynistic remarks and allegedly revealed private details of her life on national television. Nataša, who works for Radio Television of Republika Srpska, expressed great disappointment with his behaviour, commenting she has never faced such vitriol despite years of reporting on sensitive issues. The journalist added that the incident affected her health as well as her personal life.  She plans on suing Vojislav, Happy TV, and the other media outlets that reported his remarks. In addition to her pursuit of justice, she urged institutions to act against such malice.

Borka Rudic, secretary-general of the BH Journalists Association, lent support to her fellow journalist and criticized Vojislav's behavior. Borka called on media regulatory bodies to take legal measures in accordance with gender discrimination, verbal violence, and privacy laws. She warned that allowing such behavior sets a dangerous precedent for politicians to disregard the media landscape and target women journalists. This incident is not the first time Vojislav was exposed for his misconduct.

Targeting women journalists with sexual and misogynistic remarks is a reprehensible act often used to silence their voices. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Vojislav Šešelj’s behavior and the disrespectful attitude exhibited by the hosts and editorial board at Happy TV.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.