Reaction of the NGOs to the brutal act of violence against Roma boy

Details

Wednesday, 18 May 2016 18:29

We strongly condemn the inhuman act of, so far unidentified, perpetrators of the act of physical abuse and torture against 15-year-old boy, B.S, a person with disabilities from Konik camp.

The undersigned non-governmental organizations demand an immediate and independent investigation that will lead to identifying the perpetrators and their lawful sanction.

We invite prosecution and police to immediately react and make maximum efforts, to fully enforce the law, to identify and prosecute the perpetrators and engage experts in collecting evidence.

Activists of the NGO Young Roma visited the Konik camp this morning and determined the identity of the victim, following which the authorities were informed. 

The European Roma Rights Centre from Budapest was informed about the details of the case this morning; they will closely monitor the progress in the investigation. 

We also expect respectful reaction and engagement of all other relevant international and domestic institutions and organizations.

We believe that this deed was motivated solely by the victim's ethnicity group, which is identified as the most vulnerable in the country. We expect that, during the sentencing, the court shall take into account the particularly difficult circumstances referred to in Article 42 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. The fact that the victim is fifteen-year boy with insufficient mental development, who is unable to make any resistance to violence, is the reason why this crime was not reported by the victim himself, but discovered thanks to a video made by the conscientious citizen.

Given that this is not a misdemeanor, but an obvious hate crime, we expect from police, prosecution and court a quick and clear answer to the question whether the Roma are excluded from this society, or they will get protection rights guaranteed  by the Constitution and laws of this country. 

Signatories:

1. NGO Young Roma
2. Civic Alliance
3. Human Rights Action
4. NgO „Phiren amenca“
5. UNO Libertask
6. Youth Human Rights Initaitive
7. Cazas
8. Cedem
9. NGO Coaltion Roma Circle
10. Women RAE Network "First"
11. Centre for Roma initiatives 
12. Romani time
13. Roma Education Fund
14. Forum MNE
15. Romani Hope
16. Women's Right Centre