The B.a.b.e. nongovernmental organisation on Monday slammed President Zoran Milanovic's statements, saying that it was its duty to react to the public belittling and discouraging of victims of sexual violence and that it did not intend to enter debates that trivialise that topic.

“B.a.b.e. had already on Friday condemned President Milanovic’s astonishing statement about ‘spoiled movie stars’ who report sexual violence because we consider it our duty to react when victims of sexual violence are publicly belittled and discouraged from coming forward. Since it is our mission to contribute to raising public awareness of how severe and widespread sexual abuse is, we do not intend to enter debates that trivialise this topic and serve for the self-promotion of individual public figures,” the NGO said.

Answering reporters’ questions about allegations of sexual abuse at faculties and on the public broadcaster HRT last Friday, Milanovic said this was a problem one had to constantly fight.

But he also went on to say that when “such cries come from movie actresses who do not get out of bed for less than five million dollars” he does not see it as something he should pay attention to, but “the problem is when this happens to working women, clerical workers, mothers, and academy students because it is common knowledge how one can advance in those systems.”

“We hope that the media will continue to encourage all women, regardless of their status and field of work, to report violence and we call on them to contact us with confidence. Our primary role is to provide direct legal and psychosocial support to victims of all forms of violence through counselling, helping victims acquire rights, and providing them with accommodation in shelters,” the NGO said.