Conference of Women Parliamentarians from South East Europe “Equal and Empowered – Stronger Together” “Equal and Empowered – Stronger Together” National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Belgrade, 2-3 March 2015

CURRENT STATE AND TRENDS IN THE FIELD OF GENDER EQUALITY IN REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WOMEN REPRESENT 51,3% OF TOTAL POPULATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA REPUBLIC OF SERBIA HAS COHERENT LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING THE FIELD OF GENDER EQUALITY: -ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW - March 26, LAW ON GENDER EQUALITY - December 11, LAW ON THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES - May 25, STRATEGY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE POSITION OF WOMEN AND THE PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY -ACTION PLAN FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

 THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF WOMEN IS NOT USED ENOUGH BUT IT IS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY  WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENT 25% OF TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSINESSMEN IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA  70% MEN AND 56% WOMEN ARE EMPLOYED IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA; 44% OF WOMEN ARE DEPENDENT, WHEREAS 34% MEN HAVE THE SAME STATUS  SUSTAINABILITY OF WOMEN BUSINESS IS 49 %. MAIN REASON IS LACK OF ADEQUATE ACCESS TO FINANCING, INCENTIVES AND COMMERCIAL CREDITS  WOMEN OWN 10 % OF AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

 71% believe that women are rejected more frequent then men when applying for job with an excuse that given job would be too hard for them as women, or because of their age(65%), and this percentage is significantly bigger then in  8 out of 10 of Serbian citizens also believe that women’s professional position or job is more frequently endangered due to their household duties. (2014:81%; 2010:78%)  73% believe that women are much more often victims of harassment at work

THEREFORE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT’S PRIORITIES IN FORTHCOMING PERIOD ARE: -ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN -DEVELOPMENT OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY OF EXISTING FIRMS AND INCENTIVE MEASURES

To what extent is domestic violence presented in Serbia, in your opinion? Single answer. Total population. It is represented in very large extent It is represented in a certain extent It is represented, but in a small extent There is no domestic violence at all Doesn’t know DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

What, in your opinion, are causes of domestic violence? Why does domestic violence happen? Other reasons? Multiple answers. Total population. Bad financial situation/ poverty Alcoholism Misunderstanding/ Disrespect/ Intolerance Jealousy Drugs Unemployment/ Economic crisis/ General situation Discord/Arguments Adultery Mental condition/Illness/Problems Карактер/ бахатост/ агресивност/ комплекси Dissatisfaction/ nervousness/ depression/ stress / Mentality/ Prejudice/ Education/ unenlightenment Various diseases/ Vices Unequal position of victim in society Other Doesn’t know/refusing to answer

Women Children Older people Men The whole family/other family members Parents People with disabilities/ Sick people/... Other Doesn’t know/Refuses to answer Who, in your opinion, is the most common victim of domestic violence? Who else? Multiple answers. Total population.

Who, in your opinion, are most common domestic violence offenders? Who else? Multiple answers. Total population. Men/ male members of the family Husband Women(spouses, mothers) Alcoholics/ drug addicts/ mentally disturbed/ violent Father Children/ sons/ children under drugs influence Parents Other relatives(brother/grandfather/mother in law Other Doesn’t know/ refuses to answer

If you would face unequal treatment only because you are a woman (in case of female examinee) or because you are a man (in case of male examinee), to whom would you first turn to for help? Total population. Those who have experienced unequal treatment based on gender: 23% of total population. Police Family/ Cousins/ Friends Center for social work/ Social service Authorized institutions I would resolve the problem all by myself The Court/ Prosecutor’s ofice Ombudsman Lawyer/Legal Service/ Legal Aid NGO/ Protection Associations Safe house Other Nobody/ No solution Doesn’t know-Refuses to answer

REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WAS AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO HAVE RATIFIED COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S CONVENTION ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WAS AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO HAVE RATIFIED COUNCIL OF EUROPE’S CONVENTION ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION: -ADJUSTMENT OF CRIMINAL AND FAMILY LAW BY THE END OF IMPROVEMENT OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED IN PREVENTING OF VIOLENCE -PREVENTION AND PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE -MORE CONTENT IN TEXTBOOKS AGAINST VIOLENCE -STRATEGY FOR DEALING WITH OFFENDERS AFTER MEDICAL TREATMENT

WOMEN AND SECURITY  REPUBLIC OF SERBIA IS ONE OF 57 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TO HAVE RATIFIED THE UN SC RESOLUTION 1325  WE MARK 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEPLOYMENT OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION THIS YEAR  REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WAS AMONG THE FIRST COUNTRIES TO HAVE ESTABLISHED GENDER INDICATORS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN  DIRECT RESULT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN IS INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN IN SECURITY STRUCTURES, FROM 26% TO 32, 52%  MORE SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPATION OF FEMALE SOLDIERS IN PEACEKEEPING MISIONS.

WOMEN IN POLITICS  THERE IS INCREASING TREND OF PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN SERBIAN POLITICS  AS A RESULT OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS ON LAW ON THE ELECTION OF DEPUTIES THERE ARE 33% FEMALE MEMBERS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AS WELL AS 33% FEMALE COUNCILLORS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS  IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA TODAY, WOMAN IS THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL PARLIAMENT AS WELL AS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT; FURTHERMORE 4 WOMEN ARE MINISTERS IN CURRENT SERBIAN GOVERNMENT (OUT OF TOTAL NUMBER OF 18 MINISTRIES), HOWEVER NO MORE THEN 5 WOMEN ARE MAYORS AND LESS THEN 30% WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS’ EXECUTIVE BODIES.  ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN POLITICS HAS BEEN RECENTLY INCREASED, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED COMPLETE EQUALITY WITH MEN.,,DOMINATION IS NO GOAL IN POLITICS, BUT DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY” HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCH POWER?  ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN POLITICS HAS BEEN RECENTLY INCREASED, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED COMPLETE EQUALITY WITH MEN.,,DOMINATION IS NO GOAL IN POLITICS, BUT DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY” HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCH POWER?

THERE ARE 2 KEY QUESTIONS FOR THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES : -HOW TO REFORM POLITICAL PARTIES IN WHICH GENDER EQUALITY ISSUE IS MERE DECLARATIVE -HOW TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO EFFECTIVELY USE THEIR FORMAL AUTHORITIES

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT  AMONG TOTAL NUMBER OF 250 MEMBERS OF SERBIAN PARLIAMENT, THERE ARE 84 WOMEN. IN YEAR THERE WERE ONLY 1,6% WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT WHEREAS THIS PERCENTAGE HAS INCREASED TO 33% IN CURRENT CONVOCATION.  THE SPEAKER OF THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT IS WOMAN AND SO IS THE SECRETARY GENERAL. FEMALE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE PRESIDING IN 5 OUT OF TOTAL NUMBER OF 20 PARLIAMENTARIAN COMMITTEES, WHEREAS 33% FEMALE MPs ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEES.  WOMAN IS THE PRESIDENT OF ONLY 1 OF TOTAL NUMBER OF 12 PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS IN CURRENT CONVOCATION OF SERBIAN PARLIAMENT, WHEREAS 5 OF THEM ARE DEPUTY PRESIDENTS.  IN 2 PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS OUT OF TOTAL NUMBER OF 11 THERE ARE NO WOMEN MPs  ESTABLISHING OF WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK IS DIRECT RESULT OF MORE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WOMEN MPs IN THE PARLIAMENT.

WHEN WAS THE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK ESTABLISHED? WHEN WAS THE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK ESTABLISHED? For the first time in the Serbian parliamentary history, the Women’s parliamentary network was formed on February 14, 2013 by the unanimous decision of all women members of the parliament, thus neglecting their party affiliation in order to achieving more important goals. For the first time in the Serbian parliamentary history, the Women’s parliamentary network was formed on February 14, 2013 by the unanimous decision of all women members of the parliament, thus neglecting their party affiliation in order to achieving more important goals.

MAIN GOALS OF THE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK IN SERBIA ARE: Adopting new laws and politics as well as supervision of implementation of existing laws, especially in following areas: Adopting new laws and politics as well as supervision of implementation of existing laws, especially in following areas: -Women’s and family health -Suppression of violence against women and children as well as of domestic violence -Economic empowerment of women -Education of women and promotion of women’s knowledge -Bigger support to women on local communities level Aside goals we have also adopted Rules of Procedure and Plan of Annual Activities

ACHIEVED RESULTS OF THE SERBIAN WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK: ACHIEVED RESULTS OF THE SERBIAN WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK: 1.Criminal Law was amended in the procedure initiated by members of Women’s parliamentary network thus preventing obsolescence of sexual criminal offences against children. Serbia became second European country, after UK to do this. 2.As a result of the First National Conference held in Belgrade on December 1, 2013, Women’s parliamentary network was also established in Parliament of AP Vojvodina and also more then 50 women’s counselors’ networks were formed within municipalities in Serbia. 3.Establishing of the Women’s parliamentary network as well as its activities found place in the positive report of European Commission on Serbia, issued on June 1, 2013.

4. Bigger representation of Women MPs in National Assembly’s Committees and Delegations during current Parliament’s convocation is direct result of joint activities of Women’s Parliamentary Network. -IX convocation % Women MPs took part in activities of parliamentary committees, 3 delegations had no female members -X convocation 2014 – 33.4% Women MPs takes part in activities of parliamentary committees, 2 delegations have no female members 5. Signed Memorandum of cooperation between WPN and ABW aiming towards economic empowerment of women 6. Launched initiative to amend the Law on Budget and implementing of gender budgeting

CHALLENGES OF THE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTARY NETWORK: 1.In front of us is a difficult task of demolition of political, social and economical stereotypes which are still predominant in Serbian society. 2.Involvement and engagement of as many women as possible in executive structures and in local policies. European Commission legal framework predicts 40% of women to be involved in companies by year Better media visibility of Women’s Parliamentary Network.

BLOG WPM: zpmsrbija.wordpress.comwpmserbia.wordpress.com

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Dubravka Filipovski