Empowering women in democratic process

SERBIAMilica Jahura

Youth of Democratic Party of Serbia

Current situation According to many studies, vulnerable

groups in Serbia are : minorities, the disabled and women!Some of the reasons: Lack of family support Traditional gender roles Education Lack of role models

Inequality

Not fairly rewarded for their work Not being promoted Lower status functions Denied any real opportunity to

show their true talents

Business woman

Forced to renounce their right to raise a family

Often impossible to balance both business and family responsibilities

Lack of relevant networks and women’s mobility

Mobbing, Sexual harassment..

What globalization has to offer?

Better network of their connections and the foundation of women’s organizations

The internet has allowed knowledge = opportunities

exposure of countries around the world to foreign cultures and peoples

promote national equality where there was once extreme inequality

Documents Serbia has signed the "Education for All"

declaration and several other relevant European and international documents promoting gender equality

National documents, strategies and action plans focusing on gender issues, such as the "National action plan for improving the position of women and promoting gender equality (2007-2010)

National Assembly In the last sitting of National Assembly was

11,2% women MPs Now we have 21,2% women MPs (which is 51

of 250 seats) Committee for gender equality National Assembly is also chaired by a

woman 52% of voters are women The legal quota of 30% seats for the less

represented gender has not yet been reached, due to incomplete legal solutions.

Government 26 ministers in Serbian Government 5 women ministers Minister of Finance Minister of Justice Minister of Youth and Sports Minister of Telecommunications and

Information Society Minister for National Investment Plan

Political parties

No Women's Party One party with a female leader Some political parties have women

networks and associations All relevant political parties have

women on high ranked positions..

Women Organizations Numerous women´s organisations that

are very well-known and have high degree of influence on political and social life

Women´s Government - a non-formal, non-profit, civic and expert group of popular women

Educational programs, courses, trainings, seminars, study groups, public lectures, project groups..

NGO

Some of the most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations in Serbia are run by women, but because of their political engagement, they are exposed to more public animosity than their male colleagues.

BFPE, European Fund For the Balkans..

Business In the economy there are women´s

associations and societies. Association of Business Women stands

for positive affirmation such as: Implementation of credit mechanisms

for women as a special target group Granting a 3-year grace period for

credits taken by women for start-up businesses.

Employment Serbia needs measures of support

in the domain of social policy, labour and employment, such as: 

flexitime making possible home-based work opening a kindergarten inside the company

in which the woman is employed introducing tax relieves for employers who

employ women

Paradox  High number of girls and women in the

formal school system and at universities

Far less women among the top earners, leaders, policy makers and important positions in society

Unemployment among women in Serbia

reached 27.4%, while unemployment among men 17.6%

Conclusion Women in decision-making positions in

institutions mainly agree that in our society there is gender discrimination and it is usually hidden

The source lies in: Economic dependence of women Lack of women’s initiative in Serbia Lack of legal basis for gender equality..

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!