Commentary on Montenegro’s gender equality law presented by OSCE Mission
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights presented their Commentary on the country’s Law on Gender Equality on 16 November 2016 in Podgorica.
Organized as part of the Mission’s activities in supporting gender mainstreaming in Montenegro, the presentation gathered more than 40 participants, including Gender Focal Points from the national and local institutions as well as representatives of the civil sector.
The Commentary was prepared by experts contracted by the OSCE Mission and offers an overview of the role of the different institutions and organizations in implementing the Law and examples of best practice.
“I thank the OSCE Mission for supporting the development and promotion of the Commentary on the Law on Gender Equality - a tool that will enhance the implementation of this very important anti-discrimination Law,” said the Director for the Enhancement and Protection of Human Rights, Blanka Radošević Marović.
The Head of the Democratization Programme at the OSCE Mission Lia Magnaguagno, said: "The law alone is not enough because laws are not self-implementing, nor are they self-interpreting - and that is the main point I would like to emphasize today. We all have a role in ensuring that the Law on Gender Equality is adequately implemented, and that it does not remain a separate, isolated issue.”
The presentation was followed by a discussion in which participants emphasized the need for a systematic approach in gender mainstreaming the national institutions, the importance of multi-sector co-operation and the involvement of the civil sector in implementing the gender equality law.