OSCE presents survey on awareness, implementation of gender equality law in Montenegrin institutions

A survey on the awareness and implementation in Montenegrin institutions of the Law on Gender Equality was presented at a session of the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality on 21 March 2014. The research was prepared by the Committee in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and the UNDP Office in Montenegro.

The survey, based on interviews with 266 employees in 68 Montenegrin institutions, showed only minor progress compared to the results of the first survey conducted three years ago. Although 87 per cent of those interviewed were aware that Montenegro has adopted gender equality legislation, only 23 per cent were able to name three of the regulatory documents. Forty-one percent of those interviewed could not describe an action which is regarded as discriminatory in the gender equality law.

“It is evident that there is still a great lack of understanding about the Law in the institutions,” said Waldemar Figaj, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. “We hope this survey will play an important role in improving this situation and remind all relevant actors on the significance of gender equality and how important it is to work on raising awareness at all levels.”  

Suad Numanović, Minister for Human and Minority Rights, said the Ministry is not satisfied with the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality, adding that “Montenegro needs to fully use the potential of almost 51 per cent of its population of which women represent.”

The OSCE Mission will continue to support the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality in its endeavours to strengthen its oversight role and improve interaction with citizens.