OSCE-supported Memoranda of Understanding aimed at gender equality strengthening signed with four Montenegrin Municipalities

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Human and Minority Rights Ministry, aiming to strengthen the co-operation in the area of gender equality, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with municipalities of Andrijevica, Gusinje, Petnjica and Plav on 2 October 2015 in Plav.  

The Memorandum defines the methods in which the Mission and the authorities will work together to promote gender equality at the local level, including the ways to increase the number of women in decision-making positions.

By signing the Memorandum, the municipalities oblige themselves to appoint Gender Focal Points, which will receive training from the Mission and the Ministry and become responsible for the co-ordination of all gender equality activities in their respective municipalities. The Gender Focal Point will be given an access to the Municipal Gender Focal Point Network, established with the support of the Mission in 2013, and thus be provided with the opportunity to exchange best practice and experience with their colleagues from other Montenegrin municipalities.

The Mission will support further development of the Local Action Plans for Gender Equality in the municipalities, by which a number of related topics, such as participation of women in public and political life, sports, culture, economic empowerment of women, fight against gender-based violence, and others, will be systematically addressed.

Representatives of the civil sector, in particular the local non-governmental organizations, will be included in the implementation of the activities foreseen under the Plans.

The Mission has been closely co-operating with the Human and Minority Rights Ministry, Department for Gender Equality, on the adoption and implementation of these Plans since 2010. So far, similar agreements have been signed with 16 Montenegrin municipalities.

Opening the event, Human and Minority Rights, Suad Numanović, emphasized that gender equality is not just an issue of women, and that despite the traditional context Montenegro needs to move forward. "A state that excludes half of the population and their potential can never achieve full progress," Numanovic said.