The Gender Equality Committee held its fourth sitting on 16 December, commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The sitting was attended by the Deputy Ombudsperson, Zorica Mrsevic, representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and UNDP and Dr Nevena Petrusic, Dean of the Nis Law Faculty. The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairperson, Elena Bozic-Talijan.

Deputy Ombudsperson Zorica Mrscevic deemed that domestic violence is a problem that silently undermines the society. She pointed out that a lack of a Gender Equality Law is a great problem, adding that there are serious complaints against the operation of Social Work Centres.

Vesna Jaric from the gender equality department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy stressed that passing a Gender Equality Law which would fully regulate the issue of gender equality is a priority, as well as the preparation of a National Strategy on the Improvement of the Position of Women and Promotion of Gender Equality which would harmonise state policy for the purpose of eliminating discrimination against women.

The Dean of the Nis Law Faculty, Nevena Petrusic warned those present that the most common penalty for domestic violence is a four-month suspended jail sentence, while only 12.9% of suspects are in custody. She stressed that judges are lenient towards perpetrators most frequently because of stereotypes and prejudice about violence and victims, and that the fine is often 35 000 dinars.

It was stated that the victims of violence are mostly members of national minorities, most often Roma women, refugees, poor and elderly women, as well as disabled women who suffer violence at the hands of those on whom they depend physically.

A discussion was opened following the addresses of the representatives, in which the participants agreed with the estimate that the problems of domestic violence and violence against women demand a systematic approach, improvement of efficiency and promptness of judiciary and police organs, providing psychological and other expert help, adding that work on the prevention of violence needs improvement, too.