Greeting the participants of the roundtable, the coordinator of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, MP Marija Obradovic stressed that the Women’s Parliamentary Network, comprising all the women MPs of the National Assembly, is dedicated to improving the position and health of women in Serbia, fighting violence against women and domestic violence, and economic empowerment of women, primarily by passing efficient legislation and controlling its implementation. Speaking of the Network’s first results, Marija Obradovic said that an amendment to the Criminal Code which would eliminate the statute of limitation for sex crimes against minors would soon be on the National Assembly’s agenda.
Commending the establishment and work of the Women’s Parliamentary Network which should inspire the executive to take action on improving the position of women, Minister of Health Slavica Djukic Dejanovic shared data reflecting the increased involvement of women in the spheres of education, judiciary and healthcare. Even though 50% of PhDs in Serbia are held by women, and even though according to statistics women and pregnant women enjoy better healthcare, their health status is still less than satisfactory, said Djukic Dejanovic.
The participants of the roundtable were also addressed by the Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection, Zorana Mihajlovic and Minister of Youth and Sport, Alisa Maric. Minister Mihajlovic said that the United Nations had defined certain criteria to ensure higher participation of women in public life, adding that women themselves must fight against the stereotypes about the position of women in society by their personal convictions, wishes and ambitions. Minister Maric said that the Ministry of Youth and Sport insists on achieving gender equality in sport in view of the insufficient participation of women in sport.
Stana Bozovic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, spoke of the fight against violence against women and domestic violence, saying that one in two women in Serbia today suffers some type of violence, mostly by their partner. She added that the Government of the Republic of Serbia is working on empowering women by controlling the implementation of the appropriate legislation and by pursuing projects for the economic and political empowerment of women.
Zeljka Knezevic, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, spoke of the importance of education, pointing out the upward trend of women in higher education.
MPs Aleksandra Tomic and Dubravka Filipovski presented the situation in female entrepreneurship in Serbia and the effects of the increased number of women at the National Assembly. They said that 26% of company owners and co-owners in Serbia are women, whereas in the EU the number is somewhat higher - 30%. Sustainability of female entrepreneurship remains a problem since companies owned by women tend to go under more quickly than those owned by men. Dubravka Filipovski stressed that the first effects of the increased number of women at the National Assembly are noticeable and can be seen in the bigger potential for negotiation, transparency and higher focus on life issues.
H.R.H. Katarina Karadjordjevic presented the work of her Foundation which assists the improvement of women and children’s health via numerous donations to healthcare.
The participants of the roundtable had the opportunity to learn about the position of women in the political life of Indonesia from Meutia Hatta Swasono, advisor to the Indonesian President. The Ministry for Women's Empowerment bears the biggest responsibility by promoting the adoption of suitable legislation in the sphere and strives to point out to the other ministries that this issue pervades all social spheres and that the unsuccessful pursuit of equal opportunities policy led to a drop in the Human Development Index.
Numerous MPs, representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the media took part in the work of the roundtable.
The roundtable was held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Serbia.