Dubravka Filipovski, coordinator of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, presented the Network’s primary goals – increased participation of women in the executive and legislative power, health and family rights, combating violence against women, economic empowerment and education of women. Filipovski stressed that the Women’s Parliamentary Network cooperates with NGOs and, at the initiative of women MPs, in 2013 the Criminal Law was amended to abolish the statute of limitation for sexual crimes against minors. She said that three conferences were organized at the WPN’s initiative to set up local networks of women councilors, and at the moment 53 of these networks operate on the territory of the Republic of Serbia. She also stressed that, at the initiative of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, the first regional conference of 11 South-East European countries was held resulting in a memorandum of cooperation on women’s influence in parliamentary political parties and on issues concerning gender equality.

The women parliamentarians said that they also managed to introduce gender sensitive budgeting through the Budget System Law which they said was a big achievement for all the women members of the National Assembly. They also spoke about the numbers of women holding office in the executive and legislative power adding that, though the law does not require it, women make up 30% of membership of each of the committees in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The members of the Network also briefed the Bundestag MP on the initiatives they plan to use to boost the numbers of women in the executive to 50% and to pass a new gender equality law. “We have a recommendation of the European Commission stating that by 2020, when the Republic of Serbia is supposed to join the European Union, 40% of leading positions in the executive should be occupied by women”, said Filipovski.

Eberl said that, though she comes from a conservative party, she is member of the Women’s Union. The member of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union said that the challenges and conclusions concerning gender equality and women’s empowerment are the same throughout Europe and education is the key to the improvement of women’s position. She added that women forced into prostitutions, who generally come from Eastern European countries, are in the worst position. “It is essential to have numerous women’s initiatives, and in these times of open borders we can contribute to the status of women by working together”, added Eberl.

Gordana Comic said that in the coming period the Network will work toward improving not only the position of women, but also the position of refugees who have nothing to do with the terrorism that is shaking Europe, with the idea that people may be different, but it is our duty to find similarities.

In the end, Eberl wished the Women’s Parliamentary Network success in achieving their goals and, together with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, invited them to visit Berlin in late October.