Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic took part in a meeting dedicated to gender equality and women’s rights on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, organized by Romanian Ambassador Oana Cristina Popa on the occasion of Romania’s EU Council Presidency.
Speaking about European standards and challenges for equality, Commissioner Jankovic stressed that women and girls in the 21st century continually face obstacles in the most important spheres of life, but when it comes to the European Union, it has been advocating for the equality of men and women from the beginning, considering gender equality as one of its basic principles.
Discrimination is recognized as politically unacceptable, economically unprofitable and legally sanctioned. Respecting of these principles is expected from each member state, but also from countries that would like to become members of the European Union. Serbia follows European standards on this path and the institution of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality applies all directives relating to the field of promoting equality.
The Commissioner spoke about the main European Union directives for gender equality concerning equal treatment in employment, improvement and working conditions, the social insurance system, equal treatment for self-employed workers and the protection of pregnant women, referring to the practice of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, based on proceedings which were led upon complaints in the areas of life governed by these Directives.
Commissioner said that she hoped that the visions and strategies of the European Union and Serbia on equitable society would become reality, but that it is necessary to promote awareness of the importance of gender equality in every area of life and with each relevant stakeholder.
Other participants in organizing of this event were Embassies of Finland and Croatia in the Republic of Serbia, the Council of Europe and UN Women, while the Municipality of Savski Venac was hosting it.
