On the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality organized the Annual conference, dedicated to equal participation of men and women in political and social life at all levels, with support of OSCE Mission in Serbia.

Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic stressed that the progress in participation of women in political and public life in Serbia was undoubtedly achieved during the last several years, but that she also believes that today’s conference contributes to the change of perception of participation of men and women in public life, demonstrating the unity intended to achieving of full gender equality in area where men are still predominant.

She pointed that women in Serbia, but also in the whole world, are facing the situation in which they advance professionally according to their proficiency, but only until certain limit that they are not able to cross, just because of gender stereotypes.

That is why the woman in politics presents more than authority representative. She is not only a role model, but a voice of all those women who are listening to her, realising that they also have something to say. The fact that we have a glass ceiling in all countries clearly implies that in reality we can discuss about how to make a hole in it, rather than about its complete removal.

Head of OSCE Mission in Serbia Andrea Orizio stressed that Serbia is devoted to combat against discrimination and that it commenced obligation to adopt legal frame in that area, aimed to protect the equality of all citizens.

President of the Fund for Political Excellence Sonja Licht said that the Serbian society is still very patriarchal, where is hard to be politically active if you are a woman, especially at the local level.

It is obvious that we still face not only patriarchal and traditional, but also misogyny society that can’t stand to have a woman at the political scene, nor in the public life, said Licht and added that there has been enough complaining and that we all together have to do everything we can to change this situation in Serbia.

Assistant to Commissioner Tatjana Jokanovic presented the data from the analysis “Gender equality at decision-making positions in self-government units”, made by Commissioner for the Protection of Equality.

The results reveal that women are mayors or municipal presidents only in 12 self-government units and that on every four men participating in city councils, comes only one woman.

Men make 83,7 percent at the position of general manager in the public companies, women make 49 percent of women in managing boards, while 69,9 percent of municipalities have gender equality bodies, stated Jokanovic.

Within the conference of Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Annual media awards for tolerance were officially delivered. Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic and Head of OSCE Mission in Serbia Andrea Orizio handed the awards to endowed journalists.