The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, met with the President of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Vladimir Kostić.

One of the main topics of conversation was the recent elections in which no woman was elected a member of SASA. On that occasion, and after the complaint of one candidate, the Commissioner sent a recommendation to SASA to take measures to achieve the principle of gender equality during the next elections and to make additional efforts to promote women’s scientific and artistic contribution. According to the official data of SASA, there are 100 regular members, and nine of them are women. There are 19 corresponding members, four of whom are women.

The Commissioner pointed out that the achievements of women in scientific and artistic creation of Serbia should be reflected in their membership in an institution of special national importance. In that sense, SASA should be the initiator of development and should recognize its role in achieving a balanced representation of women and men in these areas of social life, Janković emphasized.

Academician Kostić pointed out that the results of the recent elections do not reflect the opinion of SASA on the membership of women scientists and artists, and that the issue of gender equality is present at various gatherings and activities of the Academy. The President of SASA emphasized that, in the coming period, more should be done to affirm the real contribution of women scientists and artists, and that he sees a special role of the Academy in that.

Pointing out that science and research are based on the principle of gender equality, the President of SASA and the Commissioner reminded that, according to the Republic Bureau of Statistics, in 2019, more women (57%) than men (47%) received their doctorates, as well as that, in 2020, 40% of male and 60% of female students graduated from all higher education institutions in Serbia.

It was jointly concluded that the promotion of gender equality and its strengthening in all fields significantly contributes to the further building of democratic values and the development of all segments of our society.