Only 4.6% of respondents believe that gender equality has been fully achieved, while almost 11% believe that it has not been achieved at all, which shows the need for a different approach to solving this problem, primarily by changing the way of communication and more actively involving men and young people, said Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, at the conference “Between Law and Reality: Women’s Perspectives on Gender Equality in Serbia”, jointly organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

The conference presented the results of research on the perception of gender equality from the perspective of women in Serbia, as well as an analysis of the legal framework relating to discrimination against women from vulnerable social groups, with the aim of contributing to a comprehensive overview of the situation in the field of gender equality and the shaping of public policies that meet the real needs of women.

Gender equality is primarily a matter of the rule of law, justice, and the realization of fundamental human rights, but also a key prerequisite for social, economic, and political progress. However, gender equality is still considered a “women’s topic”, which is why it is necessary to involve men more intensively and educate them about what liberation from traditional gender roles really means for each of us, Janković emphasized.

More than 40% of respondents believe that women do not have equal opportunities for economic independence, which is associated with differences in salaries, weaker chances for advancement, as well as a greater representation of women in lower-paid sectors. The research also showed that among women themselves there is a very polarized perception and even misunderstanding of gender equality, which a number of respondents perceive as an additional burden. More than half of the respondents believe that traditional gender roles in which women are expected to take on the majority of unpaid household chores, caring for children and elderly family members, contribute most to discrimination against women, while they see economic empowerment, education from an early age and the fight against violence against women as key areas for improving the position of women in Serbia.

At the opening of the conference, in addition to Commissioner Janković, speakers included Michael Engel from GIZ, project leader of the “Support to Social Inclusion in Serbia” project, and Nina Mitić, Assistant Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue. Professor Ivana Krstić from the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, presented an analysis of the legal framework, while Marko Milanović presented in more detail the research that, like the conference, was carried out within the framework of “Support to Social Inclusion in Serbia” (SIP).