Women discriminated structurally and indirectly

In Serbia, women are discriminated against structurally and indirectly, Commissioner for Equality Nevena Petrusic told a gathering in Belgrade on Friday. This discrimination is mostly rooted in traditional, patriarchal understanding of the women's position in society, she noted. Women discriminated structurally and indirectly Speaking at the first Belgrade conference on gender equality, Petrusic pointed out that there is a legal framework in Serbia to establish equality and ban discrimination and that it is in line with international standards, but that there is a gap between the law and reality. "We have to create the environment for laws to be respected, for institutions to operate efficiently and for systematic action towards changing the people's understanding, which is a task that cannot be completed quickly," Petrusic stressed, adding that the idea of gender equality and the benefits men and women could have from it should be explained to the people. Petrusic stated that a significant number of complaints received by her office were related to employment, as well as discrimination in the media. Head of the Department of Gender Equality Natalija Micunovic said at the conference, entitled Development of Local Mechanisms for Gender Equality in Belgrade, that it was important for men to realize the need to establish gender equality, because it is a part of human rights. The gender equality law from 2008 says that working groups and organizations should be established within local governments to address any issues, and around 100 such bodies have been formed, Micunovic remarked. According to her, Belgrade should have a stronger organization and office to tackle gender equality issues, and it is also necessary to raise women's participation in decision making, improve their economic situation, establish equality in education and stop all types of violence against them. Tanjug

Women discriminated structurally and indirectly

Speaking at the first Belgrade conference on gender equality, Petrušić pointed out that there is a legal framework in Serbia to establish equality and ban discrimination and that it is in line with international standards, but that there is a gap between the law and reality.

"We have to create the environment for laws to be respected, for institutions to operate efficiently and for systematic action towards changing the people's understanding, which is a task that cannot be completed quickly," Petrušić stressed, adding that the idea of gender equality and the benefits men and women could have from it should be explained to the people.

Petrušić stated that a significant number of complaints received by her office were related to employment, as well as discrimination in the media.

Head of the Department of Gender Equality Natalija Mićunović said at the conference, entitled Development of Local Mechanisms for Gender Equality in Belgrade, that it was important for men to realize the need to establish gender equality, because it is a part of human rights.

The gender equality law from 2008 says that working groups and organizations should be established within local governments to address any issues, and around 100 such bodies have been formed, Mićunović remarked.

According to her, Belgrade should have a stronger organization and office to tackle gender equality issues, and it is also necessary to raise women's participation in decision making, improve their economic situation, establish equality in education and stop all types of violence against them.