NGOs fear women will not make up 30% of new government

BELGRADE NGOs in Serbia fear that in the coming reshuffle, the government will veer from the European standard of having at least 30 percent of women in its ranks. Belgrade-based daily Danas reports that a letter cautioning that women should make up at least 30 percent the new government was sent on Monday to all members of the national parliament. NGOs fear women will not make up 30% of new government Members of the parliamentary Committee on Human and Minority Rights, and Commissioner for Equality Nevena Petrusic also received the letter. In the letter, the groups express concern the new government will fall short of the standard as three women ministers have been replaced - Alisa Maric, Verica Kalanovic and Suzana Grubjesic. The letter presents an initiative from 44 civil society organizations, 88 individuals and representatives of the Democratic Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, and the Green Party, writes Danas. According to the daily, the initiative came from Women’s Government, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, European Movement in Serbia, and Center of Modern Skills. Sonja Liht, director of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, told Danas that experience has shown that the Serbian parliament works better with more women MPs. "With all the talk about the reshuffle and the lack of qualified people, it seems to me we have lost sight of the fact that there are a lot of women experts who could do well in all positions in the government," said Liht. Milos Djajic, chairman of the managing board at the Center of Modern Skills, told Danas that since Serbia is about to embark on EU membership talks, it should use every opportunity to show that it wants to adopt and respect European standards. He said that by disregarding the initiative, the government would show that its intentions when it comes to the adoption of European values and standards are not honest. (Tanjug, file) Danas Tanjug

NGOs fear women will not make up 30% of new government

Members of the parliamentary Committee on Human and Minority Rights, and Commissioner for Equality Nevena Petrušić also received the letter.

In the letter, the groups express concern the new government will fall short of the standard as three women ministers have been replaced - Alisa Marić, Verica Kalanović and Suzana Grubješić.

The letter presents an initiative from 44 civil society organizations, 88 individuals and representatives of the Democratic Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, and the Green Party, writes Danas.

According to the daily, the initiative came from Women’s Government, Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, European Movement in Serbia, and Center of Modern Skills.

Sonja Liht, director of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence, told Danas that experience has shown that the Serbian parliament works better with more women MPs.

"With all the talk about the reshuffle and the lack of qualified people, it seems to me we have lost sight of the fact that there are a lot of women experts who could do well in all positions in the government," said Liht.

Miloš Đajić, chairman of the managing board at the Center of Modern Skills, told Danas that since Serbia is about to embark on EU membership talks, it should use every opportunity to show that it wants to adopt and respect European standards.

He said that by disregarding the initiative, the government would show that its intentions when it comes to the adoption of European values and standards are not honest.