Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

Progress of the Republic of Serbia to access EU gender equality principles and ground them into their public policy has been analyzed in the policy brief “Great Expectations – Grounding EU Gender Equality principles into Serbian policy”. The main focus of this brief was limited to particular aspects of the problem to gender inequality in the area of gender mainstreaming and access to equal opportunities for women and men. The specific objectives of this policy brief was to give an overview of the adopted EU gender equality principles, point out the principles which are lacking and explore the ways for grounding EU gender equality principles with special focus on women’s access to economic opportunities and usage of gender equality as a principle at all levels of governance. And also, this policy brief synthesized what has been done on a policy national level and pointed out what needs to be particularly introduced.

This policy brief is relevant because it is written at the moment of adoption new legislative framework in the field of gender equality and the current process of EU accession: the new Law on Gender Equality that will be adopted in the upcoming period, the New Gender Equality Strategy and its Plan of Action, as well as the adoption of Gender Equality Index for Serbia, the new EU instrument for measuring gender equality.

Policy recommendations of this policy brief go in direction that it would be much more effective if Serbia would enforce gender mainstreaming at all levels of governance as a one of the preconditions for good governance and adopt policy measures to improve access to equal opportunities in favor of women. Following these two EU principles in gender equality would benefit Serbia for three main reasons: 1) by enforcing gender equality principles to all levels of governance would speed the accession process to the EU; 2) it would contribute to anti-discrimination policies and changing stereotypes of patriarchal gender roles; 3) improve of position of women and contribute to the development of the society.

Author of the policy brief is Milana Lazić, Human Security and Gender Equality Coordinator at Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of Serbia.

Whole policy brief is available on the following link.