Zenka-Davije: Women are potential towards overall economic and social development

Women have potential in the direction of overall economic and social development, said Minister for Human and Minority Rights Mehmed Zenka at the discussion on gender aspect at the local level which was held today in Podgorica.

Minister Zenka said that Montenegrin government is serious about improving the realization of the policy of equal opportunities and in recent years national policy in this area has been more present in local communities. This commitment stems from the Agreement of mutual cooperation  Minister said adding that he was especially pleased to say that all municipalities in Montenegro have signed it.

Zenka reiterated the readiness to support employees in their local communities in order to implement national and international legislative norms. As stated, the goal is all the same and refers to achieving equal opportunities policy for all citizens in Montenegro.

The OSCE Mission is a long-term partner of Montenegro on the demanding path towads  achieving gender equality, said H.E. Mariz Davije, head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

She noted that in partnership with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, the Parliament of Montenegro, local governments and their contact persons in the field of gender equality, the Mission have been providing training through various projects that have contributed to raising awareness and further development of principles and mechanisms of gender equality.

The Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities Refik Bojadzic said that the Association of Municipalities supports all members in the preparation of secondary legislation in order to create normative and institutional conditions for improved service delivery to the local population and economy. He noted that in fulfillment of the commitments of the Agreement of Understanding, more than 50% of municipalities adopted the Decision on gender equality, adopted the Local Action Plan, and that in 20 municipalities have named contact persons for gender equality issues.

Director of the Human Resources Svetlana Vukovic reminded that the presence of both sexes in all aspects of social life is a basic right and a moral value in a democratic society. To achieve this goal, according to her, it is necessary to gain basic education which includes all the institutions of the system, particularly those that have an educational character, so that the Human Resources Administration has a significant role in all this, being the central authority for professional training and development.

The event was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in cooperation with the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights.

The Ministry of Human and  Minority Rights