Gender Task Force

Gender Progress Report January-June 2004

Introduction

Women in SEE now have more opportunities to contribute to the political and public decision-making processes in their countries, than five years ago. Functional mechanisms for gender equality and antidiscrimination policies were promoted throughout the region during this period and are in the process of getting on track. The Stability Pact Gender Task Force (GTF) will continue to build upon these achievements and pursue its efforts to advance gender equality throughout SEE.

Activities

The Woman Can Do It III project focuses on skills training for women in decision-making positions at the local level. Eleven national advocacy campaigns were con-ducted over the past six months. These events were built upon the initial segment of the project during the second semester of 2003 when over 70 seminars were held and approximately 1700 women were trained. Woman from across political parties and among different ethnic groups united and worked together during the seminars and campaigns. Moreover, they initiated the establishment of national women’s lobbies, which have remained active even after the completion of the above-mentioned activities.

The SEE Woman’s Parliamentary Caucus project (which started in 2003, with the support of Parliaments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia and Montene-gro) continued to connect women MP’s from both government and opposition par-ties through the network established to discuss issues of common concern. These issues include the return of refugees, cooperation with NGO’s and gender mainstreaming within strategies for poverty reduction. This project ended in May 2004.

The Social Dialogue / Empowerment of Women in Trade Unions project in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro commenced in January of this year, in coopera-tion with the International Confederation of Trade Union Women’s Regional Net-work. Eight field seminars have been conducted. Two national strategic sessions are scheduled for June during which, the agenda for the dialogue with government institutions will be determined. The substantive basis for the dialogue will concern women employed in education, healthcare, public administration, the textile industry, tourism as well as women representing the informal economy.

The GTF has finalized its analysis of the progress achieved as well as a needs as-sessment for its project “Network of Women Mayors in SEE” for activities, which oc-curred during 2003. This report, which envisions three additional workshops in the latter half of 2004, is under consideration for financial support.

The GTF has continued its cooperation and support with its institutional partners. The OSCE/ODIHR regional conference on “Roma Women in Elections”, which took place in Bucharest on 15-18 April 2004, confirmed the successful results of the GTF Roma Can Do It project and reaffirmed the willingness of OSCE/ODHIR to continue working with the Roma Women Can Do It II Project of the GTF. The Norwegian Peoples Aid held its second regional conference on “Women Can Do It” projects, which were implemented in close cooperation with the GTF. The conclusions confirmed the continuing need for training and capacity-building activities to further the political empowerment and networking of women in all countries of the SEE. Lastly, the “3rd SEE Regional Conference of Women Parliamentarians” to be held in Skopje from 2-4 June 2004, was prepared in close cooperation with the Parliamentary Cooperation and Gender Task Forces of the Stability Pact.

In addition to its regional efforts the GTF is also engaged with specific national level activities. In 2004, gender movements in FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania were assisted in the preparation of their respective National Plans of Action and Donor Conferences. Support was also provided during the Serbian National Strategy Meeting on 28 February 2004. A Croatian National Strategy Meeting was held on 24 May 2004 in Zagreb, with NGOs, political party, and government representatives. Gender equality in education reform and the new law on local elections were noted as priorities. The Montenegro Gender Equality Office (a GTF initiated project) prepared the first expert led research on the situation of women in Montenegro and organized a public presentation of its activities in April of this year.

Evaluation:

The GTF’s efforts to strengthen the mechanisms to enhance women’s participation in political and public life in SEE have been largely successful. 17% of Women MP’s in SEE Parliaments (the current average) is enough to initiate change, though it is generally recognized that 30% is the critical figure which, when reached, would provide the basis to enact meaningful gender related reforms. Governments throughout SEE have established and/or upgraded their Gender Equality governmental and parliamentary structures. Laws on gender equality are in place or being prepared in most SEE countries. Quotas or some form of affirmative action, exist in the electoral legislation of most countries in the region. The challenge therefore is in making these mechanisms function effectively.