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Trapped Under the Glass Ceiling

Achieving true gender equality in Serbia requires a multifaceted approach combining legislative alignment, cultural transformation and international cooperation

As the global community approaches the 30th anniversary of the gender equality promoting Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, this upcoming milestone provides a vital opportunity to reflect on the progress Serbia has achieved in advancing gender equality and the challenges that persist.

Despite tangible achievements, Serbia’s path to gender equality is marked by complex challenges, including persistent patriarchal norms, systemic inequities and emerging risks to legislative frameworks.

Serbia has certainly made significant strides in advancing gender equality through the enactment of progressive legislation and initiatives aimed at fostering societal and economic inclusion for women, with the 2021 Law on Gender Equality and the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination standing as pillars of Serbia’s legislative advancements in this arena.

However, recent decisions by the Constitutional Court, such as suspending provisions on gender- sensitive language, pose a threat to the integrity of Serbia’s gender equality framework.

This is just one example of the deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes that continue to perpetuate discriminatory practices, from workplace inequalities to the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work borne by women.

Stereotypes and societal expectations in Serbia limit women’s access to leadership, entrepreneurship, equitable pay and financial independence, despite their high education and proven competence in political and economic roles.

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue, with entrenched societal norms fostering a culture of silence around abuse. While NGOs and legislative reforms have made advances in addressing this issue, the lack of comprehensive sex-disaggregated data and official statistics on femicide undermines efforts to develop evidence-based policies.

The EU has played an instrumental role in supporting Sergender equality agenda, allocating over four million euros through partnerships with organisations like UN Women and civil society organisations. Initiatives like the Gender Equality Facility (GEF) have strengthened administrative capacities, provided support to the fight against gender- based violence and fostered multisectoral approaches to victim support.

Programmes addressing gender equality have also empowered local communities and enhanced societal awareness of the importance of inclusion, tolerance and justice – values central to Serbia’s EU accession process.

Public awareness campaigns, such as the National Care and Support Day, have brought attention to the unequal distribution of unpaid care work and encouraged younger generations, particularly men, to challenge traditional gender roles. The promising response to these campaigns reflects a slow but notable shift in societal attitudes, especially among younger demographics.

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