Women in transition: gaining gender equality in transitional and developing societies

Daniela Gašparíková, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro

August 26, 2019

Daniela Gašparíková, UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro

Women in transition: gaining gender equality in transitional and developing societies - panel discussion organised by Helen Donor School of English Language and partners

1.      a) We are all born equal. Yet, across the world, men and women, are not always treated equally, nor do they always have the same opportunities to succeed. Equality is not an option; it is a right, enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and advanced by the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. In the era of the Sustainable Development Goals – the vision of where we want to be by 2030 adopted by governments of 170 countries – the gender equality takes on a new and amplified significance. Not only is it seen as an individual right, but as vital for our common future. Fighting inequality is a core principle of the SDGs, which include a specific goal – Goal Five - on gender equality and empowering all women and girls. But it’s also key to every SDG – to ending poverty, protecting the planet and promoting peace. Human rights, gender equality and the countries’ commitment to SDGs are universal – applicable to both developing and developed countries.

b) Fact: However, the recent research by the World Economic Forum has shown, that at the current pace, it will take a century to achieve gender equality. Which means that neither of us, nor our children born today, will witness in their lifetime gender parity. Interestingly, gender gap has been narrowing in earlier lives of boys and girls, and there has been a remarkable progress in girls attending school (primary school enrollment or completion of the tertiary education). However, these improvements are not translating into women’s empowerment and equal economic participation later (remaining gender pay gap, global labor force participation rates for women are lower than for men – 49 percent versus 75 percent; and overall, women’s share of parliamentary seats remains low although it varies across regions, from 17.5 and 18 percent in South Asia and the Arab States, respectively; to 29 percent in Latin America and Caribbean and OECD countries). The reason for this is that root causes of structural and systemic discrimination – prevailing cultural behavior patterns, attitudes and norms – remain unaddressed or are changing only very slowly.   

2.    Gender equality challenges faced by Montenegro today are very similar to those faced also by the OECD/EU countries. According to the UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index, Montenegro ranked 32nd among 160 countries for which this Index was calculated. It shared this position with Poland. (By comparison, it was for example ahead of Slovakia (39th) or United States (41st); but Slovenia ranked 7th). The GII looks at reproductive health (MMR, adolescent birth rate), empowerment (proportion of women in parliament + proportion of population with some secondary education), labour market (labor force participation of men and women).

3.    What holds back women in Montenegro?

a)    Ensuring equality in work and pay: Despite the fact that women represent 50% of human capital and half of the labor force in Montenegro, women’s economic potential and opportunities have been particularly restricted. While the unemployment are of women and men is about the same, women’s labour force participation rate (57.2 %) remains significantly lower than that of men (72.3 %). Further only 7.2% of women are performing managerial tasks. Hence, how do we encourage working women, and narrow the pay gap with their male counterparts, now at around 16%?

b)    Ending gender-based violence: 1 out of 3 women experienced violence in her life-time, 1 out of 5 experienced GBV violence in family in last 12 months (UNDP research 2017). 4684 calls to National SOS line for victims of GBV and 1791 case reported to police in 2018.  Often, violence by women is experienced at home, where women and girls should feel safest. Violence in any form is unacceptable and must be stopped, through zero tolerance across society. We also need to change attitudes of boys, girls, men and women, through advocacy and early education in families and schools.

c)      Boosting women’s political participation: 24% of women in National Assembly (19 out of 81) heading only three (out of 14) standing parliamentary committees – however, this figure corresponds to a global average. Women’s political participation remains low also at the local level. Of the 24 municipalities, only one has a female major and women make up only 26% of councilors in municipalities 22% of women Ministers.

d)    Breaking with stereotypes: In line with prevailing cultural norms, women are possessors of 23% of apartments, 4% of houses and 8 % of land (UNDP survey 2012). It’s clear that, only a very limited number of women have the opportunity to take out a bank loan and start their own business due to the fact they have neither the incentives nor the real estate to guarantee the loan.

4.    What are Montenegro’s strengths in terms of the gender equality that can be translated into opportunities to accelerate/fast-track progress?

a)    Education and knowledge: in going forward focus not only on numbers but also on quality and ensuring that girls are ready and chose professional tracks/careers that labour market demands – an example of girls in STEM.

b)    Existing government and parliament strategic commitment to integrated gender mainstreaming as principal strategy in policy and legislation making - vibrant Women Political Network, past and the current process of amending the Election law – and introducing 30% in the past. With the on-going election law discussion, there is a potential to go further.  

c)    Strengthened social protections system in addressing the violence against women – translating the Istanbul Convention into practice (integrated database to track progress on reported cases of GBV with the Min of Interior), support to developing protocol for multidisciplinary teams, support NGOs providing shelter and psycho social support to women victims of violence, 24/7 SOS helpline.

In political and policy development dynamics throughout WB countries, gender equality is generally pushed down the agenda, with attention focused primarily on economic and political situation.