Montenegro

The second academic gender studies in Montenegro

Podgorica, 16 April 2010

The second generation of Gender School students at the Mediterranean University received certificates after a five days program which main goals were to acquaint the participants with gender equality standards enshrined in international documents ratified by Montenegro, with the obligations of the State in terms of conducting equal opportunities policy in the context of EU integration, etc..

The Gender Studies School was supported by the Ministry for Human and Minorities Rights – Department for Gender Equality of the Government of Montenegro and UNDP Montenegro, which provided financial support for the realization of the studies. Participants were students of the Mediterranean University, public administration and local self-governance employees, as well as the employees of the Parliament of Montenegro and NGO representatives.
 
The program encompassed the following thematic units: Gender and society – contextual framework for understanding gender equality; Education, human resources and gender equality; Normative, legal and institutional frameworks for gender equality; Gender dimension of culture and artwork; Gender equality in economy. The Chief Presenter was prof. dr Marijana Pajvančić who, along with prominent national and international lecturers, worked with 40 participants.

Handover of certificates and intoructory remarks were given by: Mr. Mladen Vukčević, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Mediterranean University, Ms. Marijana Pajvančić, Gender Studies Mentor and Ms. Snežana Doljanica, UNDP Operations Analyst and acting UNDP Resident Representative.

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Gender Studies introduced Montenegro in the international academic family which consists of developed countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, America and others, which university centers have since the seventies been providing students with the possibility of acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical training in the field of gender studies. In this way generations of male and female students were enabled for an interdisciplinary approach to research and gender-sensitive approach to studies in social and human sciences.

The United Nations Development Programme has supported this process in Montenegro - believing that this is the right way, both in the world and in our environment - and will contribute to reexamining conventional ways of thinking, behavior and cultural patterns which bases, unfortunately, are still consisted of patriarchal principles. Introducing such programs will help students get trained to critically evaluate the position of women and men in social, political, economic, scientific, educational, legal and artistic life of Montenegro.

Prerequisites for development of any society are the same rights and equal opportunities for all citizens, and therefore it is the overall principle on which the work of the United Nations is based - the principle of equal opportunities that are integrated in all our programs and projects, and that are being implemented in Montenegro with special attention. UNDP will continue its activities focused on such programs that strengthen the capacity of institutions to deal with issues of gender equality at all levels. The focus of our attention will also be a special program to support women in those areas in which they have not achieved equality, or are particularly vulnerable, such as participation in decision-making positions, the fight against the feminization of poverty and domestic violence.