Montenegro

The first academic gender studies in Montenegro

The first generation of Gender School students at the Mediteran University in Bar received certificates  after a 6 days Program that encompassed five themes: the social context and the basis for gender equality; normative, legal and institutional frameworks for gender equality; gender equality in economy; gender dimension of culture and artwork; education, education and human resources in the context of gender equality.

Participants - graduate students of the «Mediteran» University, public admin/local governments employees and NGO representatives - demonstrated a high level of understanding of the basic concepts of gender equality, international treaties and how it relates to their everyday work and country’s obligations in terms of EU integration policies.

The goals of the Gender School were:

• Education in domain of gender equality closely linked with the EU integration process;
• Familiarizing with gender equality standards enshrined in international documents ratified by Montenegro in order to enable their application in legislative and in practical life;
• In line with the new Constitution of Montenegro, recognize the activities that should be done by the actors in social and political milieu in order to accomplish gender equality guaranteed by the Constitution, and to understand the obligations of the State in terms of conducting equal opportunities policy;
• Receive education in this domain in order to, by getting involved in the working process, gain the necessary knowledge about gender equality;
• Learning about gender equality in its interdisciplinary context.

For the representatives of student population, public administration and NGOs interested in gender politics, this school was a starting point for raising the perpetual question about what should drive gender equality in Montenegro. Here are some of their statements:

Ms. Nada Martinović, «Mediteran» University: „I am very satisfied with the gender school, and would like to say that all the participants have substantially enriched their knowledge on various elements of culture and society in general from gender prospective.“ Mr. Dalibor Lubarda, «Mediteran» University: „I am satisfied, we learned a lot of useful things.“ Ms. Dijana Ilinčić, «Mediteran» University said she was very happy to have participated in the project, and she added: „I think it will open many doors for me.“  

Doc. dr Mladen Vukčević, Administrative Director of the «Mediteran» University said he was glad that the Mediteran University had proven itself once again as one of organizers of a good project. „Finishing the Gender School is just the first step, and the next one will be establishing of gender master studies, and I think we will be the first ones in Montenegro to implement them. As you could have seen the lectures were very interesting, as well as the dialogue. It is good to complement the gender overall research in this way and make it grow into full exercise of human rights in practice, including dissemination of the culture of human rights in Montenegro.

According to Prof. dr Marijana Pajvančić, Professor of Constitutional Law and Gender Studies Mentor, this was the first attempt to organize interdisciplinary gender studies at some University involving students from all the Faculties of the «Mediteran» University. „Therefore, we had with us both economists and lawyers, and those who study art. This school was supposed to show the overall interdisciplinary nature of gender studies and to make Montenegro richer with around forty young people who will later, at work and while studying, promote developmental components of this society, and that is equal treatment for both men and women and a joint responsibility for the projects and the future of Montenegro,“ said Prof. Dr Marijana Pajvančić.

Mr. Francisco Roquette, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Montenegro said: „The United Nations as a whole, as well as the UNDP as its specialized agency, are puting special emphasis on gender equality. I am very pleased to see that men and women have been almost equally represented among the Gender School participants, and that is a positive sign. I know that you have already heard enough of theory and you have taken your exam this morning, but still allow me to emphasize that human development is the main goal of the United Nations, and it is connected to human rights, which is in fact the essence of debate on gender equality. Economic rights, political rights and general human rights are connected, and that is the reason why human development and human rights are embedded in our everyday work and practice.“

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Gender equality means a man and a woman exercising their full human rights under equal conditions, having the possibility to contribute to the national, political, economic, social and cultural progress, as well as to benefit equally from this progress. Gender equality also involves understanding gender differences.

Ever since the 1990s the UNDP has been strongly commited to women’s equality and empowerment, and has been strongly oriented to help the countries with EU accession aspirations to design gender issues in line with EU legislation, and to translate these commitments into specific policy reforms that make a difference for women - poor women in particular.

Some of common values that the United Nations and the European Union wish that the new and future EU membership candidates actuate are democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, including practical involvement of gender equality and a high enough level of gender awareness.

About the Gender School in Montenegrin language, at the Government website /O školi „Rodne studije“ na crnogorskom jeziku, na vebsajtu Vlade Crne Gore:

http://www.gender.vlada.cg.yu/index.php?akcija=vijesti&id=171983