OSCE Mission supports exchange between Serbian and Finnish women parliamentarians’ networks

From 14 to 17 May 2013, members of the newly established Serbian Women’s Parliamentary Network travelled to Helsinki to exchange experiences with representatives from the Finnish Women’s Parliamentary Network and other institutions working in the field of gender equality. The visit was supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Finnish Embassy in Belgrade and the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence.

During the visit, 19 women parliamentarians from Serbia learned about the experiences of their Finnish counterparts in empowering women to participate in political life. They learned about gender mainstreaming practices at both state and municipal levels, and introducing gender sensitive policies in different settings.

Marija Obradovic, the first co-ordinator of the Serbian Women’s Parliamentary Network, who took part in the trip, said: “This visit showed us that real progress towards gender equality can only be achieved as a team, including institutions at all levels of governance and civil society actors. The Serbian Women’s Parliamentary Network will therefore intensify its co-operation with local authorities in Serbia as well as with non-governmental organizations and other actors active in the field of gender equality.”

The OSCE Mission to Serbia remains committed to supporting and ensuring the sustainability of the Serbian Women’s Parliamentary Network, which aims to improve the position of women in society.