Women in Montenegro are no less interested and competent in politics, but they are limited by deep-rooted gender norms, stereotypes about social roles, unequal distribution of power within political structures, as well as a hostile environment that includes discrediting, hate speech, and gender-based attacks in public spaces.
This was announced at the roundtable "Empowering Women for the Political Future of Montenegro", organized by the Center for Monitoring and Research (CeMI).
CeMI Program Director Teodora Gilić She said that an improved legal framework, including a 40 percent quota for the less represented gender, does not automatically mean substantial equality for women in politics, reports PR Center.
"Numbers are important, but they do not in themselves guarantee real influence, equal participation in decision-making, or a change in political culture," said Gilić.
She pointed out that women in Montenegro are not less interested in politics or less competent, but that they are limited by deep-rooted gender norms, stereotypes about social roles, unequal distribution of power within political structures, as well as a hostile environment that includes discrediting, hate speech and gender-based attacks in public space.
According to her, the challenges are multifaceted: from gender biases that affect the perception of women's leadership, insufficient support within party structures and limited access to informal networks of power, to the difficulty of balancing private and professional obligations and media representation that often focuses on personal characteristics rather than political competence. Gilić also pointed to the gap between formal gender equality policies and their implementation in practice.
Speaking about the project implemented by CeMI, Gilić stated that the podcast series "Without Filter" was launched for the first time, as a space for open dialogue about women's political engagement.
"As part of the project, three episodes and 12 accompanying video clips were produced, which achieved more than 160.000 views on various platforms, not counting television broadcasts. In parallel, trainings were organized in the areas of leadership, public speaking, advocacy and understanding of political processes, through which 35 participants from institutions, political parties, organizations and activist initiatives were empowered," said Gilić.
She said that the project also prepared a report on women's political participation in Montenegro, which shows that, despite normative progress, women are still not equally represented in places of real power, especially in executive positions and in party decision-making structures. The publication, she said, contains specific recommendations ranging from improving electoral legislation and sanctioning mechanisms to internal party reforms and more responsible media practices.
"The key question is no longer just how many women we have on the lists, but how many of them actually participate in policymaking, lead key committees and processes, and whether the political system recognizes gender equality as a democratic standard, not as a formal obligation," said Gilić.
She assessed that improving women's political participation is not just a women's issue, but an issue of the quality of democracy, stating that strong institutional guarantees, consistent application of the law, support within parties, gender-responsive media reporting, and continuous empowerment of women for leadership positions are needed.
During the panel "Women and Power - Who Decides on Borders?", MP and member of the Parliamentary Committee for Gender Equality Boris Mugoša said that he publicly declares himself a feminist, emphasizing that this means advocating for complete equality between women and men in all spheres of life: social, economic, cultural and political.
"I am absolutely against violence, sexism and misogyny. In that context, I consider myself a feminist," he said, adding that because of such views, he often encountered negative reactions, especially from a part of the male population.
Speaking about his involvement in the Women's Club of the Parliament, of which he is an associate member, Mugoša emphasized that he believes that the problems women face are not "women's issues", but human rights issues that concern the entire society. He believes that it is necessary to work together to create an environment in which women will not be discriminated against.
Speaking about electoral legislation, Mugoša assessed that the quota system has brought certain improvements, but that they are insufficient. He also pointed out inconsistencies in the application of the law, such as the rule that only a woman can replace a woman in parliament, but that this does not apply if the candidate does not accept the mandate at all.
He believes that society too often dwells on condemning sexist and misogynistic attacks, while substantive changes are lacking.
"We have created an environment in which you have the need to react to such phenomena almost every day," said Mugoša, adding that stronger and more systematic action is needed.
Mugoša said that politicians should not adjust their positions solely to assess the public's reaction, making compromises with their own beliefs. He pointed out that quality often remains in the minority, but that this does not mean that one should give up the fight for the values one believes in.
She believes that the involvement of a greater number of men is crucial in the fight for gender equality.
"Only together, with patience and mutual understanding, can we push society forward," concluded Mugoša.
Independent Member of Parliament Jevrosima Pejović She said that in the current social environment, few people can be satisfied with the actual position of women in politics.
Pejović said that it is difficult for her to talk about her personal contributions, but that she considers it important that as a young woman she performs functions traditionally reserved for men. She recalled that she is the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Security and Political System in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as serving on the Committee on Defense and Security in the Montenegrin Parliament.
"It took me time to realize what a success it was," said Pejović, adding that she received support and confirmation of the importance of her work from colleagues from other countries, as well as from women who contact her with messages of support.
She emphasized that the topic of gender equality must not be isolated as an exclusively "women's issue", stating that equality implies joint action by women and men.
Speaking about the limits women face, Pejović assessed that it is hypocritical to talk about progress only through the data of 40 percent of women in Parliament, if at the same time there are no basic rights for female MPs. She cited the example of a female MP not being entitled to sick leave after a miscarriage.
"We cannot talk about fulfilled quotas if we do not have the capacity to fight for the rights that every other woman in society has, but female MPs do not have," said Pejović.
She also pointed to political pressures, unequal working conditions and, as she stated, the existence of informal solidarity among men in positions of power, especially when they assess that a woman poses a serious threat.
She also referred to strategic documents in the field of gender equality, assessing that there are many of them, but that their concrete implementation and realistic assessment of the situation in society are often lacking.
Speaking about the perception of politics, Pejović said that the constant presentation of politicians as immoral and "all the same" does not contribute to society.
She emphasized that politics should not be dirty and that it is the responsibility of citizens to get involved, instead of staying on the sidelines and just criticizing.
"If good, ethical and professional people withdraw, then we create an environment in which politics remains the way we criticize it," concluded Pejović.
Advisor to the President of Montenegro for Public Policy Marija Vesković She said that the key problems in the field of gender equality are not found in the enactment of laws, but in their implementation.
Speaking about women's political participation, she recalled that one of the three key proposals that the President's Office sent to the Parliament was the introduction of full gender equality on electoral lists according to the 50–50 principle.
"We have achieved some progress from 30 to 40 percent, but that still does not mean that the composition of the Assembly will truly represent the state of society," Vesković pointed out.
She pointed out that political parties often formally respect the rules, but appoint women to positions from which they are unlikely to win a mandate.
"You really follow all the rules, but you discriminate against women in a subtle way, and that is by placing them in certain positions where it is not realistic for them to actually win mandates," said Vesković.
Speaking about open electoral lists, she assessed that they may not bring a "revolution in the first election cycle", but that they represent an important step forward.
"Open electoral lists require each candidate to be more engaged in the campaign. It will lead to greater exposure of women, their greater visibility," Vesković said, adding that this also brings with it greater exposure to attacks.
She pointed out that candidates who win a mandate thanks to the direct support of voters have stronger legitimacy.
"When she enters the Parliament based on open electoral lists, she owes her legitimacy not to someone who placed her on the list, but to those who elected her, the citizens," said Vesković.
She concluded that reforms such as full gender equality, open lists, and independent candidacies should not be rejected because they seem demanding.
During the panel "Women in Politics - The Price of Voice and Disobedience", civic activist Dina Bajramspahić She said that progress in the field of gender equality is still insufficient, despite numerous initiatives.
Speaking about the security sector, she stated that obstacles and prejudices against women in that area are much more pronounced.
"The security sector is a space of sexism, homophobia, a space where force and power in the most radical way is the norm," said Bajramspahić, adding that human rights in that sector are often perceived as an obstacle, not a standard.
She recalled that she has been working in this field for 17 years and assessed that she is not sure that it is easier for young women to enter this sector today, because, as she said, negative hiring patterns and insufficient democratization of institutions are still being recorded.
Bajramspahić also pointed to attempts to discredit those who deal with security and rule of law issues, citing an example when her colleague was accused of working for organized crime groups due to her principled stance.
Responding to a question about challenging expertise, Bajramspahić said she believes women must be "ten times better" to be recognized as equals in the debate.
"We need to make a distinction between whether the criticism comes because of our personal shortcomings or because of the patriarchal belief that women lack abilities," Bajramspahić said.
She emphasized that women should not be spared criticism, but that it is important that it be focused on the merits of public policies, not on personal characteristics.
"In our country, women are criticized for their appearance, their voice, whether they are married or not, whether they have given birth or not, and not for the content of their opinions," believes Bajramspahić.
She also assessed that patriarchy is not exclusively a male problem, but that women are often its bearers as well.
"Patriarchy is a spectrum. And we who are feminists are also patriarchal to a certain extent. Every woman has to work on herself to stop reproducing such behaviors," Bajramspahić concluded.
Executive Director of SOS Hotline Podgorica Biljana Zeković She said that violence against women is more visible and more brutal today.
"If you had asked me this question five years ago, I would have said that we did not have a drastic increase in violence, but that women were more empowered to report it. However, what is characteristic of the past period is that violence is becoming more brutal and that we have completely new phenomena that are not adequately defined by law," said Zeković.
She pointed out that the problem of proving violence is still present, because, as she stated, in practice it happens that "the victim needs to prove that they are a victim", while the values of the system are distorted.
Speaking about women in politics, Zeković drew a parallel with domestic violence.
"We can recognize all the methods and techniques of abuse that exist in violent families - belittling, challenging moral credibility, mental abilities, sexualization, in our relationship with women in politics," said Zeković.
She emphasized that the difference is that domestic violence is directed at one woman, while violence against female politicians is a message to all women.
"Everything that happens to one woman on the public stage is addressed to all women in Montenegro. The message is clear - you have no place here," said Zeković.
She pointed out that many women give up on more active political engagement precisely because of such an environment.
She also pointed to the strong influence of patriarchy in society, including among educated and professionally accomplished people, as well as the need for greater knowledge and education about gender equality.
She particularly criticized systemic solutions that, as she stated, return women to traditional roles without adequate institutional support.
"The easiest way is to extend parental leave, and we don't have enough nurseries and kindergartens. This way, women remain out of the labor market, and later suffer the consequences for their education and career," said Zeković.
She added that a woman's career is often misinterpreted as an aspiration for high positions, although it implies the right to the job she was educated for and wants to do.
She concluded that the price of political engagement for women is high, especially if they do not have family support, as they often face being labeled as "bad mothers", which, as she stated, is one of the most severe social condemnations.
The panels were moderated by a member of BiEPAG Jovana Marović.
The event was organized as part of the project "Overcoming gender bias and strengthening women's political participation in Montenegro through public information, capacity building training and advocacy for gender representation", which CeMI is implementing with the financial support of the Canadian Embassy, through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) program.
Bonus video:
