SUCCESSFUL WOMEN LEAD SOCIETY

SVETLANA ANĐELIĆ,PRESIDENT OF THE MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY OF KNIĆ

Knić Municipality Empowers Women

JELENA OBRADOVIĆ,MP FROM KNIĆ IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Successful Women Lead Society Forward

To improve the position of women it is essential to fight against all types of violence against women, to empower women and develop women's entrepreneurial spirit. In the Municipality of Knić, this is also done through the Commission for Gender Equality

Almost all public functions in our municipality are performed by women, because they are more responsible. They are the directors of all schools and public institutions, heads of municipal administration and professional services, reveals Ms Anđelić

Is it true that almost all public functions in the municipality of Knić are performed by women? - Yes, that’s correct. Women are more responsible and consistent in achieving set goals, more willing to accept compromise. Due to the democratic and inclusive way of governing, women manage in a more efficient way. I’m glad that President Vučić has great trust in women as leaders and that half of the Government of the Republic of Serbia is composed of ladies.

How can the rights and position of women in society be improved? - Although women are undoubtedly a pillar of the family and society, they are still a vulnerable category. In the struggle over violence against women, it is crucial to act preventatively, to create conditions for women’s economic independence, to raise public awareness of the role and rights of women and to develop mutual cooperation between women through networking. The Commission for Gender Equality has launched an initiative to protect women from hate speech, particularly such speech directed against women who hold public office. In the municipality of Knić we create conditions for the empowerment of women and the development of the entrepreneurial spirit, through gender-responsive budgeting measures and constant education, especially in the field of digital entrepreneurship. The European Charter on Gender Equality has been adopted at the local level, and work is underway on the procedure for drafting a local action plan on gender equality and forming a women’s committee group that would be included in the work of the women’s parliamentary network of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The leadership of the municipality wants Knić to become even more developed and accessible for life, for both the youth and older citizens, so that everyone the same chances to progress here.

Women must be, and will be, equal carriers of this society, reputed, respected and educated, with equal participation in both political and social life, notes Ms Obradović You were the first woman from Knić in the history of the post-war period to be elected as an MP in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. Is that a major responsibility? - My responsibility is great because I come from the Gruža region, from the heart of Serbia, from the heart of Šumadija, and apart from that I’m also a woman, wife and mother. I am proud of my fellow citizens, because the people of Gruža are honest, heartfelt and proud people, good and hard-working hosts, who are always on the front line in defending their homeland and their region. I’m also proud of them because more than 70% of them voted in support of the SNS list of Aleksandar Vučić - For our children, through which I was elected as an MP. They showed their faith in the results of our electoral list, which is why my dedication and commitment to work is all the greater.

Although the municipality of Knić is predominantly a patriarchal environment, a lot has been done on the rights, position and empowerment of women. Are you satisfied with the progress made? - Apart from the fact that a third of our local parliament is comprised of women and that women hold almost all leading public functions in the municipality, what also distinguishes us is our gender-responsive budgeting, which we’ve been conducting for years already. The economic empowerment and education of women are our priorities, and we’ve also worked on the education of the youth and young married couples, because that is among the key prerequisites for the development of a healthy society. In this way we are building a modern, stable, healthy and developed society, which advances and in which everyone has equal opportunities and equal rights.