Feature THE GOAL IS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR VIOLENCE

THE EU DELEGATION WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN MARKING THE ORANGE THE WORLD CAMPAIGNS IN SERBIA

The Goal Is Zero Tolerance For Violence

One in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, every fourth woman in Zemun carries pepper spray, just in case, every sixth woman in Pančevo does not go out alone at night, nine percent of women have experienced rape or attempted rape

The Orange the World campaign - 16 days of activism against gender-based violence starts every year on 25 November and runs until 10 December, when International Human Rights Day is celebrated, although this is a topic that should be talked about all year round, not just for two weeks. On this occasion, the exhibition Safe Everywhere was opened in Belgrade at Kalemegdan Park, and for 16 days could be visited by everyone who took a walk in the park. The goal of the exhibition was to draw attention to possible ways of improving women’s safety in public places. - One in three women around the world has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and we repeat this astonishing number so often that it has become generally recognized, but abstract. We forget the human tragedies behind it. We forget to talk about our mothers, sisters and daughters, about women like me or you. We forget that the fight for women’s rights is a fight for everyone’s rights - said the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Plamena Halačeva.

CYBER VIOLENCE IS

ALSO ON THE RISE

She said that in March of this year, the European Commission proposed a new Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

“For the first time, binding EU rules will be established to comprehensively address violence, including online violence. This is even more important in light of the current increase in gender-based cyber violence”, said Halačeva.

Director of the United Nations Office for Gender Equality (UN Women) Milana Rikanović said that the focus of this year’s Orange the World campaign is the safety of women in public places.

“Do you know that every fourth woman in Zemun carries pepper spray, just in case, and every sixth woman in Pančevo does not go out alone at night? As many as 71 percent of women experienced some form of violence in a public place, from whistling, unwanted touching, to the fact that nine percent of women experienced rape or attempted rape,” said Rikanović,

stating that the exhibition originated in a discussion about the experiences of women in five cities throughout Serbia.

A WOMAN SHOULD NOT

SUFFER IN SILENCE

Minister for Family Care and Demography Prof. Dr Darija Kisić said that throughout history women have been exposed to various types of violence that were not spoken about, and that is why it is important to stop this practice now.

“The goal of the Government of the Republic of Serbia was and will be zero tolerance towards any form of violence, and the Ministry of Family Care and Demography and the Coordinating Body for Gender Equality will always be partners in achieving this goal. On this day, we have to send a message that every woman must resist violence, that she must not be silent, that she knows that she has someone to turn to”, said Minister Kisić.

Assistant Minister for Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Biljana Zekavica said that all relevant

At a meeting with the representatives of the Mothers with Three Children association, the minister emphasized that he is in favour of improving working conditions for women, especially mothers, and that he will work to improve the business climate for all entrepreneurs through the Women Are the Law campaign. He also emphasized that his long-term goal is for women to be empowered in actors should cooperate closely to eradicate violence against women and improve the regulatory framework.

The chargé d’affaires of the United Kingdom in Serbia, Dominic Otway, said that their diplomatic mission has been actively involved in raising awareness about the problem of gender-based violence for the past year.

“Unfortunately, this problem is a global phenomenon and we have had some dreadful cases in Great Britain. That’s why we have focused on how to make the streets safer and how to improve security in the online world. We have provided funds to improve safety in public transport, to improve public lighting”, said Otway.

THE EU PROVIDES

STRONG SUPPORT TO SERBIA

This year, the EU Delegation in Serbia has joined the global campaign promoting empowered women through cooperation with the wider community against physical, verbal and socio-economic violence. During the global campaign, they have

entrepreneurship through this action. The representatives of the association said that they have re-launched an action that will aim to ensure that parents with three or more children receive a job, to ensure a better life for their children.

Minister Basta and his campaign Women Are the Law were supported by director of the entrepreneurship department at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce collaborated with successful actors from Serbia in the spheres of fashion, art, sports, literature, and cinematography.

“Gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and gender-based violence are human rights issues. The way we solve these problems reveals whether we live in a fair and just society. Our main goal is the full implementation of the principle of gender equality. Through the accession process, the EU will provide strong support to Serbia to achieve these goals”, said a statement by the EU Delegation.

The colour orange also united the basketball players of Crvena zvezda and Partizan, who recorded a joint video message: “Violence against women - it must stop. It is our duty to protect all women - mothers, sisters, wives, friends... Report violence immediately - no excuses! Let’s help those who suffer violence. A bully is a coward – be brave. Protect the victims”, said the members of the two Belgrade first teams.

They were joined by national team coach Svetislav Pešić and Partizan coach Željko Obradović.

Branislava Simanić, to whom he explained his intention to improve the position of women entrepreneurs. They are, the minister pointed out, an important part of private business and without their sufficient appreciation we cannot move forward.

At the meeting, it was agreed to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce to support female

MORE THAN 600,000 WOMEN SUPPORTED THE PROJECT OF THE MINISTER OF ECONOMY Women Are The Law

The action launched by Minister of Economy Rade Basta on social networks under the title Women Are the Law received the support of more than 600,000 women. Support for the project comes from all over Serbia, but it has also spread throughout the region, so it was supported by candidate for president of the Republic of Srpska Jelena Trivić, as well as numerous public figures including Dragana Mirković and the Association of Mothers with Three Children, which has 11,000 members.

entrepreneurship. In cooperation with the International Women’s Club, work will also be done on the formation of a network of female entrepreneurs in the country, the region and then the world.

“The coming year 2023 will be the year of women. Women will be helped to start their own business, because they are indomitable beings. They can do everything, but they lack support and self-confidence. We need to restore their self-confidence, to believe in themselves, to not be afraid of challenges and to be aware that the state will stand behind them. They are the pillar of every family”, said Basta. Rade Basta, Minister of Economy

The Number Of Femicide Victims Is Not Decreasing

In 2022, 23 women died in domestic violence. The killers are their former or current partners, sons or other family members. Of those 23 women, six had previously reported violence to the institutions. For those six cases it can be said that there is a responsibility of the institutions that did not recognize the danger the women were in and did not help them

The Orange the World campaign - 16 days of activism against gender-based violence starts every year on 25 November and runs until 10 December, when International Human Rights Day is celebrated, although this is a topic that should be talked about all year round, not just for two weeks. On this occasion, the exhibition Safe Everywhere was opened in Belgrade at Kalemegdan Park, and for 16 days could be visited by everyone who took a walk in the park. The goal of the exhibition was to draw attention to possible ways of improving women’s safety in public places. - One in three women around the world has experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and we repeat this astonishing number so often that it has become generally recognized, but abstract. We

forget the human tragedies behind it. We forget to talk about our mothers, sisters and daughters, about women like me or you. We forget that the fight for women’s rights is a fight for everyone’s rights - said the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Plamena Halačeva.

CYBER VIOLENCE IS

ALSO ON THE RISE

She said that in March of this year, the European Commission proposed a new Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence.

“For the first time, binding EU rules will be established to comprehensively address violence, including online violence. This is even more important in light of the current increase in gender-based cyber violence”, said Halačeva.

Director of the United Nations Office for Gender Equality (UN Women) Milana Rikanović said that the focus of this year’s Orange the World campaign is the safety of women in public places.

“Do you know that every fourth woman in Zemun carries pepper spray, just in case, and every sixth woman in Pančevo does not go out alone at night? As many as 71 percent of women experienced some form of violence in a public place, from whistling, unwanted touching, to the fact that nine percent of women experienced rape or attempted rape,” said Rikanović,

THE ORANGE THE WORLD CAMPAIGN ENDED WITH A PANEL DISCUSSION

All The Roles Of One Woman “She Is Awakening.” Finally!

The panel discussion “She is awakening”, named after the documentary TV series of the same name by author Mija Bjelogrlić, and screenwriter and director Staša Bajac, marked the end of this year’s global campaign Orange the World - 16 days of activism. The series dealt with the issue of gender inequality, the position and emancipation of women in Serbia, observing them through everyday and typical roles, so the panelists tried to answer the questions of what a woman is like in a leadership position, in the kitchen, as a mother and a socially engaged person, and how those roles have changed in the last five decades.

The panel was moderated by Mija Bjelogrlić, and among the participants were playwright Biljana Srbljanović, visual artist Marina Marković and director Staša Bajac.

The panel “She is awakening - against economic, verbal and physical violence against women” also marked International Human Rights Day.