Describe the main features of the policy/measure:
The measure is implemented through the application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The fourth periodical report on implementing CEDAW, which refers to the elimination of stereotypes in culture and the media (Article 5), was created for the period 2013-2018 and presented on February 28, 2019, at the 72nd session of the Committee for Eliminating Discrimination Against Women.
According to the report, projects are co-financed in compliance with the Law on Culture based on annual calls from the Ministry of Culture and Information for different fields of creative work. Around 2,000,00 RSD is set aside for projects that explicitly deal with gender equality, and even more is set aside in a more indirect way, through support to female writers and artists, but it is hard to obtain data on the amount of funds set aside, which highlights the need for developing a methodology for analyzing that data.
After analyzing the state and alternative reports and responses to additional questions, as well as an interactive dialogue with the delegacy at the mentioned session, on March 8, 2019, the Committee approved the Concluding Remarks related to the Fourth Periodical Report of the RS on the Implementation of CEDAW (CEDAW/C/SRB/SO/4). The Committee reiterated their previous suggestions and asked the signatory state to:
а) develop a special strategy and conduct broad public campaigns directed at women and men at all levels of society, to reinforce the gender equality policy and promote a positive image of women that actively participate in social, economic, and political life;
b) monitor the use of misogynist terms in public statements and media reporting, to encourage the media to establish an effective self-regulation mechanism to deal with this type of language, and conduct legislative amendments so that the authors are held accountable, as well as use the education system to promote positive and non-stereotypical portrayals of women.
Website of the policy/measure, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the policy/measure?:
The application of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which entails the creation of the Report, allows for the adoption of recommendations and the implementation of good practices in achieving social equality. Keeping track of progress in eliminating stereotypes provides insight into the level of gender equality in the public cultural life and media in the Republic of Serbia.
In 2017, a Working Group for the creation of the Strategy for the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination was formed. In 2018 and 2019, the starting points of the Strategy were defined, which included the prevention of gender discrimination in culture and the media.
Partner(s) engaged in the implementation of the measure:
| Name of partner | Type of entity |
|---|---|
Committee on Human and Minority Rights, relevant republican and regional departments of the executive branch, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, National Employment Service, Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, City of Belgrade’s administration
| Public Sector
|
: Amity, SeConS, Iz Kruga,, Grupa 484
| Civil Society Organization (CSO)
|