Participation of women in political processes

WRC STATEMENT REGARDING THE ABSENCE OF WOMEN FROM THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT:

CHANGE WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL PROCESSES

We address this letter to the leader of the coalition “For the Future of Montenegro”, Prof. Dr. Zdravko Krivokapić, the leader of the coalition “Peace is our nation”, Aleksa Bečić, MA and o the leader of the “Black on White” coalition, Dr. Dritan Abazović.

The public is closely following the negotiation process for the composition of the new government. You are aware that 50.8% of that public in Montenegro are women. Women who voted in elections. Women who fought and struggled with you to win them. Therefore, why are they not present in the negotiating teams? Does that mean that they will not be present in the new government either?

We expected and expect much more from such a beginning. We expect you to pursue a gender-sensitive and inclusive policy, just as you stated in the Agreement you signed and by which you committed yourselves to “adopt and revise all laws in line with European standards in order to accelerate Montenegro’s integration into the EU”.  Gender equality is one of the key achievements and conditions for EU membership.

We believe that you know that women are the carriers of the negotiation process and that they made and are still making a huge contribution to positive social change, within institutions and civil society, and at the individual level: by fighting on daily basis for the benefit of society and families, ensuring survival of their loved ones in conditions of unemployment and poverty.

We do not accept the frequent claims of politicians that there are no women who are interested in engaging in politics. It is well known that women were the ones who built and established democratic practices long before democracy was established as a form of government. After all, there were 30% of them on the party’s electoral lists, because that was the legal condition for the acceptance of lists.

It is short-sighted and irresponsible to thus omit the potential that women in Montenegro represent.

We ask that you immediately include at least 30% of women in the negotiation process for the composition of the new Government and in all other processes and reforms that will follow. Under this condition, “your” Government will become ours as well.