Results of the survey on the promotion of gender equality and prevention and suppression of violence against women in the family and partnerships, conducted by the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs were presented in the EU Info Center.
On a behalf of the Delegation of the EU to Serbia, Mr Enrico Visentin stated that gender inequality and violence against women are two sides of the same coin that must be fought equally. Those extremely negative phenomena directly concern fundamental human rights and the ways we treat them clearly show weather we live in just and fair society or not. That is why the consistent implementation of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and the coordination of all relevant services are important to ensure equal protection for all in Serbia.
He also reminded that support coming from the EU in this matter is not only in words: the EU and the UN Women jointly provided funds for the regional project “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”. The main objective is to empower women and girls victims of violence, to support implementation of the legal framework aligned with international standards and to promote social norms towards zero tolerance for discrimination and violence.
State Secretary Ms Stana Božović presented the main findings of the survey. According to the results, 81% of citizens said they had witnessed violence, 41% of those interviewed experienced psychological violence, and 15% economic and physical violence. 37% of those interviewed believe women are most often faced with discrimination in their families. Ms Božović underlined that the Government of Serbia has zero tolerance for all forms of violence.
Assistant Minister Nina Mitić announced that the draft strategy for the prevention and suppression of violence against women in family and partnership relations will be presented by the end of March 2020.
