Geneva, July 15th through 18th 2013
As a state party to the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Republic of Serbia presented its second and third joint report on the application of this Convention at the 55th UN CEDAW Committee session held in Geneva on July 18th 2013. At this time the delegation members of the Serbian Government reported about legislative and institutional measures taken by Serbia with the goal to improve women position in our country.
Photo: ...Out of Circle, Belgrade
As a response to the state report the Committee received additional four reports: “Shadow over Serbia” compiled by the Autonomous Women Center, ASTRA, Women in Black, Labris – lesbian human rights organization and Voice of Difference; “Status of women with disabilities in Serbia” written by organizations gathered in the Network ...Out of Circle; and “Roma Women Speak Out” report written by organizations and initiatives from Roma Women Network of Serbia. Moreover, the report dealing with violence against Roma women and consequences of forced evictions submitted by Praxis Belgrade and European Roma Rights Center from Budapest.
The total of 9 organizations and initiatives worked on the preparation of the alternative report on Roma women position over the period of past two years: Roma Women Center Bibija, Belgrade, Women Space, Niš; Osvit Niš; Roma association from Novi Bečej; Romnjako Ilo, Zrenjanin; Roma Researchers of Žabalj; as well as the Roma initiatives from Vranje, Pirot and Bujanovac together with an independent consultant Biljana Branković. Through monitoring policies and measures, as well as case studies, this report analyzes areas relevant for Roma women (education, employment, health protection, equality in marriage and family life, protection from violence and discrimination, political participation, position of multiply marginalized women within Roma community, adequacy of existing system solutions, etc.). Committee members received also an oral presentation of the problems that Republic of Serbia has in implementing measures for the improvement of Roma women position – and the problem of the frequent marginalization of Roma women activism with the focus on daily problems of Roma women in education, employment and protection from violence. Aside from the report presentation this was an opportunity to strengthen capacities of Roma women activists and two young members of Women Space and Roma Women Network received an opportunity to practically become acquainted with the process of highest level advocacy.
Report Roma Women Speak Out can be found here.
Concluding CEDAW Committe comments can be downloaded here.
Recording of the state party report presentation and delegation answers to the Committee's questions is available at CEDAW 55 Session: Serbia.