Serbia is committed to fighting violence against women

GENEVA - Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic attended the session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) dedicated to gender equality in Geneva on Monday and said that Serbia is committed to the promotion of gender equality and the elimination of violence against women.

Addressing the MPs, Gojkovic stressed that the realization of gender equality is the best way to fight violence, the Serbian Parliament Speaker's office said in a release.

Gojkovic pointed to prejudices, stereotypes and economic inequality as the biggest obstacles to the full realization of gender equality, the release states.

"A comprehensive improvement of living conditions and regulation of the society is the basis to achieve gender equality and to end violence against women," she underscored.

These challenges can only be overcome through developmental and reform policies, she said.

The parliament of Serbia has recognized the need to promote gender equality, noted Gojkovic, adding that women account for more than one-third of MPs in the current parliament and chair eight out of 20 parliamentary committees.

This year's fall session of the IPU has brought together 744 MPs from 141 countries, including 144 parliament speakers and deputy speakers.

On the sidelines of the 131st IPU session, Gojkovic had bilateral meetings with the parliament speakers of Albania and Iran, Ilir Meta and Ali Larijani.

Photo Tanjug/T. Valic (archive)