UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report Annex:
The findings of the Evaluation of the Action Plan for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Improvement of the Status of Women and Improving Gender Equality 2010-2015 indicate a degree of progress was achieved in the above areas, particularly regarding the improvement of the legal framework in the field of equal participation of women and men in the political life, anti-discrimination, labour and employment, as well as establishing institutional mechanisms for gender equality, improving gender-sensitive statistics and increased visibility of the issue of violence against women. The selected strategic areas and targeted interventions were confirmed to be relevant, but some areas need to be expanded or redefined.
In February 2016 the Government of RS adopted the National Gender Equality Strategy for 2016-2020 with an Action Plan 2016-2018. The Strategy contains three primary goals: 1) change of gender patterns and improvement of cultural gender equality; 2) increasing the equality of women and men by applying equal opportunity policies; and 3) systematic introduction of gender perspectives into the adoption, implementation and monitoring of public policy.
The first report on the implementation of the National Gender Equality Strategy and relevant Action Plan has been developed.
Activities aimed at implementing the recommendation are being continuously implemented.

National Report:
Para 101) The Coordination Body for Gender Equality, which is headed by a Deputy Prime Minister, since its establishment in 2014 has undertaken a number of activities with the aim of improving the status of women and gender equality.
Para 102) After 2016 parliamentary and local elections, a woman was appointed as the Speaker of the National Assembly, and 34.54% of MPs are women. The percentage is similar in every city and municipal assembly.
Para 103) After the presidential election of May 2017 changes occurred in the Government. For the first time, a woman was appointed Prime Minister of Serbia. Out of 21 ministers, four are women, one of them is a Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Coordination Body for Gender Equality. Five women are presidents of administrative districts, and 12 are mayors.
Para 104) There are more than 100 local bodies for gender equality.
Para 105) Regulations applied in local government bodies and the autonomous provincial government bodies enable equal access to jobs for both genders. The 2015 Law on the Budget System introduced a gender-sensitive budgeting and an obligation that all budget
beneficiaries must apply it by 2020 at the latest.
Para 106) Since February 2016, the Republic of Serbia has used the EU gender equality index in six fields: distribution of time, money, work, knowledge, power, health and in two subfields: violence against women and inter-sectoral differences. According to indicators, gender equality index for the Republic of Serbia is 40.60%.
Para 107) The Government has adopted a National Strategy for Gender Equality in February 201622 for the period 2016–2020 with the Action Plan for the period 2016–2018.
Para 108) The National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security in the Republic of Serbia (2017–2020) – was adopted on May 19, 2017. The second National Action Plan includes a greater number of actors with the focus on the implementation of reforms at the local level.
Para 111) Of a total number of state employees, 62.4% are women, there are 53.23% of women in leadership positions, and 45% of state officials are women. …

UN Compilation:
Para 38) CESCR remained concerned about the high unemployment rate in Serbia, which disproportionately affected women, …
Para 39) [CESCR] was concerned about the low employment rate of women and the prevalence of gender discrimination in employment.
Para 60) The UN country team indicated that only 5 per cent of municipal presidents or mayors, and 29 per cent of the councillors in local assemblies, were women. CESCR was concerned about the underrepresentation of women in the national and local government bodies and public sector positions. The UN country team indicated that fewer women than men were employed (42 per cent as compared to 58 per cent).

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 60) JS4 indicated that there were municipalities which had not established equality mechanisms.

National Report Annex:
At the level of each pre-school, primary and secondary school, an expert team for inclusive education was formed, whose task is to develop and improve inclusive climate, policy and practice at the institution level.
At the local level, inter-departmental commissions for assessment of needs for additional educational, health and social support to a child have been established. The Law on the Education System Foundations explicitly stipulates that in implementing the general principles of the education system, special attention shall be paid to "providing that children, students and adults with developmental disorders and disabilities, regardless of their own material conditions, have access to all levels of education in institutions, and persons placed in social welfare institutions, sick children, students and adults are entitled to education during their stay in the institution and during hospital and home care ", as well as "reducing the number of persons leaving the education system, especially those from socially vulnerable categories of the population and underdeveloped areas, persons with developmental disorders and disabilities and other persons with specific learning disabilities and support for their reintegration into the system, in accordance with the inclusive education principles.
Also, children with developmental disorders and disabilities have the right to use a sign language or a special script, as well as other technical solutions that can be used when the educational process is performed in the sign language and with the means of that language.
The new Law on Textbooks stipulates that students with disabilities use a textbook which format is adapted to their needs and а teaching aid has been defined as a teaching tool used in educational work with children with disabilities.
According to the Law on Secondary Education, secondary education is free and not compulsory, and the possibility of organizing distance education is also envisaged.
The Rulebook was adopted regarding detailed criteria for recognizing forms of discrimination by an employee, a child, a student or a third person in the institution of education.
The Strategy for Development of Education in the Republic of Serbia by 2020 plans the full coverage of children with primary education, and in particular the increased coverage of children from rural areas, Roma children and children with disabilities and developmental disorders and decrease in dropouts during primary and secondary education.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the UNICEF Office in Serbia supported the project "Info Line for Parents - Support for Inclusive Education". Telephone number 0800100121, is active on weekdays from 12:00 to 19:00.
Activities aimed at implementing the recommendation are being continuously implemented.

UN Compilation:
Para 67) CRPD concerned at the lack of specific actions implemented by Serbia to prevent and combat the multiple and intersectional discrimination that women and girls with disabilities faced, particularly in access to justice, protection against violence and abuse, education, health and employment.