Deputy Chairperson of the Gender Equality Committee Mr Goran Tuponja and member of the Committee Ms Žana Filipović are participating in the First Regional Meeting of Parliamentary Bodies Competent for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, being held in Belgrade, in the organisation of  the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, on 29-30 October 2013-

The aim of the meeting, supported by the OSCE Mission, is exchange of views and experiences on the role of parliamentary bodies in protection of human rights, national minority rights and gender equality. The intention is establishment of goals and directions of further inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The meeting will be, inter alia, on the role of parliamentary working bodies in improvement of gender equality and strengthening political inclusion of women as well as good practices and biggest challenges in that field, with a special stress on modalities for fulfilling goals through ratification of international standards and provision of its implementation at the national level, support and cooperation with relevant institutions and active participation, cooperation and interaction of parliamentary bodies and civil society representatives.

The meeting will be opened by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Mr Nebojša Stefanović and the following will speak during the introductory part: Ms Barbara Lochbihler, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, Mr Laszlo Tokes, member of the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament, Ms Paula Thiede, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Ms Gordana Čomić, Rapporteur of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.