In cooperation with the OSCE mission in Montenegro, OSCE/ODIHR, UNDP in Montenegro and NGO “SPES”, the Gender Equality Committee held its 38^th meeting on the topic ”Networking of Women in Political Parties/Politics”.

By holding this meeting, the Committee fulfilled its obligation determined in the Action Plan for Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

The presentations included experiences of women’s parliamentary networks in Serbia and Macedonia, and Comparative Study of working bodies of female parliamentarians in the OSCE member states. The Study is aimed at helping female MPs to strengthen their role in parliaments, through mechanisms, such as working bodies and promotion of better understanding of importance and work of these bodies.

The Comparative Study was presented by Ms Lana Ačkar, Gender Equality Advisor at OSCE/ODIHR. Ms Marija Obradović, MP and member of Women’s Parliamentary Network in the Parliament of Serbia and Ms Tanja Tomić, former Head of Women’s Parliamentary Club of the Parliament of Macedonia, spoke on experiences, challenges, building consensus in women’s parliamentary groups and potential difficulties in work of women’s parliamentary networks in Serbia and Macedonia.

The meeting was attended by Ms Lia Magnaguagno, Head of Democratisation Programme at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro; Ms Ana Milutinović, Advisor at Democratisation Programme at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro; Ms Sonja Nikčević, President of the Local Assembly of Nikšić; Ms Nadežda Kotlica, President of the Local Assembly of Šavnik; councilwomen from certain local assemblies in Montenegro, Ms Olivera Komar, representative of the NGO “SPES”, representative of the Gender Equality Department and trainers of political parties.