President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ranko Krivokapić today opened the fifth session of the “Women’s Parliament”, and pointed out that a woman was the foundation of a Montenegrin house, the foundation of the state of Montenegro, and that both in peace and war times women were the bravest part of society, which preserved the belief that Montenegro was invincible.

He estimated that if Montenegro was the example for other nations in fight against fascism than in that fight women were the strength that in each stage of those four long years contributed immeasurably.

President Krivokapić says that single mothers are the most unprotected persons in crisis societies, and that is the challenge before Montenegro - to create enough material wealth which there would not be enough unless there is justice and only then would there be safe women, families, safe Montenegro, and safe citizens.

In her introductory speech, Chairperson of the Gender Equality Committee Ms Nada Drobnjak said, among other things, that this was an important year marking 70 years since women in Montenegro obtained full suffrage, and reminded of contribution of women to the renewal of independence of Montenegro 10 years ago, but she also invited everyone to work more on exercising women’s human rights on all levels, reminding that Montenegro, according to the data of the Interparliamentary Union, was in the 103rd place out of 191 countries by the number of women in the parliament.

Representatives of the Government of Montenegro responded to 15 questions by participants from women’s associations of parliamentary parties and civil society, while 12 questions by students of the University of Montenegro, University of Donja Gorica, University Mediterranean, and attendees of the “School of Nonviolence and Tolerance”, implemented by the NGO “SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence”, Podgorica, were answered by President of the Supreme Court Ms Vesna Medenica, President of the Constitutional Court Ms Desanka Lopičić, former member of the Executive Council and member of the Presidency of the Republic of Montenegro Ms Olga Perović, first woman Deputy Prime Minister Ms Gordana Đurović, first woman President of the Municipality of Kotor Ms Vida Kašćelan, Minister without Portfolio Ms Marija Vučinović, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Ms Zorica Kovačević, and Minister of Science Ms Sanja Vlahović.

The “Women’s Parliament” is organised by the Gender Equality Committee, on the occasion of 8 March, International Women's Day, with a view to promoting women’s human rights in Montenegro and the need for greater participation of women in political and public life, in order to get - through dialogue among the Parliament, the Government and the civil society - an overview of the situation in the field of gender equality and identify areas where additional efforts are required for the purpose of achieving better results, with a view to promoting women’s human rights in Montenegro.

The sitting was also attended by representatives of diplomatic corps, international organisations and local self-government, President of the Supreme Court, President of the Constitutional Court, Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, MPs, heads of MP Groups, former member of the Executive Council and member of the Presidency of the Republic of Montenegro Ms Olga Perović, first woman Deputy Prime Minister Ms Gordana Đurović, first woman President of the Municipality of Kotor Ms Vida Kašćelan, students of the University of Montenegro, University of Donja Gorica, University Mediterranean, and attendees of the “School of Nonviolence and Tolerance”, implemented by the NGO “SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence”, Podgorica.

For participants in the “Women’s Parliament”, an exhibition of handicrafts by the NGO “Association of Women Ostros” was arranged.