National Strategy for the Improvement of the Status of Women and Promotion of Gender Equality (2009-2015)

16. The Committee notes the adoption of numerous strategies and action plans, including a national strategy for the improvement of the status of women and promotion of gender equality for 2009-2015 and a national plan of action for its implementation for 2010-2015. The Committee is, however, concerned at:

(a) The lack of adequate State funding for the implementation of these and other strategies and action plans aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, in particular against women belonging to ethnic minorities, including Roma women, women with disabilities, older women, women living with HIV, women affected by the war, lesbian women and other disadvantaged women and girls …

Stereotypes

20. The Committee notes the information provided by the State party regarding its efforts to eliminate negative gender stereotypes in the media and its willingness, as expressed by the State party’s delegation, to address the exposure of lesbian women and women with disabilities to negative stereotypes. The Committee remains concerned, however, about:

(a) The persistence of deep-rooted stereotypes and the recent trend of re-establishing traditional roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and society, which undermine women’s social status, participation in public life and professional careers;

(b) The predominantly negative attitude, including, in certain cases, hate crimes, towards minority women, Roma women, women with disabilities, women living with HIV and lesbian women, affecting the enjoyment of many of their rights.

21. The Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Further strengthen its efforts to overcome stereotypical attitudes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society and continue implementing measures to eliminate gender stereotypes by promoting positive images and substantive equality of women;

(b) Implement the Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, in particular regarding minority women, Roma women, women with disabilities, women living with HIV and lesbian women, and work with civil society, the media and other stakeholders to improve tolerance and combat social exclusion of those groups of women.

Marriage and family relations

38. The Committee notes that the Action Plan (2010-2015) for the Implementation of the National Strategy for the Improvement of the Status of Women and Promotion of Gender Equality includes measures aimed at recognizing, preventing and solving the problems of child marriages, forced (arranged) marriages and the practice of selling brides. It also notes the willingness, as expressed by the State party’s delegation, of the State party to discuss the model legislation on same-sex partnerships prepared by civil society …

39. The Committee urges the State party:

(c) To establish mechanisms to provide support to large families and to children whose fathers have failed to fulfil their maintenance obligations;

(d) To ensure the swift adoption of the model legislation on same-sex partnerships.

Link to full text of the report: Concluding Observations-CEDAW-Serbia-2013-eng