Considering the significance of recommendations from the Final Report of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission on parliamentary elections held on 16 October 2016, in part relating to representation of women in election administration, the ninth meeting of the Working Group was attended by representatives of the Women’s Political Network, who presented their conclusions and suggestions, aimed at promotion of gender equality in political decision-making in Montenegro.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chairperson of the Working Group Ms Marta Šćepanović pointed out that, although the deadline of the Public Invitation for submission of proposals to the Working Group had expired, bearing in mind that one of the priority OSCE/ODIHR recommendations was related to representation of women in politics and also for having as good as possible quality solutions for implementation of recommendations, the requests of the representatives of the Women’s Political Network were met and they were allowed to participate in the work of the Working Group.  

Elaborating on their conclusions and possible manners of their implementation, the representatives of the Women’s Political Network presented proposals for amendments to three laws and certain recommendation to two more laws.

Bearing in mind that the meeting was held in the UN Eco House in Podgorica, it was assessed that today’s meeting represented a certain impetus to promotion of gender equality in Montenegro.

The interlocutors agreed that, in line with the limited mandate of the Working Group defined by the conclusions of the Collegium of the President of the Parliament, the proposals presented today be additionally considered and that, in case of need, the Women’s Political Network would subsequently submit supplements to the proposals and examples of comparative practice.