Effective implementation of gender equality policies requires their incorporation into local self-government budgets. However, gender-responsive budgeting—a crucial tool for integrating gender perspectives into the budget allocation process—has not been fully adopted across all local self-government units. As a result, many local governments have failed to meet the legal requirement to implement gender-responsive budgeting in all 17 budget programs as scheduled.
To be effective, gender-responsive budgeting should rely on accurate gender statistics and thorough data analysis. Unfortunately, few local self-government units maintain up-to-date gender statistics, leading to insufficient gender analysis and inadequate services that address citizens’ needs. According to data from the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SKGO), 48 cities and municipalities in Serbia have signed the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men at the Local Level (CEMR), while 129 municipalities have established mechanisms (such as working groups) focused on gender equality. Additionally, 43 municipalities have participated in or implemented gender equality projects.
Stakeholders and beneficiaries of these initiatives include representatives from 70 local self-government units and 10 local civil society organizations across 5 regions of the Republic of Serbia.
Mapping the real-time situation is essential for identifying obstacles that hinder the development of gender-sensitive policies. The continuous dialogue established at the local level during the project, coupled with a well-supported presentation of local circumstances at the national level, fosters improved understanding between these two levels of governance. This collaboration is expected to expedite the establishment of equal opportunity policies in the future, facilitating a more effective approach to gender equality.
You can download the document on the implementation of gender equality policy and gender-responsive budgeting, which includes recommendations for enhancing the current situation, at the following link.
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of gender equality policies, highlighting the need for increased communication among national and local actors. By raising awareness of these issues, it aims to facilitate the establishment of equal opportunity policies and foster collaborative efforts towards achieving gender equality.
