On 28 March, the Centre for Monitoring and Research (CeMI) organised a one-day workshop titled “Strengthening Gender Equality in State Institutions: Challenges and Implementation” at the Information and Education Centre in Nikšić. The workshop was facilitated by Slavica Striković, an expert in gender equality.

The workshop gathered representatives of the Department for Gender Equality, the Centre for Social Work, the Health Centre, as well as representatives of civil society organisations. Through interactive exercises and guided discussions, participants had the opportunity to examine key challenges and identify avenues for advancing the position of women in Montenegro.

One of the workshop's practical components involved group work. During this, participants were divided into three thematic sectors: political parties, media and NGOs, and state institutions. Each group was tasked with identifying necessary changes and policy measures to promote gender equality within their respective domains.

Moreover, participants were introduced to fundamental gender equality concepts, including gender roles and stereotypes, through interactive discussion and a video presentation that further illuminated the systemic challenges faced by women in society. Special attention was given to gender-sensitive language, its correct use, and the legal obligations of institutions in this regard.

A key segment of the workshop was dedicated to the analysis of sex-disaggregated statistics, highlighting the importance of collecting and utilising gender-sensitive data to inform evidence-based policy-making. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants received a handbook on gender equality in public administration, designed to support civil servants and employees in the practical application of gender mainstreaming in their daily work.

The overall aim of the workshop was to encourage active participation, foster the exchange of experiences, and initiate collective reflection on strategies for improving the status of women within state institutions and Montenegrin society at large.

The workshop was implemented as part of the project “A Step Towards Equality: Proactive Measures for Gender Equality in Montenegro”, conducted by CeMI in partnership with NGO MASTER, with financial support from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights.