Civic Alliance fully supports the initiative of the Committee for Gender Equality, which envisages increasing the quota from 30% to 40% of the representation of women on electoral lists.
We hereby appeal to the members of the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform to incorporate this proposal into the final text of the amendments to the Law on Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament.
Bearing in mind that all political parties gave their consent to this initiative, and that specific changes related to the correction of only two articles of the Law were submitted, we call for the quota increase to be included in this package of legal changes that is planned to be adopted by the end of July.
If this increase is found in the adopted changes, it will be a clear indication of the political parties’ commitment to improving gender balance.
More than ten years after the introduction of a quota of 30% of the underrepresented gender on electoral lists, Montenegro still does not meet the legal minimum of gender representation. Although the quota system was introduced back in 2012, practice shows that the legally prescribed quota of 30% of women was respected only once – in the 26th convocation. In the other convocations, the number of women in the parliament remained below the minimum: in the 25th convocation, 22%, in the 27th – 27%, and in the current 28th convocation, only 28% of women.
However, despite this step forward, the quota system is still the only tool for correcting systemic discrimination, but clearly not enough. Increasing the quota to 40% is an important step, but a true gender balance and EU value system requires more than a legal solution. It is necessary to create a better space for the participation of women in politics and establish corrective protection mechanisms, which will ensure not only the formal presence of women in politics, but also their actual participation, protection, and influence.
We remind that in 2017 and 2018, the leaders of the parliamentary parties expressed their support for the introduction of a 40% quota, but that the majority did not even comply with the prescribed 30% quota.
Women continue to function in a political environment that is insecure and discouraging. They are exposed to physical, psychological and cyber violence. They are targeted by party bots, misogynistic narratives and digital harassment that go unpunished. Such an environment discourages women from political engagement and prevents them from equal treatment in public life.
Also, it is important to note that political parties are responsible for spreading hatred, especially when their behavior encourages bots that target women and spread online violence. Such behavior must be condemned and prosecuted at all levels. This year, we witnessed several cases of online violence against women in politics and journalists who publicly express their views.
Finally, the announcement of changes to the Criminal Code, which would introduce a new criminal offense – aggravated hate speech, as a mechanism for combating cyber violence against women, is encouraging. Minister of Justice Bojan Božović presented this initiative before the Committee for Gender Equality, and we expect the competent institutions to act quickly and decisively.
Danijela Darmanović,
Civic Alliance
