PEJOVIĆ: GENDER EQUALITY MUST BE FELT IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Montenegro has made significant progress in improving its legislative and strategic framework for gender equality, but adopting laws is only the first step toward genuine equality. This was highlighted by Biljana Pejović, head of the Gender Equality Department at the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, in an interview with the Standard portal, stressing that Montenegro’s European path must bring concrete changes to women’s status. Speaking about advancing gender equality, she emphasized the importance of implementing the new Law on Gender Equality and the National Gender Equality Strategy 2025–2029, while underscoring the responsibility of all institutions to incorporate a gender perspective into the development and implementation of public policies. She said that additional attention should be paid to women from rural areas, women with disabilities, and women from Roma and Egyptian communities, who face multiple barriers. Pejović also stressed that protecting women from violence requires a coordinated and effective response from all relevant institutions, including timely protection, free legal aid, psychological support, and access to safe accommodation. Regarding European integration, she noted that Montenegro’s progress in gender equality must not be measured solely by the number of regulations adopted, but by concrete results, stronger institutions, and improvements in women’s quality of life.