Montenegro strengthens the foundations for gender equality

July 31, 2026
Conference hall filled with attendees watching panelists on stage with flags.
Parliament of Montenegro

23 July 2026 - With the adoption of the new Law on Gender Equality, Montenegro has taken a major reform step forward in advancing gender equality.  More than a legislative reform, this law embeds gender equality into the way institutions design policies, allocate resources and deliver public services.

Nearly two decades after adopting its first Gender Equality Law, Montenegro is entering a new phase of its gender equality journey - one that places implementation, institutional accountability and measurable results at its core. A landmark feature of the reform is the establishment of Montenegro's first Agency for Gender Equality, which will lead, coordinate and monitor the implementation of gender equality policies at the national level. Together with new requirements for gender impact assessments, gender-responsive budgeting, sex-disaggregated data collection and stronger accountability across public institutions, the law shifts the focus from commitments to implementation. By aligning its legal framework with European Union standards, Montenegro is reinforcing democratic governance, advancing equal opportunities and building institutions that are better equipped to respond to the needs of all citizens.

Three people sit at a long table during a formal meeting, with EU and red crest flags behind.
White-haired woman delivers a speech at a wooden podium in a formal legislative chamber.
Parliamentary chamber; a woman in blue stands with papers as colleagues listen.

At a time when progress on gender equality is facing growing challenges in many parts of the world, Montenegro is sending a different message: that gender equality is not a secondary social policy, but a cornerstone of democratic governance, sustainable development and European integration.  Strong institutions are essential to ensure that women's rights are not only protected by law, but translated into real change in people's everyday lives.

As a long-standing partner of the Government of Montenegro, UNDP has been supporting the country's gender equality agenda through policy development, institutional strengthening, women's economic empowerment, prevention of violence against women and gender-responsive governance. The adoption of the new Law reaffirms a shared commitment to building more inclusive, accountable and responsive institutions that serve the needs of women and men equally. 

Photograph of a woman in a pink top presenting to attendees with laptops in a conference room.
Diverse group of lawmakers seated in a parliamentary chamber, blue crest visible behind.
Audience in a lecture hall, a woman in a striped blouse speaks at the front.
Officials and attendees in business attire sit at desks in a legislative chamber.