LocationsSustainable development not possible without equal representation of women in the highest-paid professions
June 29, 2022
Podgorica, 29 June 2022 – Women are the driving force for every society striving for sustainable development and economic stability. However, no country in the Western Balkans has yet fully recognised and used their potential, and women continue to face numerous barriers in the labour market conditioned by gender stereotypes, which discourages them from stepping into the most promising, most sought-after and best-paid professions.
This was announced at the meeting of the regional network of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), which was launched today in Budva. The "Women in STEM" regional network was established as a joint platform aimed at strengthening cooperation between women working in STEM fields across Western Balkans.
The network was established under the auspices of the joint cooperation platform of two international organisations – UNDP and RCC, which recognised the potential and needs of women in this area, to provide equal conditions for achieving results in STEM fields and empower girls and women to step freely into areas that are traditionally perceived as "masculine ".
On the occasion of the opening of the meeting, the Minister of Science and Technological Development of Montenegro, Biljana Scepanovic, pointed out that, regardless of her positive experience during schooling and work, she remains aware that women in the Western Balkans and beyond face numerous challenges in careers and work in STEM fields.
"When it comes to science and innovation, we have to respect the results, regardless of whether the results are achieved by women or men. I am proud of the number of women scientists in Montenegro and the great results of women start-ups. The Ministry of Science and Technological Development will, through the implementation of the Strategy of Scientific Research 2023–2027, encourage greater representation of women in STEM fields", Scepanovic said.
UNDP Resident Representative for Montenegro, Daniela Gasparikova, said that significant gender segregation in the education system does not exist, since women make up the majority of the educated population in Montenegro, and available statistics indicate that girls and boys have equal interests in choosing STEM as their education and future occupation. "However, this is not reflected in the labour market, where only 44% of the active and employed population are women, while most of them are employed in the lowest-paid sectors", she added.
Gasparikova also points out that less than one-quarter of companies in Montenegro are owned by women. "If we extend this to the Western Balkans, we learn that more than 23% of women do not have a secure job. Women need access to finance to use their potential and balance their personal and professional lives. Societies and economies in the Western Balkans will progress only if women and men have equal opportunities to choose the life they want", Gasparikova said.
Branko Ruzic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia, said that the development of any country cannot be sustainable in the long term without equal participation of both men and women, adding that is impossible to achieve full equality in all areas of social life if women are not economically independent and empowered. "It is clear that the absence of women from the fast-growing professions of the future represents a denial of the development opportunity of the entire society. That is why it is important that increasing the number of women in these fields is high on the agenda of all countries in the region," Ruzic said.
The regional network has been in operation since 2021, when the initial meeting was held, focusing on the empowerment and exchange of experiences of women who are involved in STEM fields in various ways across the Western Balkan countries, and designing specific activities that can contribute to better cooperation and the achievement of gender equality in STEM fields.
