Gender Equality Profile of Montenegro

Women in Government

22%

Women among the unemployed

58%

Gender Pay Gap

20%

Women with experience of GBV

20%

Women in Parliament

28%

Focus Areas

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Rule of Law

Montenegro’s Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament was adopted in 1998 and has...

Political Participat...

Montenegro has never had a woman as a prime minister, president, or leader of a parliamentary party....

Public Administrativ...

Over 80% of public administration employees report that institutions rarely or never conduct gender ...

Education, Science, ...

Women are the majority among bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree holders in Montenegro but occ...

Employment, Social P...

Women consistently make up the majority of the unemployed. Around 48% of citizens believe that the m...

Agriculture

Only 13% of farm holders and 32% of agricultural landowners or co-owners are women. Women in rural a...

Energy, Transport, E...

This sector remains among the least gender-informed in Montenegro. Women are underrepresented in key...

Media and Communicat...

Women produce nearly 60% of published news content but are significantly underrepresented as sources...

Security and Defence

Women make up 16.52% of Montenegro's Armed Forces, including civilians, 12.04% of professional milit...

International framework

United in advancing Gender Equality in Montenegro

“Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.”

“Acknowledging and harnessing the potential of all women as workers, entrepreneurs, and leaders is imperative for the EU’s growth and stability. Empowering women to fully engage in the workforce and decision-making processes catalyses economic growth, spurring innovation and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.”

Timeline

Conquering Freedom

History of the Women's Movement in Montenegro

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1910s

1920s

1919

Despite the fact that women from Montenegro and Yugoslavia won the right to vote in 1945, gender equality in all spheres of society remains a far-reaching goal. Nevertheless, our foremothers left us a rich legacy of resistance that forms the foundation of our struggle today. In the immediate aftermath of World War I, Montenegro, hit by inflation, witnessed its first social protests, fueled by the global economic crisis and the devastation of the Spanish flu pandemic. Although it had lost its sovereignty and was affected by a serious economic and social and political crisis, Montenegro kept pace with global processes related to class struggle, the fight for workers’ rights, and for better working and living conditions. Protests against high prices were organized in Kotor and Podgorica. Interestingly, both protests were organized by women’s associations.

Source : Canva

1920

In January 1920, women’s gatherings were held in Podgorica, Cetinje, Rijeka Crnojevića, Tivat and Herceg Novi, where demands were made for political gender equality

Source : Canva

1924

May 1, celebrated as International Workers’ Day, honors the victims of the 1886 labor movement demonstrations in Chicago. These demonstrations, a historical marker of the workers’ movement during which the “three eights” were demanded – 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest, and 8 hours of culture/education – were suppressed by the police, resulting in the killing of 6 workers, dozens injured, and later, five more workers sentenced to death. At the second congress of the International (in 1891), May 1 was recognized as the date for holding annual activities. Since then, depending on the circumstances, this day has been marked across the world as an important date for the labor movement, during which various events are organized in honor of the victims.

Source : Freepik

Timeline

Initiatives