Centre for Civic Education (CCE), approaching 8 March – International Women’s Day, recalls that the position of women in Montenegro still cannot be considered equal, despite the existence of certain sound legal frameworks and the frequent public declarations of decision-makers regarding their commitment to gender equality. Gender equality is not achieved through symbolic or sporadic gestures, but it requires continuous political accountability, consistent enforcement of the law, resources, and institutions that act in a timely and effective manner, and not only under public pressure or after tragic consequences have already occurred.
CCE points out that women in Montenegro continue to face systemic discrimination, limited participation in decision-making processes, economic barriers, and a persistent gender gap in the labour market. These challenges underscore the consequences of the absence of coherent and gender-responsive public policies and practices.
These concerns are also reflected in the European Commission’s Montenegro Report for 2025, which notes that, despite improvements in the legislative framework, a significant gap remains between normative provisions and their practical implementation, particularly in the area of protection against gender-based violence. The European Commission warns about the need to strengthen institutional coordination, enhance prevention mechanisms, and ensure effective and timely protection for victims, alongside the consistent prosecution of all forms of violence against women.
According to MONSTAT’s EU-GBV Survey, one in five women (20.2%) in Montenegro reports having experienced violence by an intimate partner during her lifetime, while a significant number of women also report other forms of gender-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual harassment in the workplace.
Of additional concern is the fact that violence against women is often underreported, while institutional responses frequently come too late or depend on individual discretion rather than on clear and binding procedures. Such practices do not foster trust in the system, nor do they ensure adequate and timely protection for women exposed to violence. CCE has been pointing to these issues for years, yet an adequate response from the competent authorities has consistently been lacking.
A particularly alarming issue is the growing number of femicide cases, representing the most extreme form of gender-based violence against women. According to data from the Women’s Rights Centre, 22 femicides have been recorded in Montenegro over the past eight years, while in 2025 alone, four women were killed by individuals close to them, including a two-year-old girl. Femicide is not a crime of passion, nor an isolated incident or „family tragedy“. It is a hate crime against women and the ultimate consequence of prolonged institutional inaction, insufficient prevention, and the normalisation of violence against women. As such, femicide requires a serious, determined, and systemic response from the state, not sporadic and belated reactions following individual tragedies.
According to the Gender Equality Index, Montenegro performs particularly poorly in the domain of power and decision-making, further confirming that formal frameworks are not accompanied by substantive change. For example, in the Parliament of Montenegro, there are 23 women MPs and 58 men MPs, while within parliamentary working bodies, women chair only four out of a total of 16 committees, including the Committee on Gender Equality.
CCE emphasises that the protection of women’s rights is not a “women’s issue,” but rather a matter of democratic maturity and respect for fundamental human rights. A society that fails to ensure safety, equal treatment, and genuine opportunities for women cannot be considered either just or stable.
Aleksandra Mihaljević, Project Assistant