Region:Asia Pacific
Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022
World Bank Income Classification:Low Income
The World Bank classifies economies for analytical purposes into four income groups: low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high income. For this purpose it uses gross national income (GNI) per capita data in U.S. dollars, converted from local currency using the World Bank Atlas method, which is applied to smooth exchange rate fluctuations.
Least Developed Country:Yes
Since 1971, the United Nations has recognized LDCs as a category of States that are deemed highly disadvantaged in their development process, for structural, historical and also geographical reasons. Three criteria are used: per capita income, human assets, and economic vulnerability.
Gender Inequality Index:0.575
GII is a composite metric of gender inequality using three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. A low GII value indicates low inequality between women and men, and vice-versa.
Gender Development Index:0.723
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
Population:209,497,025
Source of population data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects: The 2022 Revision
Male:19,976,265 (9.5%)
Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SRB_D_1.1
All people, especially the more vulnerable, benefit from the realization of human rights, gender equality, social cohesion and enhanced rule of law in line with international commitments (UNSDCF Outcome 3.1)
The outcome was not fully achieved; however, is on track, as women in Serbia benefitted from important progress that was made during the year, because institutions at all government levels are better reflecting gender equality priorities in their activities and measures. With the aim of improving the position of women in various areas, the Serbian Government facilitated dialogue with key stakeholders, local communities, academia and women's CSOs on key gender equality priorities, including gender-responsive language . The Serbian government also identified key gaps and challenges that women and girls face in access to finances through a budget gender analysis focused on entrepreneurship and support measures in agriculture. The Ministry of European Integration continued with gender mainstreaming of the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA) programming and implementation documents. All line-ministries, provincial secretariats, oversight bodies and numerous other institutions at national and provincial level applied and further improved GRB and integrated gender equality principles in Public Finance Management (PFM), thus benefiting women through initiatives targeting gender equality and improvement the of position of women in various sectors, with focus on vulnerable groups. Women living in eleven local self-governments (LSGs) across Serbia benefitted from initiatives that contributed to the improvement of their position and increased general understanding of gender equality and challenges that women face, through development of business ideas, product promotion, marketing, product placement, etc. UN Women contributed to all these important processes through various capacity development programmes, provision of experts’ support and facilitating social dialogue. More than 2,140 women across Serbia increased their awareness and skills in different areas that will contribute to the improvement of their position (inheritance rights, advocacy techniques including advocating for evidence-based policies at the local level, monitoring gender equality policies, collecting data, and patient’s rights, with an emphasis on induced abortion). The CSOs Coalition on Equal Inheritance formed and will continue to educate and legally support women. UN Women contributed to this through the established partnership with five women’s CSOs, organization of events and capacity development and direct support. Based on the progress to date, the initial strategy and theory of change still apply because women and girls still cannot fully exercise their rights and equally contribute and benefit from development and enjoy life free from discrimination.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SRB_D_3.1
Universal and inclusive access to quality health, social and protection services is improved (UNSDCF Outcome 2.1.)
The Outcome was not achieved however, progress was made. Prevention, protection, prosecution, and referral mechanisms on domestic and other forms of violence against women in Serbia remain inadequate despite the adoption of the 2017 Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence, and the 2021 Strategy for Preventing and Combating Gender-based Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. Another important problem is the lack, in most parts of Serbia, of specialist women-to-women support services, for victims of rape and sexual violence, early marriage and stalking. Additional efforts are needed to ensure a more comprehensive response to all forms of violence against women covered by the Istanbul Convention. In 2023 the Programme for protection of women from domestic violence, violence in partner relations and other forms of gender-based violence in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina from 2023-2026, was adopted by the Vojvodina Assembly. It is aligned with the Istanbul Convention, CEDAW, National Strategy for Prevention and Combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and other relevant national legislation. Progress has been made towards strengthening key national institutions, such as the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and Provincial Secretariat for Social Protection, Demography and Gender Equality and Women CSOs to engage in the effective implementation of the recommendations to Serbia in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Concluding observations issued in March 2019, and the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) baseline report published in January 2020, and to improve the delivery of support services for women survivors of violence, with a specific focus on marginalized and multiple discriminated groups and women victims of specific forms of violence. Sixty Ministry of Justice misdemeanor judges improved their capacities at trainings for the implementation of the Law on the prevention of VAWG, particularly urgent measures for victim protection and justice sector response to gender-based violence against women and domestic violence, with the support of UN Women. In addition, throughout 2023, six women CSOs further increased their capacity to monitor and address harmful gender stereotypes and to advocate for better access to and improved provision of innovative services for women survivors of violence. A proposal of new quality (functional) standards for safe houses was developed by NGO Atina for the first time in the Republic of Serbia in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs. The standards contain an integrated victim-oriented approach in safe houses for women and girls victims of violence and DV, including principles of support and exit strategies for victims, inter-agency standards for GBV, and the minimum functional standards of the professional procedures, such as informed consent, admission, and assessment. The document also outlines the purpose of the shelter service for women victims of violence, expands the groups of beneficiaries of these services to those who are “left behind,” and identifies the basic principles of work when providing this service, such as respect and dignity, confidentiality of personal data, gender sensitivity access, non-discrimination and inclusiveness, and others. A special segment refers to support for children, individual and group work with children, as well as work with traumatic experiences. Moreover, Rules on Procedure in Emergency Situations in Shelters for Women and Children, Survivors of Domestic Violence have been drafted with the aim of defining mechanisms for increasing the efficiency of protection and well-being of all involved actors before, during and after an emergency situation – rules that shelters lacked at the COVID-19 outbreak. 50 local public administration servants built their capacities towards a better understanding of the constraints and needs of GBV survivors when providing free legal aid (FLA). Furthermore, the database of local FLA offices in local administrations/municipalities across Serbia was established. The database provides information about contact persons/offices for free legal aid in 101 local communities. These initiatives were supported by UN Women within the regional programme “Ending VAW: Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”. Based on the progress made to date, the original strategy and theory of change for this outcome are still applicable because women and girls are still not able to exercise their rights on an equal footing with men and boys and equally contribute to and benefit from development. UN Women will continue to support the government and key stakeholders to be able to prevent violence against women and girls.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-SRB_D_3.2
UN system is accountable to measure, monitor and drive progress towards the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The outcome was achieved. The UN system demonstrates greater coordination, coherence and accountability for commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). This resulted from UN Women’s advisory support to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). The support included integrating a gender perspective in planning, monitoring, and reporting, programming, capacity building and leading the Gender Thematic Group (GTG). All planned indicator targets were achieved. In its Annual UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard Report, out of total 15 indicators, Serbia exceeded minimum requirements for 12 and met minimum requirements for 3 indicators. This is an improvement of three indicator compared to 2022an the best result thus far. The GTG completed all 16 action points from its Annual Work Plan. There were three GTG Meetings, an Annual GTG Retreat and several multi- and bilateral meetings between GTG Chair, Deputy Chair, RCO, MEG, OMT, Comms Group and HRLNOB Group, which were recognised as a good practice to coordinate joint work and create synergies. UN Serbia UNSDCF does not have a standalone Outcome on gender but an Outcome that targets gender equality: “All people, especially the more vulnerable, benefit from the realization of human rights, gender equality and enhanced rule of law in line with international commitments “. Apart from the gender-targeted Outcome, other outcomes are gender mainstreamed. Gender components are identified in the narrative, in the Theory of Change, for each Strategic Priority, and GEWE is integrated in all outcomes through outcome indicators and in the UNCT contribution section, with clear linkages to SDG5. Just over half (52.17%) of UNSDCF Outcome level indicators measure changes in gender equality and the empowerment of women in line with SDG targets including SDG 5. In early 2023 UNCT Serbia reported against five global indicators within SGD 5 (5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 5.7, 5.8). In 2022, JWPs as reported in the UNCT Annual Results Report, 36 out of 97 Output level indicators were gender sensitive, either measuring direct contributions to gender equality or having gender desegregations measuring GE intervention aspects. The mid-year UNSDCF Review (January-September 2023) reflects the gender results are on track according with Interim Review (January- September) narrative reporting since the Output level indicator targets will be assessed for the Annual Results Report in February 2024. The UNCT engaged in greater advocacy efforts, include joint markings of important dates for GEWE. For example, 45,000 individuals were reached through a joint social media campaign which outlined milestones for gender equality in Serbia and women’s views on gender equality, marking International Women’s Day conducted by UN Serbia GTG and Communications Group, spearheaded by UNDP. Additionally, 265,000 people received messages about GBV during a social media campaign marking 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against Women and Girls by UN Serbia GTG and Communications Group. Attendees at a joint event “Imagine Life without Violence“ focused on youth and GBV learned about regional research on social cohesion, gender equality and peacebuilding and engaged in a moderated discussion. The GTG and Communications group organized that event on 24 November in Belgrade, spearheaded by UNDP as Deputy GTG Chair. At a second joint event "Bridges of Hope: United in the fight against gender-based violence" high government officials, donors and international community discussed the needs of refugee women and girls. Organized on 27 November, in Novi Sad by UNHCR and RCO, the event featured joint cooking, musical performance and mural painting. UN agencies also organized other events targeting different communities, showcased in a detailed calendar of all UN agencies’ events for 16 DoA against GBV which was shared on social media. Lastly, UN staff took a group photo in front of UN House, traditionally supporting the Orange the World Campaign and sharing this year’s message “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls”. The GTG and other relevant UNCT mechanisms worked with an external consultant to develop a multi-year Capacity Building Plan (2023-2025) based on the UN Serbia gender equality capacity and learning needs assessment. The GTG also developed a Gender Equality Screening Tool for projects based on Albanian good practice. Fifteen (15) representatives of women’s civil society organizations and UN staff discussed women and climate change at the Open Doors event with WCSOs, gaining valuable insight for future advocacy and programming. Gender equality is visibly mainstreamed into six currently operational Joint Programmes and one pending joint project proposal. Out of six joint projects implemented, UN Women participated in four Joint Projects out of which it was lead for one on disability, during the reporting period. Gender equality is the principle focus of the Joint Project "Integrated Response to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia III” which was allocated UNCT Gender Equality Marker 3, whereas other Joint Projects have gender as a significant objective and therefore UNCT Gender Equality Marker 2. In the reporting period UN Women ensured gender mainstreaming of the Cooperation Framework Joint Work Plans (JWPs) and provided inputs which better integrate gender perspective and inform advocacy and programming in various reports and surveys. The Office provided inputs for the JWPs update including indicators, sub output/project descriptions, budget, geolocation, UNCT-GEMs etc. The Office provided agency and GTG inputs for RCO-led processes such as the 2022 2CF Annual Results Report, 2023 Interim Report, partnerships survey, resource mobilization strategy, EU & UN Policy Dialogue and joint advocacy to the government, UNCT Plan of Action to Support Justice, Trust Building, Social Cohesion and Counter Hate Speech, etc. Contributions were made to 5 interagency products which involved gender analysis and data production which have and will inform future advocacy and programming: Common Country Analysis, two Gender Briefs, edited by UN Women, a Thematic Update on Corruption and on Mixed Migration. UN Women and GTG provided inputs for the National Strategy for Healthy and Active Aging spearheaded by UNFPA UNCT Serbia was showcased as a country with good practice on application of UNCT GEMs at the Global GTG Webinar. This was due to country’s improved UNCT GEM score that was a result of the capacity building endeavours and great coordination of Result Groups, Monitoring and Evaluation Group and Gender Thematic Gorup, spearheaded by UN Women. UN Women as Chair of GTG and the expert agency on gender coordinated and implemented all the above-mentioned gender related efforts.Showing 1 - 3 of 3
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References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
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