Anima: Visible in the Constitution!

30 November 2006

Women in Kotor demanded constitutionally protected status

Under the �16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence� campaign, the Anima Centre for Women and Peace Studies from Kotor sent an open letter to the Montenegrin Parliament, Government, political parties, the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and the Office of Gender Equality, with the demand that the status of women as constitutional part of the state body is confirmed in the preparation of the new Constitution of Montenegro.

"All male and female citizens have to be adequately represented in the new Constitution. Women have to be visible, elected and responsible for developments in the society�, states the open letter.

Anima demands that the constitution uses gender sensitive langauge, to guarantee the freedom of expression and conviction, as well as the freedom to express gender affiliation without reference on marital status. Also, it demands protection for the freedom of expression of sexual orientation and protection of female identity.

The Kotor performance

Anima also demands legal sanctions for all cases of demonstration of gender inequality and incitement to gender-based hatred. It also wants for the system of education to incorporate female history and culture.

"This is a global problem and can�t be solved by the NGOs in their training sessions. Therefore, the first step towards a systemic solution for the discrimination of women (violence against women) would be to make them visible in the Constitution. The second step would include implementation of agreed policies�, warns Anima.

Members of Anima and students at the Women Studies Programme marked the 16 Days Campaign with a performance Visible in the Constitution in Kotor, on November 25, 2006.