The international scientific conference “Gender Equality in the Post-Yugoslav Space: Challenges, Policies, and Perspectives” brought together researchers from the region and abroad with the aim of shedding light, through interdisciplinary dialogue, on contemporary challenges and opportunities for advancing gender equality in post-Yugoslav societies.
During the conference, it was confirmed that, despite developed normative frameworks and formal harmonization with international standards, gender equality in the countries of the region still largely remains within the sphere of formal or “symbolic equality”, while actual social changes are slow and often confronted with serious resistance. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that post-Yugoslav societies are undergoing processes of retraditionalization, in which ideas of emancipation and feminist achievements are being questioned through narratives about “gender ideology”, the protection of traditional values, and resistance to concepts allegedly imposed from abroad.
Within the first session, participants emphasized the need for a critical re-examination of key concepts in gender studies, their translation and meanings within local contexts, as well as the importance of systematically monitoring changes through quantitative and comparative research. Special attention was devoted to institutional limitations in the implementation of gender equality policies, unpaid domestic labor, gender-sensitive population policies, and the importance of integrating a gender perspective into disciplines such as demography.
Subsequent sessions covered a broad range of topics linking gender equality with contemporary political, economic, and social challenges. Discussions addressed issues of women’s political participation, gender aspects of migration and informal labor, the position of women with disabilities, gender policies of political parties, as well as the impact of disinformation and digital technologies on contemporary equality policies. The importance of preserving women’s historical heritage was also highlighted, particularly the memory of women who, through the anti-fascist struggle and post-war political engagement, contributed to the advancement and expansion of women’s rights.
A significant part of the conference was dedicated to the economic dimensions of gender inequality. Presentations pointed to the persistence of discrimination against women in the labor market, the challenges of balancing work and parenthood, the limitations of institutional support for fatherhood, as well as the connection between economic insecurity and the retraditionalization of gender relations. It was particularly emphasized that gender equality is not merely a question of formal and legal equality, but also of access to resources, social norms, and material living conditions.
The conference conclusions indicate that gender equality in the post-Yugoslav space is not an imported political trend, but rather an important regional achievement rooted in a shared feminist heritage and a long tradition of cooperation among women’s and feminist organizations. Its advancement requires stronger institutional capacities, consistent implementation of existing policies, linking feminist knowledge with public policies, as well as broader social mobilization against retraditionalization and the marginalization of women’s rights.
The conference once again confirmed the importance of regional dialogue and interdisciplinary cooperation in understanding contemporary challenges to gender equality and in shaping fairer and more inclusive societies.
