CVIJANOVIĆ: WOMEN IN SRSKA EQUAL IN POLICY-MAKING

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 20 /SRNA/ – The Serb BiH Presidency member Željka Cvijanović says that women in Republika Srpska participate equally in policy-making.

"I am pleased that it has been made possible for our policies to be respected within the Government. This is a good and encouraging message for women, while Republika Srpska is a bright example in that regard," Cvijanović told the press in Banja Luka ahead of the panel discussion titled "Women in the Politics of Republika Srpska from Its Establishment to Today: Can We Do Better?" She emphasized that there will always be discussions on improving the presence of women in the legislative and executive branches of government, adding that it is good that representatives of the governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska participate together in such activities and panels. "We can be satisfied with what we have in Republika Srpska when it comes to women's participation in politics. The very fact that we have been able to reach the most important political positions speaks for itself, as does the support we have from party colleagues. Within SNSD, the party I come from, this has never been in question," Cvijanović said. She stressed that the presence of women in the most important positions was particularly pronounced during the period when she served as prime minister of Republika Srpska. "At that time, we had something dominant in the region, namely, a large number of women serving as ministers, as well as deputy prime ministers. The most important levers in our socio-economic system were then held by women. We also had women in leadership positions in public enterprises and similar institutions. It was a remarkable period in which we reached a point of equality," Cvijanović said. She concluded that this is a society of equality in which women and men participate together in policy-making.