Impact
Widespread violence against women, the prevalence of gender stereotyping, the underrepresentation of women in politics and high-status jobs, and the impact of Covid-19 on women who already suffered social disadvantage are just some of the factors which make it imperative that more action is taken to advance the position of women in the region.
The GCJ Network offers a unique and innovative approach to tackling gender inequality and the patriarchal norms which are entrenched in the region, starting by bringing change from within the judiciary.
The regional aspect of the GCJ Network is of particular value given the shared legal and social traditions, history and customs across the Western Balkans.
The layered structure of the Network means we can:
- Maximise opportunities for regional collaboration, draw on similarities between jurisdictions, share best practice and benefit from lessons learned in the face of similar issues; and
- Deliver activities at a domestic level which are tailored to each jurisdiction’s individual complexities and issues.
The breadth of the wider pool of experts, stakeholders and patrons working with and supporting the GCJ Network mean we are uniquely placed to:
- Deliver a diverse range of training, resources and events informed by international and regional expertise in the legal sphere; and
- Highlight the perspectives and the role of other key stakeholders in the fight for gender equality, including for example the police, prosecutors, media, social workers and most importantly survivors of gender-based violence and those who have experienced gender stereotyping and discrimination.
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
We recognise that legal training alone is insufficient to advance gender equality in the region, it is also vital to change attitudes towards the roles of men and women in society.
The GCJ Network offers a distinctively holistic approach to its activities. In addition to training judges on the legal provisions relevant to gender equality, we focus on:
- the professional and personal development of women judges in the region, for example through mentorship programmes; and
- tackling the gender bias and discrimination which can manifest in courtrooms across the region, for example through gender awareness training.