As part of the prestigious Marmara Urban Forum, held on 1–2 October in Istanbul, the Forum of Women Mayors of Southeast Europe was organized by the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe with the support of UN Women, and was attended by representatives of Montenegrin municipalities. The Forum of Women Mayors of Southeast Europe brought together local government leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Republika Srpska, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey, and Croatia. Together with their colleagues from Montenegro, they exchanged experiences and examples of good practice regarding the role of women in local politics and community development.
Montenegro was represented by Vida Ivanovićpresident of the Berane Municipal Assembly, Maja Mršulja, president of the Kotor Municipal Assembly Tanja Spičanović, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Bar.
Particular attention was drawn to the presentation by Tanja Spičanović, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Bar, during the panel session. “Smart Financing for Equality”In her presentation, she outlined the ways in which the Municipality of Bar actively promotes equality through financial and social programs, with a particular focus on supporting women entrepreneurs. Tanja Spičanović shared examples of successful business initiatives launched by women from Bar, emphasizing how important local policies and support mechanisms are for empowering women and fostering their economic independence.
Through joint discussions, representatives of Montenegrin municipalities contributed to the regional dialogue on gender equality and women’s leadership at the local level, reaffirming the important role of Montenegro in regional processes of cooperation and integration.
In addition to this Forum, within the framework of the Marmara Urban Forum, Simona Bošković, the Secretary of the Committee for International Cooperation and European Integration of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro participated in a roundtable discussion “Associations of Local Authorities in Strengthening Democracy, Diplomacy, and Solidarity”The discussion focused on the role of associations of local authorities in strengthening democracy, local diplomacy, and building networks of solidarity at the international level. Bošković emphasized the importance of networking among local governments and cooperation through European and regional projects and initiatives, as well as membership in the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe and other international organizations, which contribute to regional exchange of knowledge and good practices and support the improvement of governance at the local level.
By participating in these events, representatives of Montenegrin municipalities reaffirmed their commitment to actively contribute to the development of regional and European networks of cooperation, the empowerment of women in local politics, and the strengthening of democratic values through solidarity and joint efforts.
