Sustainable development and gender responsive budgeting focus of two OSCE-supported workshops with parliamentary staff in Montenegro
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro continued its cooperation with Parliament in providing specialized workshops to their staff on environmental protection and gender responsive budgeting.
On 22 and 23 November, Mission-engaged international experts from Finland, Portugal and Slovenia on sustainable development discussed with 12 parliamentary staff key challenges in Montenegro, focusing on restoration of the important areas, such as Tara River and Ulcinj Salina. They gave an overview of relevant framework, including sustainable development goals, European Green Deal and Western Balkan Agenda. They also discussed sustainable tourism and protection of nature through establishment of network of protected areas.
Opening the workshop, Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission, said that we are facing urgent challenges arising from climate change that includes our adaptation concerning reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporating environmental norms into the rules of global trade, blue economy, and agriculture, in order to reach sustainability. “Taking into account the environmental dimension in all human activities, your role as parliamentary staff and your expertise in legislative drafting, will help Montenegro to fulfil its global and regional commitments and to face these new and concerning challenges,” said Ambassador Waag.
On 24 November, the Mission engaged experts to discuss with parliamentary staff how to ensure that the needs of women and men are equally taken into account in the budget process. Through practical examples and examining ongoing preparations of the new Law on Budget, the participants learnt how to incorporate the different needs of women and men into budget circulars.
The Mission will continue to support gender responsive budgeting at the Parliament and within ministries as a legal requirement, contributing to improving overall social justice and equality.