Contributed by: Irena Milatovic and Vanja Mikulic, Montenegro National VAW Monitors

The regional conference, promoted by four associations coming from different countries and experiences: SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence (Podgorica, Montenegro), COSPE - Cooperation of Development of emerging countries (Firenze, Italy), Woman’s Center “Light Steps” (Shkodra, Albania), Woman’s House of Pisa (Pisa, Italy), in the framework of a project on women’s rights financed by European Community in the city of Podgorica and Shkodra, has been organized in Tivat, Montenegro, during July 7-9, 2006.

The main aim of the conference was to analyze, from different points of view, women during the years of transition in the Balkans. The Balkans has been characterized by a violent and difficult transition from the fall of communist regimes toward democracy and Europe: ethnic wars, economic crises, political destabilization, heavy international intervention and cooperation. And the transition did not finish: the redefinition of borders and identities is still in the process as the idea of State, society, citizenship’s rights, economy and democracy is still on the way of elaboration. The point of view and position of women in this long transition has often been left apart or victimized in spite of the widespread women's movement for rights and democratization of societies.

The aim of this conference was to address different questions: war and peace processes, what has changed from the communist regimes to today concerning women’s rights and citizenship’s rights, the economies of women, how international cooperation and aid has affected the lives of women. The conference represented in this sense an opportunity to make a balance of these years of activism of women, thanks to the presence of many representatives of women's  associations in all Balkans, and also to design future strategies for the women's movement at local and regional levels, because the voice and point of view of women can increasingly become a resource for the democratization of the Region and Europe.

Source: SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Podgorica