GENDER EQUALITY IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: CHALLENGES BETWEEN LAW AND REALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION EFFORTS

Gender equality, as one of the principles of democracy, is the equal treatment of all, excluding differences based on gender. Achieving social equality without any distinction contributes to the respect of freedoms and human rights, therefore globally equal gender treatment in different segments adds to the values of democracy. But what is the legal perspective of gender equality in the countries of the Western Balkans, how far has the principle of equality been established in practice for the countries of the Western Balkans and what are the advantages that are evidenced by equal gender treatment in different fields and how the same can have an impact on the society of the countries of the Western Balkans?! Considering that the countries of the Western Balkans aim for their integration in the EU, the dilemma will be whether they can rely on the strategies that the EU has to establish the principle of equality, knowing that the EU has a backlog in terms of equal gender treatment. The dynamics of gender equality in the countries of the Western Balkans is the duty of these countries and a condition on the road to EU membership.