Dr Muamer Bacevac, Chairman of the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality, opened the conference, pointing out that femicide is a problem of worldwide proportions and emphasising the importance of the global campaign "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence". He expressed satisfaction that a large number of experts, representatives of relevant institutions and of the Government of the Republic of Serbia came to the conference who can address its topic of "Institutional Response to Femicide in the Republic of Serbia".

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Snezana Paunovic pointed out that the National Assembly is the right place to discuss the topic of femicide, a burning issue not only in Serbia, but throughout the world. "Femicide is gender-based murder committed against women and girls by the male sex, that is, the most severe form of violence against women and defined as the intentional killing of women, because they are women," underlined Paunovic. She went on to say that in most cases the perpetrators of femicide are intimate partners and three-quarters of femicides are committed in the home, which indicates that the most unsafe place for a woman is her home.

Paunovic said that in 2013, our country signed and ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence ( the Istanbul Convention), which is a very important binding international document. This Convention outlines a whole system of measures to eradicate violence and establish real equality between men and women. She also reminded the attending that last year the National Assembly adopted the Law on Gender Equality, which includes, among other things, a part concerning the prevention and suppression of gender-based violence.

She stressed that the involvement of the general public, representatives of state institutions, the media and all responsible individuals holding important positions is necessary in order to prevent violence against women.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Culture and President of the Coordination Body for Gender Equality, Maja Gojkovic, was the next to address the gathering, saying that every woman and girl in Serbia should feel safe today.

The President of the President of the Coordination Body for Gender Equality of the Government of the Republic of Serbia reminded that 25 women lost their lives this year as a result of family or partner violence, while in the previous ten years that number exceeded over 400 victims.

"This is very worrying data that must not be ignored. Until now, the state has done a lot in the field of protecting women and their rights, but together we must persevere even more resolutely in that fight, so that victims are encouraged to report abusers and institutions prevent the worst outcomes with an adequate reaction," said Minister Gojkovic.

Gojkovic emphasised that femicide is a problem for the entire society and only with joint efforts can we create a safe and secure environment for all the citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

Sarah Groen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Serbia, thanked the organisers for the opportunity to speak at today’s conference in the National Assembly House on such an important and sensitive topic as the prevention of femicide in Serbia. She stated that the OSCE Mission, in partnership with the Committee on Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality and the Women's Parliamentary Network, supports the efforts to combat violence against women and domestic violence, stressing that they can be successful only through joint action. In her address, Groen stated that though today's topic is the institutional response to femicide in the Republic of Serbia, she was pleased to note that representatives of the civil sector are joining these efforts and called for the inclusion of the entire society, in order to prevent femicide against women.

In three separate sessions, the participants of the conference dealt with various aspects of the fight against femicide in detail - from the analysis of this problem in Serbia, through the consideration of the work of institutions and their responses to femicide, to the determination of recommendations and further steps in an adequate response and fight against femicide.