May 16, 2023
Gender equality is central to EU membership (Romania) and accession treaties (Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia). Nonetheless, women in political life in SEE face many obstacles, including gender-based discrimination and stifling traditional gender roles. Women are politically underrepresented in all SEE countries, and in all decision-making bodies. Women from ethnic minority groups as well as LGBTQI+ communities face further marginalization and exclusion.
Gender equality is central to EU membership (Romania) and accession treaties (Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia). Nonetheless, women in political life in SEE face many obstacles, including gender-based discrimination and stifling traditional gender roles. Women are politically underrepresented in all SEE countries, and in all decision-making bodies. Women from ethnic minority groups as well as LGBTQI+ communities face further marginalization and exclusion.
Nadezhda Mouzykina
Nadezhda Mouzykina is the Deputy Regional Director with the Central and Eastern Europe team. Since joining NDI in 2009 as a program officer, she has supported in-country and regional programming focused on parliamentary strengthening; political party and civil society development; election administration; and inclusion. Specifically, Ms. Mouzykina's work has focused on strengthening the civic and political participation of the Roma, women and youth, LGBTI, and religious minority groups.
ROBERT BENJAMIN
Robert Benjamin is a senior associate and the regional director of Central and Eastern Europe programs. In this latter role, he oversees in-country and regional programs in legislative strengthening, political party development, civil society development, election processes, and women, youth and ethnic minority political participation. He has also contributed to democracy programs in Asia, Latin America, North Africa and West Africa. Mr. Benjamin has worked at NDI since 1993. He holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A.