Every 3rd woman in Serbia will give up her property in favor of a man: they do not realize that they will lose this help.

According to a study by the State Geodesic Institute of Serbia, women in Serbia own only 25% of the total property and only 6% of the real estate in the country, Milana Rikanovic, Director for Ancestral Equality and Strengthening of UN Women in Serbia, said today at the conference "The Right to Inheritance" held in Belgrade.

If we consider only real estate in total assets, women actually own only a quarter of that 25%. Women earn less, they are poorly represented on the labor market, they have more unpaid labor. Women's economic independence is very important," said Rikanovic.

The results of the study show that about 36% of women would give up their assets in favor of men, while only 19% of men would give up assets in favor of women, the conference reported.

According to the 2023 research, 84% of women surveyed said they were unaware that they would not qualify for social assistance if they gave up assets.

Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, noted that the consequences of abandonment of property manifest themselves in economic inequality, which escalates to violence and then to wife-killing. - The state has done its part by adopting the Law on Inheritance in 1955, but much more needs to be done to make this law stick in the minds of citizens.

Plamena Halaceva, deputy head of the EU delegation to Serbia, cited data according to which 88% of rural areas are owned by men.

Last year there were at least 27 cases of femicide in Serbia, and this year there will be at least as many more. We believe that the rights that belong to us are self-evident, and many women give them up because they were brought up that way. The EU has invested about 4 million euros in various programs to strengthen women in different spheres - said Halacheva.

Also presented at today's conference was the guide "The Right to Inheritance - Equal Opportunities for All", which contains an explanation of the basic concepts of inheritance law, an overview of the legal order of inheritance, the consequences of refusing inheritance and information on who to contact for legal help and advice.

The conference "The Right to Inheritance - A Path to Gender Equality and Ending Violence" was held as part of a 16-day action against violence against women, organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, the United Nations Organization for Gender Equality and the IDEAS Centre for Research and Development of Society.