In Serbia's parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 October 2026, political parties are once again highlighting the number of women among their candidates. Some take particular pride in the fact that women make up a majority on their lists. This is certainly worth noting, but it leaves open the question of how much influence female candidates have over party decisions and what power they will hold if elected. An OSCE report on gender equality in Serbia's National Assembly shows why this distinction cannot be reduced to an electoral percentage.

In Tirana, rubbish bins are burning, traffic lights are being smashed and protesters are clashing with police. On social media, some viewers greet these scenes with enthusiasm. We saw similar reactions during protests in Serbia, and last year in Nepal. Why do we feel the need to see violence as proof that something is finally changing? And how willing would we be to support it if, instead of holding a phone, we were standing in front of a police cordon?

The Constitution guarantees equality before the law, but going to court can involve costs that someone on an average income may struggle to bear. Lawyers, court fees, expert assessments, lost working days and years of waiting often determine how capable a person really is of protecting their rights. Serbia has a free legal aid system. The problem is that many people do not even know it exists, while some discover it only when it is already too late.

Wars, poverty, violence, discrimination, people without water or electricity. Whenever something happens that we consider unacceptable, someone will almost certainly say: “How is this possible in the 21st century?” That sentence reveals how accustomed we have become to believing in progress that is supposed to happen on its own. But history has no obligation to improve simply because the date has changed.

Digitalisation can make life easier, but when apps, passwords and internet access become unspoken conditions for exercising rights, some citizens are left dependent on others.