Conference on social empowerment of women held in Belgrade

Conference on social empowerment of women held in Belgrade

In the introductory part of the day, participants were addressed by Deputy Prime Minister and chair of the Coordination Body for Gender Equality of the Serbiabn Government Zorana Mihajlovic, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Steliana Nedera, and Chairman of the Board of the B92 Fund Veran Matic.

The first session was devoted to presenting the model of a project and its case study, which was - together with representatives of project partners from the Center for Social Work Sombor and the Smart Kolektiv - presented by B92 Fund Director Marija Cecen.

Cecen explained the basic goals and objectives of the project, as well as the functioning of the key activities with the common goal of economic empowerment of women.

"This pilot program includes the establishment of a social enterprise with the purpose of securing the service of continuing education of women. With the help of education, women are given the opportunity to increase their knowledge, improve their ability and capacity to work and achieve economic independence,"she said.

In the conclusion of the presentation, Cecen stressed the recommendations from the case study for the further implementation of this model.

"Some priority recommendations for the implementation of the project model, among other things, are partnership with local women's organizations and substantial support for future self-sustaining economic models over a longer period of time," Cecen said.

She also praised the interest of social welfare centers and organizations that include safe houses, and their very active participation in the conference.

When it comes to economic empowerment of women who were victims of violence, in addition to discussions about the importance of education, the difficulties and challenges that are imposed have also been talked about.

Coordinator of the Zrenjanin Educational Center and expert involved in this project Radoslava Aralica, as the moderator of the last session, along with the participants of the panel launched a series of interesting questions, from how to reach women who belong to the target groups and motivate them to enter training programs, to the role of non-governmental sector, as well as centers for social work, and whether, and in what form, they could become resource centers.

The organizers said that the first day of the conference coincided with this month's Orange Day, which is marked to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women.