On the occasion of the anniversary – 20 years of the Roma Women’s Network of Serbia, which brings together 33 organizations and initiatives from across the country, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, at the opening of the ceremony at the Ethnographic Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, emphasized the importance of women’s organizing and all forms of support, and above all, once again highlighted the importance of education.

Education is a prerequisite for the realization of many human rights, and many Roma women have recognized education as the key to overcoming multiple discrimination, poverty, and limited opportunities in the labor market, as well as to the full social inclusion of Roma. That is why it is crucial to work on education and learning, and on breaking stereotypes and prejudices, Janković stressed.

At the ceremony at the Ethnographic Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the project “The Legacy of Emancipation: Empowering Roma Women through Building Networks of Solidarity” was presented. The project encompasses research, books, films, and testimonies about women who are changing society through their knowledge and engagement.