The challenges on the way to achieving gender equality are similar everywhere, which is why the exchange of knowledge, coordinated activities, networking, solidarity, and mentoring programs are of great importance for improving the position of women in the countries of the region, said the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, at the conference “SHARE KNOWLEDGE – TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY IN THE REGION” organized by the European Movement in Serbia.

Since the conference was held on the International Day of Equal Pay, the Commissioner, speaking at the panel “Women’s solidarity to strengthen the position of women”, pointed out that for women’s economic equality, they must be paid the same as men for the same work. On this occasion, Janković presented the most important activities of the Commissioner’s institution aimed at empowering and networking women’s organizations in the region, among which are participation in the Regional Coordination Committee of Gender Institutional Mechanisms, support for the expansion of the first digital platform of women’s business “Empowered”, the implementation of a project aimed at the economic improvement of the position of women in rural areas and participation in strategic dialogues on gender equality at the local level.

The Commissioner particularly pointed out that the Commissioner’s institution will organize the seventh regional conference of equality bodies in Southeast Europe, dedicated to discrimination against the elderly, where special attention will be paid to protecting elderly women.

Besides Commissioner Janković, the Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Plamena Halacheva, the Ombudswoman of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Jasminka Džumhur, the Attaché of the US Embassy for Culture Holly Zardus, and Jadranka Miličević from the “Cure” Foundation participated in the panel.

The conference “Regional cooperation for a more gender-equal region (Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia)” is realized by the European Movement in Serbia within the project “Development of conditions for the regional implementation of the mentoring program for women Share your knowledge – BiH”, which is supported by the US Embassy in Serbia. The project’s goal is to regionalize the mentoring program for women, “Share your knowledge”, and build a regional women’s network.