The conference “Partnership for Equality: Building Better Workplaces Together”, which also marked the 15th anniversary of the work of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia, was held at the Metropol Hotel in Belgrade with the participation of numerous guests from the business community.
“Diversity is not a barrier, but a strength, and equality is attainable if we work on it together. Our everyday efforts and successes are transforming the workplace and society as a whole. That’s why this anniversary, as well as today’s conference, is dedicated to all of you who see equality not merely as a legal obligation, but as a value you live by and uphold — especially when it’s not easy to do so,” said Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Janković in her opening remarks.
Commissioner Janković emphasized that marking this important milestone together with the business community sends a clear message: all social actors and institutions must work together and serve as a driving force that continuously pushes boundaries and builds a society rooted in equality and respect for human rights.
The conference showcased the achievements of the Commissioner’s Partnership for Equality, which now includes several hundred companies, business associations, and chambers of commerce committed to implementing anti-discrimination policies and ESG principles in their operations.
Opening remarks were also delivered by the first Commissioner, Professor Nevena Petrušić, as well as Judith Hoffmann, Head of the Economic Cooperation Department at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Hoffmann congratulated Commissioner Janković on the anniversary and reaffirmed Germany’s continued commitment to promoting human rights, equality, and inclusive workplaces.
The event gathered representatives of leading companies from Serbia and the region. During the panel “Inclusive Business Policies and ESG Principles – From Implementation to Success”, participants shared experiences and perspectives on how a discrimination-free workplace contributes to employee satisfaction, motivation, and improved business performance. Panelists included Nikola Vuletić, CEO of UniCredit Bank; Judit Albers, General Manager of A1 Serbia; Ronald Seeliger, CEO of Hemofarm Group; Marjana Davidović, General Manager of Nestlé Serbia; and Darko Popović, CEO of Banca Intesa. The panel was moderated by Radojka Nikolić, Editor-in-Chief of Biznis magazine.
A second panel discussion addressed the role of business chambers in supporting companies to implement responsible business practices through the Partnership for Equality. Speakers included Marko Nikolić, President of the Board of the CANSEE Canadian-Serbian Business Association; Hugo Van Veghel, President of the Belgian-Serbian Business Association; Irena Brajović, Director of Confindustria Serbia; and Tanja Lindell from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The panel was moderated by Professor Katarina Đulić from FEFA at Metropolitan University.
The project “Improving Equality in the Field of Work and Employment – A Joint Initiative for Workplace Equality” is implemented by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ), through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
