A panel discussion entitled “Rights. Justice. Action – for All Women and Girls” was held at Europe House Bar, focusing on the position of women in society, their empowerment, and the need for a stronger institutional response to the challenges they face.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Women’s Rights, Maja Raičević, emphasised that during their upbringing, girls often learn that their ideas do not carry sufficient importance. For that reason, society must encourage them to recognise and nurture their own needs, wishes and potential.
She also pointed out that concern for women often ceases when they begin caring for others, stressing the importance of creating space in which a woman can dedicate time to herself and her personal development. Raičević also highlighted that many women, although they appear to have stable lives, actually live without security and without the possibility of independently deciding their own lives.
“The position of women directly affects the quality of life of the entire society, and it is encouraging that in Montenegro the number of women who understand how they can contribute to change in the future is growing,” Raičević stated.
The President of the NGO “Women of Bar”, Ljiljana Vujović, said that many women are not aware of their own strength. Speaking about organisation’s work, she noted that more than 400,000 meals have been distributed through humanitarian activities, thanks to the joint efforts of 21 women dedicated to helping the most vulnerable.
She particularly highlighted the difficult situation of the women assisted by the organisation, emphasising that in many cases these are women living in poverty, often victims of violence or living with individuals struggling with addiction, while systemic support for their economic empowerment remains insufficient.
Endocrinology specialist Dr Valentina Kalinić spoke about her personal professional journey and the challenges women face in society. She stressed that education and personal strength in our society are often not recognised as advantages, and that women are frequently not expected to occupy decision-making positions.
She also warned about the problem of insufficient implementation of existing protection mechanisms, noting that women who are victims of violence almost always seek help beforehand, but that their testimonies are often not believed.
The panel participants agreed that real change requires a long-term perspective, stronger institutional support and the continuous empowerment of women.
“Despite numerous challenges, there is room for optimism and confidence that the position of women in society will improve in the future,” the panel concluded.