European Commission and Women’s Weekend are creating the first day of Women’s Weekend Festival with Messages of Equality

Following last year’s successful first day, this year’s Women’s Weekend is once again joining forces with the European Commission Representation in Croatia, which is partnering with the festival to jointly create a day dedicated to the European perspective on gender equality.

The program titled Day Zero: For a Europe of Equality will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka’s Art Quarter, where we can expect a day filled with inspiring speakers, panels, and discussions on the importance of equality in today’s society. The museum doors open at 2 PM, and admission is free.

The day will begin with video messages from two prominent European commissioners – Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, and our own Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Through their addresses, we will learn more about everything being invested in creating an equal society across the European Union.

This will be followed by a panel – “Men and Women in Diplomacy – Old Game, New Rules?” bringing together ambassadors from Europe and around the world. Under the expert guidance of Andrea Čović Vidović, Deputy Head of the European Commission and Head of Media in Croatia, distinguished diplomatic representatives will share their experiences and thoughts on feminist foreign policy and diplomacy’s approach to gender equality. The panel will also include Ambassador Zrinka Ujević, Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia.

Through interesting and informative panels, we will explore how Europe shapes our understanding of equality and what steps it is taking to create a more just future. The panel “Equality for a Europe of Innovation” will bring to the Museum stage David Smith, Director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, and Tamara Petrović from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, who will discuss the position of women in science and research and the impact of EU policies on greater inclusivity in STEM fields.

For activism enthusiasts, the panel “(Pop) Activism for Equality?” with activists Igor Bajok and Maja Krištafor from Inkluziv Collective will reveal how the civil sector meets institutions and the effects of the European gender equality strategy, while participants in the panel “Higher Education for Equality?” will explore how academia can contribute to changing perceptions of gender equality. The panel will include Marko Kovačić from the Institute for the Future, University of Rijeka, and Nadja Čekolj from the Faculty of Humanities, University of Rijeka.

The afternoon part of the program will be dedicated to the business aspect of equality. In the panel “How to be an Inclusive Leader?”, Teuta Duletić, Managing Director at Lürssen Design Center Kvarner and Moira Homan, Human Resources Director at Podravka will share their experiences on how leaders foster an inclusive work environment and which policies promote equality, while in the next panel, economic experts Iva Tomić, economist at the World Bank and Hrvoje Stojić, chief economist at the Croatian Employers Association, will discuss policies, regulations, and other equality topics in financial systems.

The panel “Market Equality for a Competitive Europe” with Anita Letica and Mislav Ante Omazić will discuss EU legislation related to women on corporate boards and work-life balance. Meanwhile, Andrea Čović Vidović, Deputy Head of the European Commission and Head of Media in Croatia, will explore the intriguing topic of the world of politics in “(Not) a Women’s World?” in a one-on-one conversation with Andrea Vodanović, Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of the Republic of Croatia.

In addition to panels and discussions, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about current European policies and initiatives promoting equality and talk with European Commission representatives about their work. The conclusion of the open Day Zero “For a Europe of Equality” will be delivered by Damir Habijan, Minister of Administration, Justice and Digital Transformation.

Join us on March 6 at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka and be part of an important discussion about the future of equality in Europe and Croatia. Together, for another year, the European Commission and Women’s Weekend are creating a platform for dialogue, inspiration, and change.

See you in Rijeka!