Photograph: Jakov Simović

The ultimate solution in combating violence is achieving equality

In celebration of women's strength and women's entrepreneurship, and on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a Bazaar "Women's Initiatives in Social Entrepreneurship" was organized on July 30, 2019 at Dorcol Platz in the framework of the project "Support to Priority Actions for Gender Equality in Serbia", implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with funding from the European Union.

The Bazaar was an opportunity for everyone present to learn about the work of women's initiatives in social entrepreneurship and their ideas which have been changing local communities throughout Serbia, creating numerous women's initiatives and platforms for improving the position of women in society. The Bazaar also presented a chance to directly support these initiatives and enterprises Jastrebacka prica, Center for Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship (CDOP), Citizens’ Association Iz Kruga, Radanska ruza, Udahni zivot, Etno Forum, Nasa kuca, Chrono Leskovac, Luzicke rukotvorine, Super bake, Mini pogon, Citizens’ Association Vedrina, Knitomania, Ekobag, Kobayagi, Simeon, Domaca radinost, Sokolina Art, Dve stolice i Majstorice, Lice ulice, and Bagel Bejgl by purchasing their products.

The whole gathering was held in the presence of over 500 visitors, and it began with the speach of the founder of Atina and Bagel Bejgl Marijana Savic, which we are sharing in an integral version.

Good day dear friends,

It is my honor to welcome you on behalf of Atina and Bagel Bejgl.

Today, we are celebrating the skills, knowledge and resources of women and girls. Today, we are celebrating all the known and unknown contributions of women, which is, and we all know it, half of everything in this world. Today we are celebrating women's initiative, making it visible, enterprising women are all around us.

For 16 years now, Atina has been supporting women in using their resources, strengths, skills, overcome trauma from violence and overcome all stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination that society imposes on them in an unfair fight.

Today is the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and it is a reminder, a check and balance tool of what has been done so far to combat exploitation, exploitation of the marginalized, the poorest, discriminated on grounds such as gender identity, sexual orientation, belonging to a group, a nation… .and all with the aim of appropriating resources and money and maintaining power relations both globally and in Serbia.

The common denominator for all these groups are women, because they continue to be the ones who suffer the worst violence and are most often victims of human trafficking.

We are here to remind ourselves how important it is to fight for social and labor rights, and their unconditional respect.

The ultimate solution in combating violence is achieving equality. There is no equality if there is no equal distribution of political and economic power.

Our Bagel Bejgl, Atina's enterprise, is one of those tools in the fight for equality. Bagel Bejgl is not only one delicacy that Belgrade had to have, not only a new space for women to recognize their strengths and regain economic freedom, but an additional space for Atina to be stronger, independent and equal in its advocacy role and social unfair game our governments are imposing continuously.

Today, we have chosen to celebrate women's initiative, to celebrate women's contribution to this common struggle for a fair game. Women entrepreneurs, women's initiatives in social entrepreneurship, women active in their communities, three times more strength, knowledge and will invested compared to any other business, although the laws are the same for everyone. A successful women's initiative is not only a gem in this, but also a subversive activity that will bring about change. An equal society for all. The ultimate goal.

More photographs from the event can be viewed via the following link: http://www.atina.org.rs/sr/atina-bazar-%C5%BEenske-inicijative-u-socijal...

This text was produced in the framework of the project "Support to Priority Actions for Gender Equality in Serbia", implemented by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with funding from the European Union. The views contained in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of UN Women, the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations. The project is part of the initiative for supporting women entrepreneurship, women in rural areas, decreasing labor market and employment discrimination, encouraging dialogue on the importance of economic empowerment of women and exchange of knowledge and information among women entrepreneurs.