Women's initiative of Novi Sad

The Women's initiative of Novi Sad (Serbian: Новосадска женска иницијатива / Novosadska ženska inicijativa) is a citizens' association based in Novi Sad, Serbia. It began in May 2010 as an informal group of socially active female students who were involved in various youth, civic, and student organizations and representative bodies. Their aim was to initiate and actively participate in the cultural, social, civic, and political transformation of Serbian society. In 2014 the group was formally registered as a citizens' association. The organization works on institutional strengthening of mechanisms for achieving gender equality, educational programs, promotion of the concept of gender equality and equal opportunity policies, and concrete actions that contribute to the elimination of violence against women and to creating conditions for the employment and self-employment of women. Its stated goals include raising civic awareness and advocating human rights; initiating a healthy and safe living environment; and promoting quality social life and leisure time. Headquartered at Trg slobode 3 in Novi Sad, the initiative carries out projects and workshops, including work on gender-based violence, women's mentoring, IT training for unemployed young women, and research on domestic violence during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It has cooperated with partners such as the Dutch and French embassies in Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality, the City Administration for Sport and Youth of Novi Sad, the Lesław Paga Foundation, and the women's association "Derventa."

The Women's initiative of Novi Sad was founded in May 2010 as an informal group of female students who were socially active and operated through various youth, civic, and student organizations as well as student and youth representative bodies. Their goal was to initiate and actively participate in the cultural, social, civic, and political transformation of Serbian society as a whole. In 2014 the group was formally legally constituted as a citizens' association. The organization advocates gender equality through initiatives for institutional strengthening of mechanisms for achieving gender equality, educational programs, promotion of the concept of gender equality and equal opportunity policies, and concrete actions contributing to the elimination of violence against women and the creation of conditions for the employment and self-employment of women. Its goals are grouped into three areas. The first is raising civic awareness and advocating human rights: active work on raising the level of civic awareness; encouraging women to actively participate in society; developing cooperation among women and ensuring conditions for participation in decision-making through a sustainable institutional framework based on women's needs and in partnership with women; ensuring the realization of the right to equal opportunities for all women, especially vulnerable women and women living in difficult conditions; building a system of informing women at all levels and in all areas; and developing, improving, encouraging, and stimulating the employment of women, women's self-employment, and women's entrepreneurship. The second is initiating a healthy and safe living environment: improving conditions for the safe life of women and children; ensuring healthy living and social circumstances for raising and educating children; preserving and improving the health of women and children, reducing risks and leading health disorders, and developing health care adapted to women and children; activities aimed at nurturing, developing, and protecting the family as the basic cell of society; improving the living conditions of vulnerable and sensitive social groups; and advocating the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms to improve the standard of living and quality of life. The third is promoting quality social life and leisure time: empowering women for initiatives and activities in line with the basic goals of sustainable development and a healthy environment; encouraging and valuing exceptional expressions and achievements of women and children in various fields; improving opportunities for quality leisure time for women and children; advocating for nature protection and a healthy environment; and preserving traditional values, old crafts, domestic handicrafts, and handmade products. The initiative has implemented and participated in projects including Fight4Women with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Republic of Serbia; Engage the boys with the support of the Embassy of France in the Republic of Serbia; "Prevention of violence against women and children" with the support of the Provincial Secretariat for Social Policy, Demography and Gender Equality; "Women's Mentoring Club" through the Skill-up Workshop program with the support of the City Administration for Sport and Youth of the City of Novi Sad; "V4+ Academy of Young Business Women Leaders" of the Lesław Paga Foundation; "Training for unemployed young women in internet programming 2020"; "Research on domestic violence during and after the COVID-19 pandemic" with the support of the Embassy of France in the Republic of Serbia 2020; "IT Academy for young unemployed women"; and "Spreading good practices in response to gender-based violence" in partnership with the women's association "Derventa."

• 2014

  Formally legally constituted as a citizens' association.

• 2010

  Founded in May as an informal group of socially active female students.

A grassroots civic association advocating gender equality, women's rights, and women's active participation in society in Novi Sad and Serbia.

1. 1Naslovna - Novosadska ženska inicijativazenskainicijativa.rs
2. 2Women's initiative of Novi Sad - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Новосадска женска иницијатива - Wikipediasr.wikipedia.org