Initiative „1,000 women“ launched

The Coordination Body for Gender Equality of the Government of Serbia, in cooperation with Ethno Network and NALED, launched the initiative for the engagement of 1,000 women in rural areas over the following year, to work on creating traditional handicrafts to be used as corporate and diplomatic gifts. The initiative „1,000 women“ addresses socially responsible companies, institutions, local governments and embassies, which can contribute to economic empowerment of women and youth in rural areas and preservation of our country’s cultural heritage, by purchasing fine handicrafts for promotional purposes.

- More than 50% of working-age women in the country are formally unemployed, 3 out of 4 women work without pay, and only 12% are owners of property. Thus they are the neglected the potential for social and economic development. Valuing the work of women in the countryside, as Deputy Prime Minister of all the officials with whom I meet to give exactly traditional Serbian products made by the women in the countryside. With this initiative we want to contribute to poverty reduction, economic empowerment and affirmation of the role of women in the local community and rural economy - said at the presentation of the initiative, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Coordinating Body for gender equality Zorana Mihajlovic, who is patron of the campaign, \\\'1,000 women.\\\'

Within the ceremony in Belgrade City Hall, the initiative will present the website www.1000zena.rs, which includes information about the finest handicrafts from all parts of Serbia and items made of natural materials, using old techniques such as embroidery and gold-thread embroidery, net darning, felting, weaving, crochet. The website also launched the “Employment Clock”, a counter which will track the number of employed women. Within the following year, the goal is to ensure work for 1,000 women, for a period of at least 3 months. To have a woman engaged in such work, gaining additional income for her household, sh