The event started with a video address by the Mayor of the Capital City, Ivan Vuković, who commented on the importance of providing media and any other space in order to acknowledge the contribution of Montenegrin women to the struggle for freedom, human rights, the emancipation of society, both in the past and today.

“This is an opportunity to ask ourselves why, despite the huge contribution to improving the quality of the community, women are still underrepresented in the education system, in public discourse or in the collective memory. We have progressed on that path, but we have a lot of work to do to reach the desired goal,“ Vuković said.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Oana Cristina Popa, said that the EU recognizes the transformative power of culture and art.

“Our common goal must be a gender-equal world. We need a world in which women and men, girls and boys, each in their own diversity, are free to follow their own life paths, and to have equal opportunities to progress. Societies in which women are equal are stronger, not because women are better, but because we need both women and men for a fully-rounded society,“ Popa said.

UNDP Resident Representative for Montenegro, Daniela Gašparikova, stressed that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a driver of sustainable development.

“Today, we see only a fraction of the incredible female heritage and their contribution to the development of Montenegro. These women, just like other women around the world, were pioneers in the emancipation of their communities and paved the way for the realization of human rights for today's generation. By respecting and remembering women from the past, we encourage progressive women today, and strengthening their ability to emancipate their communities leads us to an equal future“, Gašparikova said.