Europe House marks International Women’s Day highlighting intergenerational challenges of women

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Europe House organised an event bringing together representatives of different generations to discuss the challenges women face in the economy and society. The programme included a panel discussion, a workshop with high school students and an exhibition, all focusing on the intergenerational dimension of women’s experiences and on the importance of continued efforts to advance gender equality in support of inclusive growth, economic development and the European integration of the country.

Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the students during the workshop which aimed to enable the younger generations to explore the evolution of women’s economic roles across generations. “For the European Union, gender equality is a core priority. We are working to ensure that women have equal access to economic opportunities and leadership roles - we invest in entrepreneurship, digital skills and fair play, across the EU and in BiH. It is a pleasure to listen and learn from young minds - future leaders, engineers, decision makers and support their voices. They are the future of this country and it is very important to include them in the discussions on achieving gender equality. Tangible change happens when young people act and challenge stereotypes, demand fairness and support each other. Achieving gender equality is a struggle we all face and all of us need to contribute in this joint effort. Contributing to making our society more equal makes it more successful and progressive as a whole,” underlined Babajide.

The panel discussion brought together speakers representing three generations who shared their professional and personal experiences related to women’s participation in the labour market. From young entrepreneurs to business managers and retired professionals who are still actively supporting female empowerment in the workforce, the discussion focused on intergenerational economic vulnerability women face as well as best practices witnessed throughout the European Union.

As the unifying artistic segment of the activity, the exhibition “Our Woman” was presented in Europe House as well, allowing the audience an opportunity to explore women’s presence, agency and legacy throughout the last century in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The exhibition, presented in cooperation with the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN WOMEN and IOM powerfully frames women’s experience as a space of social change, political exclusion and quiet, but persistent resistance. The exhibition will remain open to visitors at Europe House until 31 March 2026.