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26.9 (Tuesday) | 9.30-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Work-life balance as a policy priority within Europe
26.9 (Tuesday) | 9.30-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Work-life balance as a policy priority within Europe
Dr. Miguel de la Corte-Rodríguez
Spanish social security auditor, affiliated senior researcher at KU Leuven
Dr. Miguel De la Corte-Rodríguez has been working as a Social Security Auditor for the Spanish Public Administration since 2005, where he has held several positions and responsibilities. Among them, he worked as a Deputy Social Counsellor for the Spanish Permanent Representation to the EU, he also worked as a Deputy Social Counsellor for the Spanish Embassy in Belgium. From 2017 to 2020 he was seconded to the Gender Equality Unit of the European Commission, where he dealt first hand with the preparation, negotiation and approval of the 2019 Directive on work-life balance. He is also an Affiliated Senior Researcher at the Institute for Social Law of KU Leuven, where he participates regularly as a guest lecturer.
Dr. Miguel De la Corte-Rodríguez will present the state of play about the implementation of the Work-Life Balance (WLB) Directive in EU Member States. He will give a short overview of the EU legislative framework on work-life balance before and after the adoption of the 2019 WLB Directive. He will also explain the highlights on the transposition of the WLB Directive.
His presentation (in english) is available HERE.
PhDr. Silvia Porubänová
sociologist and gender equality expert, Executive Director of Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
Until July 2020, she was the director of the Institute for Work and Family Research. She is the holder of the Gold Medal of the International Year of the Family and the UN Honorable Mention. She is also significantly involved in initiatives aimed at increasing the social and political participation of women and marginalized groups. She is the author, co-author and editor of many book publications in the field of human rights. She is well known for raising awareness of socially sensitive topics such as abortion, migration and the rights of LGBTIQ + communities. She was elected as as Executive Director of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights.
Her presentation (in slovak) is available HERE.
Tatjana Pladere, MSc, PhD.
Assistant Professor of the University of Latvia in Riga, member of the board of directors of the Association of Latvian Young Scientists
Tatjana Pladere is a researcher with a Ph.D. in Physics. During her doctoral studies, Tatjana actively engaged in several scientific projects, fostering successful collaborations between academia and industry. The result of this work was recognized by the Latvian Academy of Sciences as one of the most significant achievements in Applied Science
Currently, she serves as a board member of the Latvian Association of Young Researchers, an organization comprising over 300 members. This organization plays a pivotal role in shaping policies and pioneering new initiatives in Latvia, offering recommendations on various issues, including higher education reforms, novel financial models, academic career trajectories, and modernized Ph.D. study structures. Tatjana's mission within this organization is to promote equality, inclusivity, and a healthy work-life balance within the scientific community and academia.
Short summary of her contribution: Academic research careers face instability across many European nations, although the underlying causes differ. While an abundance of PhD graduates versus limited stable positions is an issue in several countries, in places like Latvia, limited funding makes even a professorship uncertain. This instability in academic careers can hinder economic growth. It fosters a competitive environment where the emphasis shifts from research integrity to merely achieving high citation counts. Moreover, the pressure to secure project funds, directly tied to one's livelihood, can stifle truly innovative endeavors. In response to these pressing challenges, many European nations are actively seeking remedies. I will provide a concise overview of the situation in Latvia, comparing its current system with a new one, and then juxtapose this with the guidelines proposed in the European Council Recommendation that establishes a new European framework for research careers.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 9.30-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Work-life balance as a policy priority within Europe
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION I: Work-life balance in research and academic professions | Discrimination of new female scientists - a case study
Anete Ilves, MA, PhD.
Lawyer, The Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia
Anete Ilves is an expert on equal treatment and non – discrimination. A. Ilves holds three master degrees and has 15 years of experience in legal field- from drafting European Union Regulations and national laws to preparing legal opinions and building cases for the Constitutional Court of Republic of Latvia.
Latvia has established a support program (individual research) for new scientists to promote the start of careers in science. Such program is very good initiative. The mentioned program is financed from the structural funds of the European Union. At the same time, Latvian institutions responsible for the use of structural funds – the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Latvian Council of Science – systematically put up obstacles so that female scientists cannot use pregrancy- related leave. Is this discrimination? If so, can it be prevented?
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION I: Work-life balance in research and academic professions | Gender equality in scientific and academic professions
PhDr. Kamila Koza Beňová, PhD.
Assistant Professor of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Arts, Department of Social Studies and Ethnology
Kamila Koza Beňová is a social anthropologist and works as an assistant professor at the UMB Faculty of Arts in Banská Bystrica, where she focuses her research and teaching on gender studies, as well as others, always including a feminist perspective as a priority. She was part of foreign/domestic projects, research/non-research gender focus (Gendera, GenPort), while primarily dealing with the field of "gender in science". Within the non-profit sector, she devoted herself to gender education of youth.
She will talk about science as a specific environment where multiple intersections of gender and gender equality meet. As a segment of the labor market, it is strongly characterized by precariousness and social inequalities, therefore it is possible to observe various gender inequalities, (indirect) discrimination based on sex and gender, barriers to career growth, or the problematic reconciliation of a scientific career and private life. However, science is also an environment that (re)produces knowledge, which gender develops and critically reflects within the scientific disciplines, and also conveys it to society as part of pedagogical activities, especially through young people. At the same time, the academic environment is largely determined by the current social situation, namely by the prevailing anti-gender discourse, supported by the ruling political power. In addition to professional literature, the paper will draw on the results of qualitative research with women working (not only) in decision-making positions in various Slovak scientific institutions.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION II: Work-life balance in research and academic professions | Discrimination of parents in employment relations
Mgr. Michaela Šinaľ
Anti-discrimination Lawyer, Public Defender of Rights in Czechia
Mgr. Michaela Šinaľ is a lawyer in the equal treatment section of the Office of the Public Defender of Rights of the Czech Republic, where she focuses primarily on the area of discrimination based on gender. Among the outputs of her work is a handbook on the right to equal treatment for parents in the labor market (Parenthood and discrimination in the workplace, 2022) and a follow-up research report in which the protector explored the experiences of women with young children in the workplace (Pregnancy and maternity in the workplace, 2023).
Mgr. Jakub Konečný
Head of Research, Public Defender of Rights in Czechia
Jakub Konečný preferes topics related to ethnicity and the medically disadvantaged and research focused on children at risk.
What will their contribution be about?
They will present the topic of parenthood, which often adversely affects women's working life in all its phases - from job offers and interviews, to returning after parental leave to remuneration or termination of employment. The Public Defender of Rights of the Czech Republic investigated the experiences of 1,300 Czech women who take care of at least 1 child under the age of 6. The research report summarizes the situations that mothers face in their working life. They will present the complaints of the Public Defender of Rights of the Czech Republic and a practical guide for parents.
Their presentation (in czech) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION II: Work-life balance in research and academic professions | Work-life balance in teaching professions
Mgr. Veronika Michvocíková, PhD.
Assistant Professor, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Faculty of Arts, Department of Education
Veronika Michvocíková is a member of the working group for the gender equality agenda at the Faculty of Arts of the UCM in Trnava. For a long time, she has been devoted to researching the undergraduate training of future teachers, as well as researching the attitudes and opinions of university students - future teachers on various aspects related to the teaching profession, as well as to current events in society.
doc. Mgr. Mariana Sirotová, PhD.
Dean, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Faculty of Arts, Department of Education
What will their contribution be about?
Contribution is of a theoretical-empirical nature. In the theoretical part, the importance of gender equality is defined, and the topicality of research into the issue is also emphasized. The empirical part contains the results of own empirical research, which was carried out in a quantitative way through a pre-prepared questionnaire. The goal of the questionnaire survey was to find out whether future teachers at secondary schools consider the reconciliation of family and work life to be realistic. Realization of the teaching profession is demanding, especially in terms of time, and therefore it is necessary to examine how future teachers perceive the given issue.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION II: Work-life balance in research and academic professions | Work-life balance in Slovakia
Mgr. Anna Máriássyová
Researcher, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
As sa researcher she deals with monitoring and researching of human rights fulfillment, with focus on rights of older persons and people with disabilities, right to education and media and social media monitoring.
Mgr. Michaela Ujházyová, PhD.
Head of Reserach, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
Michaela Ujházyová studied philosophy and defended her doctorate at the Department of Philosophy and History of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava. For many years, she has been dedicated to human rights education in formal education and in work with youth as a trainer and facilitator of education. At the Slovak National Center for Human Rights she is dedicated to research and monitoring of compliance with human rights obligations, namely the right to education, the right to housing, the right to work, gender equality and environmental rights. She is a member of the EQUINET Research and Data Collection, the ENNHRI Working Group on Climate Change and Human Rights, and the Coordinator of the GANNHRI Committee on Climate Change and Human Rights.
Mgr. Radka Vicenová, PhD.
Researcher, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
Radka Vicenová completed her PhD degree at the Department of Political Science at the Comenius University in Bratislava. As a member of the research team at the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, she works on analytical and research projects focused on the state of human rights in Slovakia. Her primary research focus is on contemporary far right and radical right, radicalization and hate speech.
What will their contribution be about?
The presentation deals with selected aspects of work-life balance in slovak context from the viewpoint of different stakeholders – women in vulnerable situation, representatives of employers and trade unions and a representative sample of population. It is focused mainly on right to work and flexible working conditions with emphasis on obstacles perceived by women and willingness of employers to create conditions for effective work-life balance. We also analyzed the employees´ perception of usefulness of work benefits and flexible working conditions and compared it with actually available benefits.
The presentation is an output of the publication Work-life balance as a human rights issue.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION III: Sexism at work, sexism in business | Gender discrimination in the workplace in the context of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU
JUDr. Viera Petrášová, PhD.
Association of Female Foresters
Viera Petrášová has been a lawyer since 2013. In her professional practice, she deals with anti-discrimination litigation. In the past, she worked as a researcher in projects managed by the European Commission, focusing on the transparency of EU law and the control of the implementation of EU directives into national law.
Discrimination based on gender in the workplace in the context of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU is currently quite topical, because the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic has also adopted several of its own decisions regarding the so-called procedural management of the dispute according to the Slovak Code of Civil Procedure. Anti-discrimination disputes can be justified by the substantive jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union, especially the last important judgment C-624/19 Tesco Stores, which concerns employment conditions in relation to the source of financing for job creation, but the jurisprudence regarding anti-discrimination claims as restitution claims also becomes decisive resulting claims in remuneration and compensation for non-property damage.
Her presentation is available in slovak language HERE and in english language HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION III: Sexism at work, sexism in business | Gender balance in governing functions in EU politics
JUDr. Mária Havelková, PhD.
Deputy Director, Institute of Clinical Legal Education, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava
Mária Havelková in her scientific work deals with the right to legal aid and gender equality in law and legal professions. She is the main researcher of the VEGA project no. 1-0455-21 Effective system of free legal aid in civil cases. In 2022, she received a Fulbright scholarship and completed a six-month research stay at the California Western School of Law.
Mgr. Magdaléna Musilová, PhD.,LL.M.
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava
In her research, she mainly focuses on the labor market, gender equality and finance. Since 2021, she has also been intensively devoted to the topic of sexual harassment in the workplace. She is the co-author of the publication "Workplace without sexual harassment - How to do it?".
What will their contribution be about?
In their contribution, they will talk about Directive no. 2022/2381 on improving the gender balance among managers of listed companies and related measures. This directive is the result of a decade-long effort by the EU to achieve equal opportunities and gender balance in the management bodies of private companies and a response to the growing differences between EU member states that have already adopted binding measures in this area in the past and those that successfully ignore the issue. The Slovak Republic belongs to the second mentioned group, and therefore it is not surprising that the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, which is responsible for the transposition of the Directive into the Slovak legal order, considers the adopted Directive to be disproportionate, even if in practice it will only affect minimum Slovak companies.
Their presentation (in slovak) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION III: Sexism at work, sexism in business | Gender and artificial intelligence
Mgr. et Mgr. Jana Novohradská
Consultant for the agenda of artificial intelligence and women in the digital age, Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatics of the Slovak Republic
Jana Novohradská is a policy consultant at the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatics of the Slovak Republic. She covers Artificial Intelligence and Women in Digital and serves as CAHAI’s Gender Equality Rapporteur at Council of Europe as well as Representative of the Slovak Republic at UNESCO Consultation on Recommendation on Ethical AI.
PhDr. Zuzana Draková, PhD.
Vice Dean for Gender Equality, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
Zuzana Draková previously worked as an ombudsman for gender equality at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, where she currently works as vice-dean for gender equality.
In her contribution she will address the topic of sexism as a phenomenon that cannot be removed from our society. We can say that sexism is discrimination based on gender. It has an adverse effect not only on the individuals directly affected, but also on society as a whole, as it leads to significant inequalities, discrimination and limits the potential of people based on their gender. It can manifest itself in different forms, from open expressions of hatred, through subtle and implicit prejudices to systemic inequalities, and can occur in different areas of life such as work, relationships, politics, culture or the media. In her contribution, she will summarize the results and findings of the implemented project on sexism in the helping professions.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 11.00 - 12.15 | SECTION III: Sexism at work, sexism in business | Focused on sexism in the helping professions
26.9 (Tuesday) | 13.30 - 14.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Cooperation in the promotion of gender equality in the field of work
Mgr. Zuzana Pavlíčková, LL.M.
Head of Policy and International Relations, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
Zuzana Pavlíčková leads Head of Policy and International Relations at the Slovak National Center for Human Rights. She is responsible for monitoring compliance with human rights, monitoring the compliance of national regulations and policies with international human rights standards, cooperation with key international organizations and actors at the national and international level. She is dedicated to the rights of LGBTI+ people, gender equality and diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is a member of the Committee for the Rights of LGBTI Persons of the Slovak Government Council for Human Rights, National Minorities and Gender Equality and several working groups of the European Network of National Anti-Discrimination Bodies Equinet (Policy Formation, Rainbow Families on the Move, Standards for Equality Bodies). Zuzana is a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the Comenius University in Bratislava and received a master's degree in International Law and European Public Law with a specialization in access to justice at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The contribution will present the mandate and roles of the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights in promoting gender equality and tackling discrimination on the ground of sex and gender. It will focus on concrete examples of cooperation of the national human rights institution and the national equality body with selected stakeholders from the public sector, civil society and the private sphere in this area. The examples presented will demonstrate how cooperation in the area of legal work and litigation, within monitoring, advocacy activities as well as in awareness raising and trainings for diverse target groups increase impacts and effectiveness of cooperating entities.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 13.30 - 14.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Cooperation in the promotion of gender equality in the field of work
MSc. Antra Boča, PhD.
Researcher at the University of Latvia in Riga, Assistant Professor of the University of Latvia in Riga, member of the board of directors of the Association of Latvian Young Scientists
Antra Boča is a post-doctoral researcher at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, the chair of the Latvian Association of Young Researchers, and a mother of two. Her academic research focuses on nutrient cycling in soils. During her studies and academic career, she have lived in 4 countries. This has shaped her passion for science policy and her desire to improve the work-life balance in academia.
In her contribution she will talk about her experience with Ombudsman of Latvia to ensure the right to maternity leave for the members of the Latvian Association of Young Researchers and other women.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 13.30 - 14.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Cooperation in the promotion of gender equality in the field of work
Mgr. Dalimila Solnická
Head of Labour Relations Department, State Labour Inspection Office of Czech Republic
Dalimila Solnická studied law and since 2010 has been working at the State Office of the Labor Inspectorate in Opava, where she deals with methodical and management activities in the area of employer inspections in the area of compliance with rights and obligations in labor relations. She is a member of the working group in the EU Equal Remuneration project (and in the previous project 22% TO EQUALITY). She reports on the activities of labor inspection bodies in the field of control of labor relations at educational events, seminars and conferences.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 13.30 - 14.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Cooperation in the promotion of gender equality in the field of work
Helle Ruusing
Communication Adviser, Office of the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner in Estonia
Helle Ruusing graduated from Tartu University with a degree in history and studied at the University of Bonn. She also has been Editor-in-Chief of social-political journal Riigikogu Toimetised.
Helle Ruusing will present the advocacy campaign WOBACA, whose aim was to raise awareness about the rights of people who provide care for children or parents, about the importance of a balance between personal and working life, and to break persistent gender stereotypes regarding, for example, the division of labor in the household. The project is specific in its use of various innovative and interactive tools, from videos for a wide audience to educational materials for high school students. An interesting aspect of this project was also the preparation of the campaign itself, which used methods of behavioral sciences and cooperation with various scientific institutions and the private sector.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
prof. AJP, dr hab. Aleksandra Szczerba
Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland/Jacob of Paradies University in Gorzów Wielkopolski
Aleksandra Szczerba specializes in EU Law and Anti-discrimination Law. Her research interests include the principle of gender equality, AFSJ and EU Internal Market. She is an author and co-editor of several books and articles published both in Polish and English.
Her contribution will analyze the way the Polish Ombudsperson contributed to the transposition of the work-life balance directive into Polish law. The analyses will take into account the scope of competences vested with the Commissioner and will be made through the prism of equality principle.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION I: Work-life balance | The role of equality bodies in the strengthening of the idea of work-life balance on the example of the involvement of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the process of implementation of Directive 2019/1158 in Poland
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION I: Work-life balance | Political Attitudes Preventing Family Policy Reform Towards Gender Equality in the Czech republic
Mgr. Lucie Novotná, MA
Researcher, Department of Social Policy and Social Work at Masaryk University in Brno
Lucie Novotná works as a researcher in the Czech Office of Public Defender of Rights and she is a doctoral candidate of Social Policy and Social Work at Masaryk University in the Czech republic. Her research focuses on discursive institutionalism, gender equality, family policies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Her academic work on relationship between freedom, gender equality and policy was published by Social Policy and Society journal.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION I: Work-life balance | Impact of gender division of family and household chores on professional lives of working women in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ivona Ražnatović, MA, PhD.
Communication and International Relations Advisor, The Institution of Human Rights Ombudsperson Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ivona Ražnatović has been an Expert advisor at the Human Rights Ombudsman Institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2018 in the field of International relations and communications. She is cooperating with the National institutions of human rights (NHRI) through the umbrella institutions such as GANHRI, ENNHRI, ENOC, EQUINET, IOI etc.
The variety of jobs she performed, and especially the work on certain legal and other related issues raised by practice, stimulated her interest in scientific work, especially in the field of education reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, protection of children's rights and ensuring the health care of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, protection of the rights of the parties in the administrative procedure and the silence of the administration and aspects of the protection of human rights and freedoms in the digital age. In order to ensure the practical and effective application of the Law on Freedom of Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on Combating Discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she participated in the development of methodologies, models and tools for monitoring and reporting regarding freedom of expression and freedom of access to information in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as in the improvement of the Rulebook on the method of collecting data on cases of discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She will discuss the importance of work-life balance and gender equality in the workplace. Her presentation will mention the challenges faced by vulnerable groups of employees, such as women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, migrants, and LGBTQ+ people. Ivona Ražnatović will also look at the right to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION II: Sexual Harassment | Case studies of resolved complaints
JUDr. Iva Palkovská, PhD.
Lawyer at the Department of Equal Treatment, Public Defender of Rights in Czechia
IIva Palkovská has been working for the Office of the Public Defender of Rights of the Czech Republic since 2015. She deals with the issue of bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace, and is also the co-author of the handbook on the prevention and solution of sexual harassment in the civil service. In addition, it deals with discrimination in work and employment in general, discrimination in access to health services and also the rights of migrant citizens of the European Union living in the Czech Republic.
She will focus on sexual harassment in the workplace, specifically what employers should do to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and, if necessary, to adequately address it. Cases that the Public Defender of Rights in Czechia has encountered in his practice will be presented, as well as the activities of the Public Defender in the field of prevention and resolution of sexual harassment.
Her presentation (in czech) is available HERE and in english HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION II: Sexual Harassment | Monitoring and advocacy activities for more effective prevention of sexual harassment
Anastasia Chalkia, MA, PhD.
Human Rights Advisor, The Greek National Commission of Human Rights
Anastasia Chalkia is a keen researcher and has participated as an expert in more than five research programmes on migrants and human rights, hate crime, organized crime and gender issues.
The Greek National Commission of Human Rights (GNCHR) as the Greek NHRI is an independent state-mandated body that plays a central role in bridging the gap not only between the State and Civil Society but also between the Country’s international commitments for the implementation of human rights and their real enjoyment in practice. Recognizing the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace, the GNCHR has actively contributed to international bodies and national authorities by providing specific inputs and reports. The GNCHR has presented recommendations to the State and has engaged with civil society through stakeholder hearings when necessary and open educational seminars on gender equality which independently and comprehensively addresses workplace sexual harassment. In this regard, a comprehensive understanding of sexual harassment in Greece is fostered, ultimately facilitating the implementation of more effective prevention measures.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION II: Sexual Harassment | Cases of sexual harassment in education
Mgr. Michal Horváth
Lecturer, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Trnava in Trnava. Among the areas of human rights that he deals with the most are mobbing, bullying at the workplace, bossing, non-discrimination, extremism, the safety of using social networks and cyberbullying.
Mgr. Veronika Michelčíková
Lawyer, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
Veronika Michelčíková - provides legal aid to the victims of discrimination as a lawyer at Slovak National Centre for Human Rights. In the present she mainly focuses on cases of sexual harassment. She is a member of working group for gender equality of European Network of Equality Bodies (EQUINET) and a member of working group for prevention against sexual exploitation and abuse of UNHCR. She cooperates on research of sexual harassment in employment relationships in health care sector.
What will their contribution be about?
They will explain what support primary and secondary school students have when dealing with cases of sexual harassment and how school principals approach these cases. At the same time, they will present cases of sexual harassment that the Centre has worked on.
Their presentation in slovak is available HERE and in english HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION II: Sexual Harassment | Military sexual harassment
JUDr. Mária Blehová
Legal Advisor, NATO Force Integration Unit Slovakia
The article discusses the approach of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic to the integration of the gender perspective within the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, which results both from the requirements of international law (including international organizations such as the UN and NATO), as well as from the legislation of the European Union, which are subsequently reflected in Act no. 281/2015 Coll. on the state service of professional soldiers and on the amendment and supplementation of some laws as amended and other internal regulations and procedures of the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic. She will present an overview of the results of research carried out by the Ministry of Defense in the field of sexual harassment, while critically evaluating the practical approach of the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic to this issue.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION III: Gender, intersectionality, and discrimination in employment | Intersectionality of gender identity and health disability
Mgr. Viera Hincová
Psychologist and Lecturer in the field of inclusion in education, A Centrum
Viera Hincová is a psychologist and lecturer, she has long been devoted to the issue of the rights of vulnerable groups, advocacy activities and self-defense for people on the autism spectrum. A personal experience with a transgender daughter led her to the issue of intersectionality. She lectured on the topic at the conference "Puzzles in child psychiatry in 2022" and at the conference "Interdisciplinary aspects of the position of transgender people in society".
The intersectionality of gender diversity and health disadvantage is a rarely discussed topic in Slovakia. Low awareness brings invisibility, trivialization and stigmatization of diverse identities, associated with pathologizing language. A specific example is the situation of people with neurodiversity and gender, relational or sexual diversity. The article aims to draw attention to the need to raise awareness in this area, with an emphasis on the role of self-advocacy and positive examples in the field of sensitization of the working environment.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION III: Gender, intersectionality, and discrimination in employment | Employment of LGBTIQ people in the public sector
Mgr. Karel Suda
Equal Treatment Lawyer, Public Defender of Rights in Czechia
Since 2017, he has been working as a lawyer in the equal treatment department of the Office of the Public Defender of Right. In his practice, he primarily deals with the issue of discrimination in healthcare and the rights of LGBTIQ+ people. He was significantly involved in the implementation of the research of the Public Defender 'Being LGBT+ in the Czech Republic', for which the Public Defender received the bePROUD award in the category of achievement of the year 2019. He currently studying history.
His contribution will be about the issue of employment of LGBTIQ+ people in the public sector in the Czech Republic. While the largest Czech private companies are actively involved in promoting LGBTIQ+ equality and diversity in the workplace, the public sector still lags behind the private sector. At the same time, he will tell us how the Public Defender of Rights in Czechia can be involved in promoting LGBTIQ+ equality and diversity in the workplace.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 16.00-17.00 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we (really) want to stop sexual harassment in the workplace?
Mgr. Veronika Valkovičová, PhD.
Social Scientist, Institute for Sociology SAS, Faculty of Education at Comenius University in Bratislava
Mgr. Veronika Valkovičová, PhD. is a researcher at the Institute for Sociology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, where she focuses on the topics of gender and sexuality in various areas, incl. within organizational studies. In the past, she worked on a national project of the Slovak Institute for Labour and Family Research dedicated to the prevention and elimination of gender discrimination (2018-2023), where she led the stream dedicated to sexual harassment at the workplace and in the academic environment. Her dissertation defended within the joint doctoral programme of the Comenius University in Bratislava and the University of Antwerp (in 2019) was devoted to Slovak public policies addressing gender-based violence. She is an editorial board member of the international European Journal of Politics and Gender. She also devotes her time to teaching at the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Comenius University in Bratislava, where he teaches courses such as Introduction to Gender Studies and Basics of Sex Education.
What will her contribution be about? Professional literature provides a comprehensive picture of prevention and elimination tools in organizations such as universities. From education, through reporting tools, to the code of ethics, which is the bearer of values and standards in the organization. This is precisely why the code of ethics has the potential to influence the formation of organizational culture and thus contribute to sexual harassment ceasing to be a normalized practice in specific organizations. For this reason, the inclusion of the prohibition of sexual harassment in the code of ethics is one of the requirements of the gender equality plans, which is also required by the Horizon Europe grant scheme.
Sexual harassment has been prohibited by the anti-discrimination law in Slovak universities for more than a decade, but many universities are introducing tools for the prevention and elimination of sexual harassment only today under the pressure of this grant call. Current foreign research points out that the structure of academic work and organizational culture appear to be a key factor in the prevention of sexual harassment.
Her presentation (in slovak) is available HERE.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 14.30-15.45 | SECTION III: Gender, intersectionality, and discrimination in employment | How old are you? Experiences of women with discrimination at work in older age
Mgr. Michaela Ujházyová, PhD.
Head of Research, Slovak National Centre for Human Rights
In her second contribution, she will present the research that was carried out as part of the project The Mainstreaming Work Life Balance and Gender Equality at Workplace in Slovakia in 2022. Qualitative research on the experiences of women over 50 with less favorable treatment at work looked at what situations women perceive as discriminatory, when according to them the reason is that they are women and in what period age also comes into play, how family and gender stereotypes are related to it and what they would need to feel less injustice at work. In the contribution, she will present basic observations and recommendations for changes in internal employment policies.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 16.00-17.00 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we (really) want to stop sexual harassment in the workplace?
Mgr. Andrea Fábiková, PhD.
Scientific Research Worker, Centre for Gender Studies, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava
Andrea Fábiková works at the Center for Gender Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava. As a member of the Equal4Europe project team, she participates in the implementation of the UK Gender Equality Plan and in the creation of supporting tools. As part of the working group, she collaborated on designing a system for reporting cases of sexual harassment at the University of Warsaw. He is currently one of the UK's confidential persons for cases of sexual harassment.
Mgr. Tamara Čipková, PhD.
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava
Tamara Čipková is an assistant professor and also acts as a confidential person of the Comenius University for cases of sexual harassment. In her scientific and pedagogical practice, she mainly deals with current issues of civil and family law. Currently, among other projects, she participates in solving the VEGA grant task focused on the position of transgender people in society.
What will their contribution be about?
In October 2022, Comenius University in Bratislava adopted the Directive of the Rector of Comenius University on dealing with cases of sexual harassment at Comenius University. This directive contains the definition of sexual harassment, specifies the mechanisms for reporting cases of sexual harassment and establishes the function of confidential persons at the Comenius University. What specific measures for the prevention and solution of sexual harassment have been implemented at Comenius University over the past year, what effect did they have, and what do we still have room for? Confidential persons of the Comenius University for cases of sexual harassment will talk about it.
Their presentation (in slovak) is available HERE.
Inofrmation about sexual harassement is on the UNIBA webpage.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 16.00-17.00 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we (really) want to stop sexual harassment in the workplace?
JUDr. Eva Janovičová
Defender of Rights at Masaryk University in Brno
Eva Janovičová graduated from the Faculty of Law in Olomouc, JUDr. obtained at Masaryk University in Brno. Before taking the position of human rights defender, she worked in the Czech and Slovak Republic for fourteen years in the legal profession, during which she mainly dealt with business, civil and labor law.
Since April 1, 2023, she has been working in the newly established position of human rights defender (ombudsman) at Masaryk University in Brno, and at the same time she became the head of the university-wide human rights protection department at this university.
Masaryk University in Brno developed the Sexual Harassment Methodology, which regulates the procedures for receiving reports of sexual harassment, and also introduced a network of so-called contact persons who are trained to primarily receive such notifications. The human rights defender of Masaryk University subsequently becomes the investigator of such notifications.
26.9 (Tuesday) | 16.00-17.00 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we (really) want to stop sexual harassment in the workplace?
Ing. Oľga Pietruchová, MA
national expert on gender-based violence, UNHCR
Oľga Pietruchová holds a Master of Arts in Women's Studies & Feminist Research from Rose Mayreder College in Vienna, Austria. She is an author or co-author of several publications and studies on gender equality and equal opportunities. During her career she worked as a consultant and trainer for national and international organisations such as UNDP, Oxfam and the European Commission.
She is a former Director of the Department of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family of the Slovak Republic and former vice-chairwoman of the Management Board member of the European Institute for Gender Equality In 2021 and 2022 she worked as a Human Rights Officer at the Ministry of Justice, where she was responsible for protection of survivors of domestic violence. Since October 2022, she works at UNHCR office in Bratislava as a national expert on gender-based violence (GBV).
The contribution will be devoted to the prevention and suppression of sexual harassment in the practice of the UN organization. She will talk about the policy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and measures taken to prevent sexual harassment both towards internal staff and towards male and female refugees. She will also mention how reporting mechanisms work and support for people who have faced harassment.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 09.00-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Has the European labor market learned to be fairer to all women?
Mgr. Monika Uhlerová, PhD.
President, The Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic
Monika Uhlerová is the president of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic from June 2022, until then she was its vice-president for six years. At the same time, she is the vice-president of the Economic and Social Council of the Slovak Republic. She studied political science at the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations of the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica and completed her doctoral studies in the field of political theory at the Department of Political Science of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Comenius University in Bratislava. She carried out several foreign study and scientific-research stays focused on the issues of the trade union movement and social dialogue in Europe and the world. She is the solver of several scientific research and educational projects, the author of dozens of scientific and professional publications and studies focused on the issue of interest and pressure groups with an emphasis on the trade union movement, the field of social policy and social dialogue. Until 2018, she worked as an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica.
In her contribution, Institutional barriers and legislative options for solving the gender wage gap in Europe and Slovakia, she will focus on the causes of the gender wage gap, what are the legislative options coming mainly from the European level and initiatives, as well as other options for dealing with the wage gap through worklife balance tools, such as domestic work or shortening working hours.
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27.9 (Wednesday) | 09.00-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Has the European labor market learned to be fairer to all women?
Mgr. Nikoleta Slavíková
Employment Coordinator at,Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities
Nikoleta Slavíková works as Employment Coordinator within the scope of the concept and analysis department. Úrad splnomocnenca vlády SR pre rómske komunity, Úradu vlády SR koordinuje a implementuje opatrenia na zlepšenie životných podmienok Rómok a Rómov.
Mgr. Mikuláš Lakatoš
Health Coordinator, Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities
Mikuláš Lakatoš works as Health Coordinator. Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities coordinates and implements measures to improve the living conditions of Roma.
What will their contribution be about?
As stated by the European Commission, Roma people remain one of the most vulnerable minorities in terms of access to employment, education, health care and housing. One of the reasons for vulnerability is discrimination, which deepens in the context of gender roles. Discrimination based on sex, gender and ethnicity is a significant factor contributing to disparities in employment. The aim of the contribution is the presentation of selected indicators from the EU SILC MRK 2020 survey, in the context of gender differences in the field of work and examples of good practice in the field of employment of Roma women. Measures to support gender equality are essential for improving the working situation of Roma women.
Their presentation (in english) is available HERE.
Strategy of equality, inclusion and participation of Roma until 2030 is available HERE.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 09.00-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Has the European labor market learned to be fairer to all women?
Saša Uhlová
Investigative Journalist, online newspaper Alarm
She studied romology at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. After her studies, she supported herself by doing anthropological field research in socially excluded locations. For four years she taught at the Roma social secondary school in Cologne.
In her journalistic work, she focuses mainly on reports with engaged topics (e.g. education, foreclosure or usury). In the 2015 Journalist Award competition, she received an Honorable Mention.
Among other things, the position of women on the labor market is influenced by the industry in which they work. In an environment where people work for minimum wage or even less, women often do the least well-paid jobs that men often wouldn't even do. Gender inequality also has the opposite effect: work that is perceived as feminine is automatically less valued than work that society perceives as masculine. At the same time, it is not always true that "women's" work is automatically less physically demanding than "men's". Thus, it is much easier for women to get into positions that can without exaggeration be described as modern-day slavery.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 09.00-10.30 | PANEL DISCUSSION: Has the European labor market learned to be fairer to all women?
Frohar Poya
Research and Outreach Lead, European Network of Migrant Women
Frohar Poya is an experienced migration researcher and oral historian. I have led numbers of different research projects in the UK, and worked as freelance Community Oral History Trainer. I have worked with women experiencing domestic violence in the UK and as international gender research officer in Afghanistan. As Freelancer I have developed training tool-kits on the Rights of women for the use of NGOs in Afghanistan. Currently I work as project officer for the European Network of Migrant Women. I am part of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Asylum and Integration. My expert areas are research, and capacity building in the field of Refugee and Migration. I have Masters in Cross-Cultural Psychology and Community Oral History.
In her presentation Situation of migrant women at the workplace in EU she will talk about the challenges faced by women migrating to the EU from third countries.
Her presentation (in english) is available HERE.
Video (Mums at work) is available at YOUTUBE.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 10.45-12.00 | Utilizing the potential of gender equality plans and gender audits | Findings from the implementation of the UCM gender equality plan
doc. Mgr. Ildikó Matušíková, PhD.
Vice-Rector for Science and Research, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
Ildikó Matušíková is associate professor of molecular biology, vice-rector for science and research at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava and a member of the UCM Commission for Gender Equality.
The University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava has been implementing its gender equality plan since April 2022 through the activities of the Gender Equality Commission and Gender Equality Ombudspersons in every part of the university. A questionnaire was conducted in January 2023, with 717 respondents, evaluating their awareness of gender equality and experiences of violations. Key findings and their impact on implementation on the 2022-2025 Gender Equality Action Plan will be presented.
Her presentation is available in slovak language HERE and in english langauge HERE.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 10.45-12.00 | Utilizing the potential of gender equality plans and gender audits | A case study of a gender audit
doc. PhDr. Gabriel Bianchi, PhD.
Deputy Director, Institute for Research in Social Communication SAS
Gabriel Bianchi sa tri desaťročia venuje výskumu sexuality, sexuálneho zdravia, rodu, občianskej participácii a deliberatívnej demokracii, ako aj ontologickým a epistemologickým otázkam psychológie. Bol a je riešiteľom početných výskumných projektov s medzinárodnou účasťou. Publikoval v ostatnej dobe dve vedecké monografie v renomovaných zahraničných vydavateľstvách: Sexuality: From Intimacy to Politics With Focus on Slovakia (2020) a Figurations of Human Subjectivity (2022).
Mgr. Zuzana Očenášová, PhD.
Scientific Worker, Institute for Research in Social Communication SAS
Zuzana Očenášová works as a researcher at the Social Communication Research Institute of the SAS. She researches the topics of gender equality and gender-based violence. She participates in the H2020 ATHENA project related to the gender equality plan in the SAS.
What will their contribution be about?
The contribution will focus on the gender equality plan, which is a comprehensive tool for its enforcement. Before its preparation, it is important to carry out a gender audit, which will point out problem areas in the institution. It is mainly based on available information systems on gender composition at individual levels of functioning and management. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used as part of the gender audit at SAS - an online questionnaire filled out by 396 people, focus groups with the participation of 26 people and 15 individual interviews.
27.9 (Wednesday) | 10.45-12.00 | Utilizing the potential of gender equality plans and gender audits | Comprehensive solutions for sustainable change
Mgr. Michaela Jankovičová
Gender Expert, RISOTO
Michaela Jankovičová is the co-founder of the organization RISOTO. The RISOTO organization helps companies and organizations in the private and public sector to create a working environment that brings the values of inclusion, respect and equality to the workplace. RISOTO carries out gender audits, provides companies and organizations with tailor-made trainings and consultations. Michaela was also part of the national project Gender equality in the workplace.