At the University of Novi Sad, students organized three public forums. The activities were realized within the project University and gender mainstreaming (UNIGEM), and on the occasion of the campaign “16 days of activism”.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the EU Info Point Novi Sad (EU Delegation Information Corner in Novi Sad) and the University of Novi Sad organized the first panel discussion entitled “Gender-Based Violence and Youth”. The forum was held in the amphitheater of the University Rectorate, on Thursday, November 25, 2021, starting at 7 p.m. The event could be followed online via a live stream on the EU info point Facebook page. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, November 25, as well as the start of the “16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women” campaign are an occasion to remind the general public that gender-based violence is the use of any form of violence (physical, psychological, sexual). to a person only because of a certain gender, and it is necessary to define gender-based violence as a special form of violence.

Participants in the forum: Dr. Nada Padejski Šekerović, Safe Women’s House, Novi Sad; Sanja Pavlović, Autonomous Women’s Center, Belgrade; and Jelena Mirić, activist and student at the University of Novi Sad. The participation of the representative of the “Women’s Initiative”, student Jelena Miric, in this forum was of multiple importance, because she was re-presented and promoted the work of the “Women’s Initiative” at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad. She applied with the idea to make everyday life and studying easier for her colleagues, and she received support. Thus, the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad is the first in Serbia to have free inserts in the toilets of the faculty.

The Safe Women’s House, as an organizational unit of the Center for Social Work of the City of Novi Sad, held the second forum, which is being held with the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in the Republic of Serbia. Students of the Study Program Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad are under the mentorship of doc. Dr. Karolina Lendak-Kabok actively participated in the last part of the forum, which was dedicated to the discussion of students with lecturers.

Nevena Cvijanović, student of the study program Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, under the mentorship of the UNIGEM project coordinator, doc. Dr. Karolina Lendak-Kabok held a workshop on December 8 in online format, on the topic: “Obstetric violence – Why do not I want another child?” Despite the great improvement in the world, women still face various types of violence . One of them, about which very little is said, is obstetric violence. This workshop aimed to bring students closer to the goal of the state of maternity hospitals in Serbia, as well as the position of future mothers before and during childbirth. Most of the talk was about the medicalization of childbirth. The aim of this workshop was to explain and bring closer to colleagues this very important topic. In addition, the issue of privilege and socio-economic status was mentioned, ie the workshop aimed to answer the question of mothers: Who does not want another child and why? Also, the workshop presented examples of women who have experienced obstetric violence, and encouraged discussion on this topic with all participants in the workshop. At the very end, the participants of the workshop discussed possible solutions from the aspect of social work and ways that could help future mothers.