We believe women's time has finally come. Women are more and more involved in the economy and enterprise, politics and diplomacy, becoming more and more prominent, Caroline Spivak, founder of the Croatian Women's Network, said at the conference organised ahead of International Women's Day.
It is important that women encourage each other and enter social spheres in order to effect change, she said, adding that women should be encouraged in all areas of work.
Research shows that there are not enough women in top positions, she said, adding that hiring more women is the main component of stepping up economic growth.
Although more and more women start their own business, in Croatia they own only 26% of companies and 33% of craft businesses, Spivak said, adding that women still have a lot to do on the road to equality and success.
Delfa Kosic, a representative of the Austrian People's Party in the Salzburg Municipal Council, said Austria's new government had many women ministers and that 39% of MPs were women, about 20% more than in Croatia.
Liliana Canadic, chief executive officer for health and welfare services in the government of Canada's Northwest Territories, who was born in Osijek, warned about racism, discrimination and violence against immigrants and women.
She said she was probably among the 5% of first generation immigrant women who made a career in Canada with a Croatian education.
Sonja Breljak, a journalist from Berlin and an employee of the German office for migration and refugees, said it was possible to succeed even after having refugee status.
The Croatian Women's Network was founded six years ago and has 500 members from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatian expat communities. Its aim is to connect eminent women so they can create projects and movements together.
Over the past five years, they presented 117 Influential Croatian Women and Future Leaders awards.