International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the progress achieved on women’s rights and gender equality, while also drawing attention to the work that still needs to be done.
More than 100 years since the first International Women’s Day, the fight for gender equality has not been won – and has even encountered greater challenges and pushbacks in recent years. That has made it all the more important to have champions of the cause who are willing to speak out and take action to ensure the global movement continues forward.
In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, UNFPA is proud to have worked with and supported so many inspiring women who are finding different ways to make our region and the world more equal, safe and inclusive for everyone.
Leading by example
Anita Kovacic, Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo CEO
Photo of woman with blonde hair in a black business suit sitting at her office desk, smiling at the camera. On the left in text highlighted in white reads her quote: "International Women's Day is a great reminder to celebrate women's vital role in society and at the workplace"
Anita Kovacic’s title as the Chief Executive Officer of Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, the biggest financial institution in Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), is already impressive. But her determination to instill a culture of equality and empowerment for women could create a lasting impact beyond her company.
Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo has been a Champion Company in UNFPA’s Expanding Choices programme, promoting gender-responsive family policies that encourage a more equal distribution of household duties so that women can fulfil their career, family and fertility aspirations.
Under Ms. Kovacic’s leadership, Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo has adopted family-friendly workplace policies, such as flexible and hybrid work arrangements, carers’ leave, special benefits for mothers, subsidized health insurance for employee children, and higher leave day allowances than are required by law. “My commitment to these policies comes from a desire to create a workplace where all employees can thrive both personally and professionally,” said Ms. Kovacic.
Women often shoulder the majority of unpaid care work at home, affording them less time to focus on their career development and ambitions. Kosovo, in particular, has the lowest rate of female labour force participation in Europe at just under 20 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund. The biggest reason women cite for not seeking employment is family responsibilities, especially childcare.
This gender gap is even more pronounced in the finance sector. In 2023, women occupied only 18 per cent of the executive roles globally. However, out of roughly 1,000 employees at Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, more than half are female, and 50 per cent of the Managing Board are women.
Ms. Kovacic has already seen the difference gender-responsive family policies can make in her own life. She previously worked for Raiffeisen Bank in Vienna, which had introduced similar measures decades earlier. She said that changed her approach to work: “In my perspective, these policies are the foundation for managing talent and diverse challenges our employees face, fostering empathy and understanding that influence my leadership style and decision-making process.”
Family-friendly workplaces offer employees a way to better balance their obligations and opportunities at home and the workplace. Companies can draw from a larger talent pool with lower turnover rates, while bolstering their reputation as industry leaders. Ultimately, society as a whole can benefit from a population that is more satisfied, productive and equal, leading to greater prosperity for all.
No one left behind
Lyazzat Kaltayeva, Shyrak (Association of Women with Disabilities) Chairperson
Photo of a woman with short auburn hair in a blue suit jacket speaking into a media microphone. On the left highlighted in white text reads her quote: "if we are satisfied with our achievements and stop fighting for our rights, we will go back very quickly. That’s why I say: don’t stop, keep fighting!"
Lyazzat Kaltayeva grew up surrounded by strong women who were in command of their own lives and respected by their community. She was determined to be the same – even after a car accident at the age of seven left her unable to walk.
But she discovered that her status as a woman with disabilities often left her overlooked and marginalized in society. This gave her even more motivation to not only fight for her equal rights but also ensure that no one else would be left behind.
Ms. Kaltayeva helped found and later became the head of Shyrak (Association of Women with Disabilities). Together with UNFPA, the organization worked to understand the needs of women with disabilities for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services – something that had never been done before in Kazakhstan.
Women and girls with disabilities are especially vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. A global study from UNFPA revealed that girls and young women with disabilities are up to 10 times more likely to face gender-based violence than those without disabilities. Girls with intellectual disabilities are the most vulnerable to sexual violence. The information and response services available often do not cover the full range of needs, such as hearing, vision, mobility and intellectual disabilities.
In response, Ms. Kaltayeva led a charge by UNFPA and Shyrak to create accessible educational materials about gender-based violence and its consequences in formats including Braille, audio files, videos with sign language interpretation in Kazakh and Russian, as well as in “easy-to-read” formats for people with intellectual disabilities. This finally opened up channels for survivors with disabilities to understand their rights and choices and the services available to support them.
But her work did not stop there. Ms. Kaltayeva took the leap into politics, becoming the first person with disabilities to be elected as a deputy in Kazakhstan’s Senate. Using her political influence, Ms. Kaltayeva pushed for greater protections against discrimination and violence, including for women and girls with disabilities.
Incidents of rape and sexual violence, which were once categorized as moderate offences, have now been reclassified as major crimes. Last year, a new domestic violence law was enacted, nicknamed “Saltanat’s Law” after Saltanat Nukenova, a young woman who was killed by her husband in a case that made national headlines. The law reimposes criminal penalties for “battery” and “intentional infliction of light bodily harm,” which had previously been decriminalized.
Reflecting on all that she had achieved through her career in activism and politics, Ms. Kaltayeva said she is proud of her work but now is not the time to sit back and relax: “We live in a time of change. Unfortunately, not all these changes make us more free, confident and happy. This makes me feel that if we are satisfied with our achievements and if we stop fighting for our rights, we will go back very fast. That’s why I say: don’t stop, keep fighting.”
Nothing shameful. Period.
İlayda Eskitaşçıoğlu Karavelioğlu, Konusmamız Gerek (We Need to Talk) Co-founder
A young woman with long dark brown hair and a black business suit sits in a white armchair, holding a microphone, smiling. On the right is text highlighted in white reading her quote: "I fight for gender equality because I owe it to my sisters who do not have the privilege to have access to these spaces to speak out and be heard."
We Need to Talk. That is the name of the organization co-founded by İlayda Eskitaşçıoğlu Karavelioğlu, which is the first in Türkiye dedicated to fighting period poverty and menstruation stigma. It is also Ms. Eskitaşçıoğlu’s call to action for how to tackle these major barriers standing in the way of women and girls’ equality.
Period poverty refers to the inability to afford or access the products, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and information a person needs to care for themselves while menstruating. It can have far-reaching consequences for gender equality. Not having a safe private toilet or being unable to buy sanitary pads can lead to health risks and also keep girls away from school and women away from work during their period. On top of that, it increases the obstacles for women and girls to participate in social activities and public life.
As a UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, Ms. Eskitaşçıoğlu often partners and supports UNFPA’s activities in Türkiye. She advocate for enhanced accessibility, quality, and sustainability of menstrual products, especially those from vulnerable communities. Her “We Need to Talk” organization has reached more than 50,000 people across Türkiye, including seasonal agricultural workers, refugee women, young people in rural villages, as well as survivors of the 2023 earthquakes on the Türkiye-Syria border. “Menstrual experiences are invisibilized and not thought of in disaster contexts,” she lamented. “It is not thought of as an urgent need, as if our bodies stop all of a sudden menstruating in a disaster context.”
The heart of Eskitaşçıoğlu’s work is confronting the stigmas, misconceptions and harmful social norms that continue to frame menstruation – a natural and healthy process that around 2 billion people around the world experience every month – as something dirty, shameful or embarrassing.
She pointed to the way people talk about – or rather avoid talking about – periods by using euphemisms (“My aunt Flow is visiting,” for example). “It should be okay to say directly that you are on your period in a professional environment, in your university, or in your family. Of course, we are careful and considerate of the socio-cultural context that people are in…but we're trying to change the stigma that we built into the language.”
Talking openly about menstruation should not stop with only women and girls. Ms. Eskitaşçıoğlu says boys and men should be included in comprehensive sexuality education so that they understand their own bodies and those of others. “Involving them into the conversation helps us to deconstruct and reconstruct the idea of menstruation,” said Ms. Eskitaşçıoğlu.
She knows that breaking down entrenched mindsets will take time, and even encourages her fellow advocates not to get too frustrated or exhausted by the marathon fight for equality. But she believes that with steady progress, there will come a future where no child feels alone or ashamed when they have their first period, and where access to menstrual care is seen and accepted as a human right.
Giving voice and visibility
Zaruhi Batoyan, Armenian Member of Parliament
A woman with light brown hair wearing a light pink blazer over a white shirt sits in a motorized wheelchair. She is outdoors, on the steps of a historic building, looking down at the camera with a neutral expression. On the right in text highlighted in white reads her quote: "I believe that gender equality is a vital component of both democracy and peace, something our world needs now more than ever.”
Before Zaruhi Batoyan took the initiative, few people in power had ever considered the accessibility and availability of sexual and reproductive health services for women with disabilities in Armenia. But in 2014, she led a study that started a conversation for the first time within government and medical institutions about how to make healthcare more equal and inclusive for women.
People with disabilities face significant stigma, discrimination, communication barriers and social isolation that prevent them from accessing information and services related to their own health. Girls and young women with disabilities, in particular, have the lowest levels of sexual and reproductive health information and education, with one study estimating 20 per cent of women with disabilities have never used any sexual and reproductive health service.
UNFPA has worked alongside Ms. Batoyan in raising awareness about the needs of women and young people with disabilities, pushing for protections of their bodily autonomy, and empowering them to make informed choices about their bodies and lives.
In 2018, Ms. Batoyan got a chance to bring her advocacy to the national stage when she was appointed Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia. The following year, she rose to become the Minister and spearheaded multiple legislative initiatives on women’s sexual and reproductive health, including an amendment, developed with support from UNFPA, to the law “On medical care and servicing of the population.” This draft law aims to promote patient-centered healthcare, ensuring access to medical services for survivors of sexual violence.
In 2021, she was elected as a member of Armenia’s National Assembly and has continued to push measures to improve the health and protection of women and girls. Her lobbying efforts led to sexual harassment in the workplace being officially banned in Armenia’s Labour Code.
“I believe that gender equality is a vital component of both democracy and peace, something our world needs now more than ever,” said Ms. Batoyan. “We are still far from the desired reality, but it is important that the processes leading to these dreams are inclusive, involving diverse women and girls, persons with disabilities, representatives of national minorities, and other groups whose visibility, unfortunately, remains insufficient.”
Knowledge is power – and health
Dr. Natalia Silina, Gynaecologist-Endocrinologist
Woman with auburn wavy hair wearing horn-rimmed glasses on a chain and a black blazer with a heavily layered bright orange beaded necklace. She is standing in front of a black background with her arms crossed and a closed smile. On the left in text highlighted in white reads her quote: "Let’s keep going on this route that is transforming our society to be healthier, safer and more nourishing, where every life – and their quality of life – matters!"
As a gynaecologist-endocrinologist in Ukraine for almost two decades, Dr. Natalia Silina estimates she has treated tens of thousands of women in her daily practice. But she became concerned about the types of questions she was being asked: “My patients either did not understand what was happening in the female body at all, or had serious gaps in their knowledge.”
In order to raise awareness and give women a stronger foundation to understand their own bodies, emotions and lives, Dr. Silina founded her “School of Women’s Health”. Through online courses and videos, she teaches the basics and intricacies of sexual and reproductive health, covering every phase of a woman’s life from their first period, puberty and sex, all the way to pregnancy, post-partum and menopause. Her school also teaches women how to access free services in Ukraine, the importance of preventive care, and new advances in women’s health.
Her YouTube channel has attracted more than 120,000 subscribers and 14 million views since it was launched. She also partnered with UNFPA on a series of tutorials about sexual and reproductive health, including common myths about contraception and frequently asked questions about family planning.
Dr. Silina sees sexuality education as a stepping stone toward greater gender equality. Teaching people, especially youth, about the mental, physical, sexual and reproductive development that each gender goes through highlights their similarities and creates empathy for the differences: “When boys and girls are being raised in the awareness of what is happening with their bodies, they start to understand the fact that they are going through the same processes and they are equal.”
Some of the topics Dr. Silina addresses are considered taboo or embarrassing, but she believes it is even more important to not to shy away from these moments. Offering women approachable and evidence-based information on these under-discussed subjects can have a major impact on their futures. “Proper choices can be made when we have proper knowledge,” she said. “And I’m keen to provide this knowledge to our community.”
By sharing knowledge and experiences between women and across generations, Dr. Silina hopes women will not only improve their physical health, but feel empowered to fully realize their rights to a happy and fulfilling life at every age.