Conferences to Discuss Women's Rights

Between 1924 and 1929, several conferences were held in different cities: Belgrade (1924), Athens (1925), Prague (1927), and Warsaw (1929). These meetings were organized to track progress on women’s issues in the countries that were part of the Little Entente of Women. The conferences encouraged countries to work together on various topics, such as:

Equal voting rights for women

Protecting children and minorities

Improving the rights of children born outside of marriage

Abolishing the death penalty

Teaching about civilization instead of war in history lessons

Prominent leaders in the Little Entente of Women included Alexandrina Cantacuzino from Romania, Petkovitch from Serbia, Avra Theodoropoulou from Greece, and Justyna Budziiiska-Tylicka from Poland.

Challenging Stereotypes About Women’s Movements in the Balkans

The activities of these women show that there was real progress in women’s rights in the Balkans, despite common beliefs that these regions had little to no change in women’s conditions. Eric Hobsbawm once wrote that in many parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, women’s rights were not improving. However, the work done by women in the Balkans contradicts this view Adventure Balkan Tours.

While the upper and middle classes in Southeastern Europe were smaller compared to the West, they still produced a significant number of women who became active in areas that were once only for men. These women were able to make an impact, and many became well-known leaders in their communities.

Notable Women Activists in the Balkans

There were many important women activists in the Balkans who made a difference. Some of these women include:

Vela Blagoeva, Anna Karima, Dimitrana Ivanova, and Elissaveta Karamichailova from Bulgaria

Callirhoe Parren and Avra Theodoropoulou from Greece

Calypso Botez and Alexandrina Cantacuzino from Romania

Fatma Aliye Hanum and Halide Edip Adivar from Turkey

Dragojla Jarnevic and Maria Juric-Zagorka from Croatia

Draga Dejanovic and Isidora Sekulic from Serbia

These women played key roles in advancing women’s rights and helped change the course of history in their countries.