At the regional conference, "Challenges faced by women and girls in the region on the way to the EU - Loudly and courageously we move the borders" which is being held today for the second day in Skopje, organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy with the support of UN WOMEN, participants from the region and beyond gave an overview of the current situation with gender equality, and where we all need to work even more.

The Minister of Digitization of the Republic of Slovenia, Emilia Stojmenova Duh, referred to her path during her studies, and her entry into science and engineering.

I worked in environments that were considered a male domain. I was the first woman in the Department of Information Technology. What is a challenge for me is increasing the number of young girls who will study and work in the field of science, in the field of engineering. My efforts in the field I work in have resulted in many new experiences and many new successes. I must say that the successes are proportional to the invested effort. In Slovenia, the "Engineer of the Year" event is held and I am glad that it is an opportunity for women to present themselves, because it is not only the success that is seen, but the focus is on their potential, that they are doing something that makes sense for the society. They are an inspiration to all young women engineers. Our fight for equality goes further. Against tyranny, against humiliation, achievements, against spiritual, physical and physical violence, Stojmenova Duh said.

The Minister of Information Society and Administration, Azir Aliu emphasized that the participation of women in the public life of a country, apart from being a legal and constitutional right, is also a necessity.

By including women in technology we get more ideas and more creativity. The Ministry strongly advocates the application of digital transformation as an opportunity to involve more women in entrepreneurship, to create services, so that women have the same opportunities as men, to encourage them to have equal communication with the institutions, Aliu said.

Hristina Spasevska, vice-rector of teaching at UKIM, emphasized that the role of women and gender balance is not only a challenge here, but also in the region.

Especially for overcoming this challenge is not only quality education, but also the acquisition of students' skills with a special focus on IT skills. Gender balance is not needed at the basic level, but also at the highest management positions in large companies. IT technologies are the ones that make women equal with men, emphasized Spasevska.

Damjan Mancevski, representative of MASIT, indicated that he agrees with the theory that if women ruled the world there would be no wars.

It has been proven that there is less corruption where women work and in general how they solve problems, they have a different approach and we come to solutions quickly and easily. Women are smarter, if men are the stronger sex. IT technology greatly contributes to the independence of women, and in order to have strong women, you must give them financial stability, so that they can be independent. ICT is leading and unique, which can enable young people to start working after graduating from college. Conditions, benefits are several levels higher. The hybrid model of work, to work from anywhere, also gives enough freedom, Mancevski pointed out.

Bojan Kordalov, communicator and president of IDUEP, emphasized that digital transformation brings many benefits for everyone.

One of them is that digitalization directly destroys the stereotype that there are female and male professions. In addition, digitalization contributes to the complete reduction of the wage gap between men and women, but also very importantly – to the economic and overall independence of each person. That is why it is important for the state, as well as each of us, to support the IT sector and the introduction of digitization in society. Because it means wage growth, unlimited freedom and flexibility for every person and is the fastest tool for achieving gender equality. IT professions and digital transformation are one of the pillars of how we can loudly and courageously move the boundaries and together break down all stereotypes in society, said Kordalov.

Gordana Predic, special adviser to the vice prime minister, minister of culture and president of the Coordinating Body for Gender Equality, emphasized that women in the IT sector continue to witness numerous differences, prejudices, and inequality in relation to men.

ICT is currently Serbia's biggest export force. Investment in the ICT sector per capita exceeds 80 euros, and it is expected that by 2025 it will become 150 euros. Therefore, it is very important to encourage girls and women to acquire digital skills, in order to participate in the society of digitization on an equal basis, concluded Predic.