The International Women’s Day focuses on the necessity that women also occupy leadership positions. According to UN Women, that has also become very clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An important measure for reducing gender inequality is preventing the violation of women’s sexual autonomy, highlighted the Slovenian Human Rights Ombudsman, Peter Svetina. He called for decision-makers to define the crime of rape in accordance with the international standards based on which sexual activity is only permitted with the consent of everyone involved. The government has already prepared amendments to the penal code in this direction.

On 8 March and the 110th anniversary of the International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Janez Janša and his ministers congratulated all women on this special occasion on the social media and individual ministries’ websites. They thanked them for the work they do, emphasizing the fact that changes were still needed in many areas where women continue to be in an unequal position.

“The partly different natural roles of both genders in Slovenia are largely not an obstacle to social equality,” a government representative wrote on Twitter. He also posted a graph showing that in 2019 Slovenia had the fifth lowest gender pay gap in the EU, adding that Slovenia was high above the EU average, but that improvements were still possible and needed in some areas. Congratulations on the International Women’s Day were also extended on the Slovenian Government’s official Twitter account.