This year’s winner of the Dobrila Award is Radmila Gujaničić from Užice  for her exceptional contribution to improving the position of women, especially women in the villages of the Zlatibor district and the region of southwestern Serbia, and her continuous engagement in the fight for equality and emancipation of women.

The Delegation of the European Union in Serbia established the award with the desire to support and provide greater visibility to continuous efforts aimed at community development and change and gender equality. The award is named after Dobrila Vasiljević Smiljanić, a pioneer and fighter for emancipation, who dedicated her working life to winning the economic and social equality of women in the rural areas of Zlatibor. The award ceremony is organized every year on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.

During more than three decades of dedicated work, this year’s laureate, Radmila Gujaničić, became a key figure in the transformation of women’s lives in rural communities, making a significant impact on the local economy, education, social and political awareness. Radmila was among the founders of the first feminist group in Western Serbia, thus laying the foundations of organized women’s activism in this region. Through numerous projects, Radmila has trained women for economic independence and social engagement.

Through various programs, Radmila enabled the establishment of 13 women’s cooperatives in Serbia, five of them in Užice, which directly contributed to the strengthening of female entrepreneurship and independence. Her involvement in the fight against gender-based violence is particularly significant, where by introducing new legal mechanisms, such as a special register for disputes that include women that were the victims of violence, she enabled greater protection and fairness for women in her community and established an SOS telephone line for women that experienced violence as a regional service. Through long-term cooperation with institutions, such as local courts and human rights organizations, she set standards in the protection of women from violence, which is of essential importance for improving the status of women in society.

Her dedication to improving the living conditions of women in rural areas has never stopped, even after her retirement in 2023. Radmila Gujaničić continues to actively support women’s organizations and rural women by providing support in preparing projects and connecting with relevant institutions for financial support.

The award ceremony will be held in the first half of March 2025 at the Europe House in Belgrade, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, when the winners will be presented with the “Klupko” Award, the work of the renowned Serbian sculptor Marina Nićiforović.

The decision was made by the jury with the following members:

  • Dr Marija Đorđević, president of the “Dobrila Award” jury
  • Ana Milenić, Delegation of the European Union in Serbia
  • Gordana Goga Grubješić, creative director of the SuperStar Culture agency
  • Svetlana Ćaldović, director of the Open Air Museum “Old Village Sirogojno”
  • Daliborka Nikolić, Europe House in Belgrade

The Dobrila Award, presented by the EU Delegation in Serbia on March 8, 2024, is awarded every year to individuals, organizations and institutions for their contribution to defining and supporting emancipatory practices in communities that the society defines as marginalized and minority. This award is dedicated to all local and community initiatives that encourage the intergenerational exchange of knowledge, skills and values, as well as to individuals who, through exceptional commitment and passion, have become initiators of social change, thus paving the way for future generations in new battles for equality. The award is presented every year on the occasion of International Women’s Day.