The Women Leadership Forum took place on 4 and 5 March in Warsaw. Although for over 100 years women have had civil rights, i.e. the right to vote, to self-determination, to choose a career – in real life they are second-class citizens in many areas: they work for free to raise children, take care of the elderly and disabled; the eander pay gap in Europe is over 16%, and the pension gap is even 23%!

The need for diversity in politics and business was discussed during the event (from the left): Dr. Ewa Rumińska-Zimny, UN expert, President of the International Women’s Forum, Simona Cojocaru, Deputy Minister of Defence of Romania, Anna Gembicka, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for Local Social Initiatives of the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, Ioana-Cristina Tom, Interinstitutional Relations Coordinator of the European Commision, Dr. Ewa Łabno-Falęcka from Mercedes-Benz Poland and Anca Harasim, Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania. The panel “Successful women in public life” included the example of the Mercedes-Benz factory in Jawor, where 36% of the crew are women.
The guest of honour was Princess Margaret of Romania.
The meeting was organized by the Polish-Romanian Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Romanian Embassy.