On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Dobrila Award was presented to this year’s laureate, Maja Simić from Belgrade.
“Dobrila Award holds a special meaning for me. It is a confirmation that my work has been recognized and valued, but also a strong encouragement for us to continue our fight, stronger, louder, and more determined,” said Maja Simić, this year’s recipient of the Dobrila Award. She was honored for her dedicated work in the community as a pedagogical assistant and a representative of the younger generation of Roma activists, as well as for exemplifying an individual’s unwavering belief in their role within the community.
Simić was presented with the Dobrila Award, a bronze sculpture titled “Klupko” created by renowned Serbian sculptor Marina Nićiforović.
Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, Plamena Halacheva, noted that the gathering was inspired by the remarkable legacy of Dobrila Vasiljević Smiljanić, a pioneer of women’s emancipation in western Serbia. She emphasized that although Dobrila is no longer with us, her legacy lives on and will continue to inspire efforts to break down barriers and strengthen the empowerment of women.
“This award is a call to action. It reminds us that progress requires the commitment of the entire society,” Halačeva said, stressing that Maja’s story is not only inspiring but also a reminder that a future in which every woman and girl in Serbia and beyond can freely pursue her dreams is possible, and that they will have the full support of the EU on that path.
“For many Roma women, the struggle for dignity and equality is deeply personal. Growing up in communities that often face poverty, discrimination, and exclusion, Roma women learn early on how difficult it can be for their voices to be heard. They fight not only against the prejudices of the outside world, but sometimes also against traditional expectations within their own communities. Yet many Roma women continue to demonstrate remarkable strength and resilience, seeking education, supporting their families, and advocating for their rights. Their stories are stories of courage, of preserving identity and culture while striving for a future in which Roma girls will grow up with greater opportunities, respect, and freedom,” Halačeva emphasized.
The President of the Jury, Marija Đorđević, noted that the jury faced a difficult task, as Maja Simić’s nomination was selected from among 37 applications.
“The impressive results of Maja Simić’s work, achieved over the course of her adult life, send a clear message to society as a whole that the issue of emancipation is always contemporary and permanently relevant. Only if the ideas of equality, the right to education, equal working conditions, freedom of expression, and the willingness to take responsibility are nurtured from the earliest age can they help make the world, step by step a better place,” the jury president emphasized.
The award is named after Dobrila Vasiljević Smiljanić, a pioneer and advocate of women’s emancipation who dedicated her professional life to advancing the economic and social equality of women in the rural areas of Zlatibor.
“This award bears the name of Dobrila Vasiljević Smiljanić, a woman who showed us that no dream is unattainable when there is courage, vision, and perseverance. Her story reminds us that an idea may begin in a small community, but through hard work and dedication it can reach the global stage,” said Maja Simić.
“I come from the Roma community and carry with me the stories, strength, and burdens of the women who came before me, my mother, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers—who often did not have the opportunity to complete even primary school. The fact that today I stand here as a university student, as a young woman who has the opportunity to speak, work, and create, represents a major step forward for me.”
Maja Simić is the founder of the Roma Youth Organization of Serbia and an active member of the Roma Women’s Network of Serbia. A student, educator, mentor, and activist, she is a successor to generations of Roma women who have nurtured and preserved the struggle for gender emancipation, aware that every freedom won, even the smallest, must be protected and continually re-examined. These are women who understand that solidarity and mutual understanding are the essential foundations of any successful struggle.
Her dedication reflects the importance and achievements of the tireless work of those who came before her, women who raised a new generation of modern heroines: women who are self-defined and outspoken, and who see caring for their community as a privilege, not merely an obligation.
The decision was made by a jury composed of:
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Marija Đorđević, President of the Dobrila Award Jury
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Ana Milenić, Delegation of the European Union to Serbia
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Gordana Goga Grubješić, Creative Director of SuperStar Culture
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Svetlana Ćaldović, Director of the Open-Air Museum “Staro selo Sirogojno”
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Daliborka Nikolić, European House Belgrade
The explanation of the jury’s decision can be found HERE.
Dobrila Award, introduced by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia on International Women’s Day in 2024, is presented annually to individuals, organizations, and institutions for their contribution to defining and supporting emancipatory practices in communities that society has defined as marginalized or minority groups. Established at the initiative of Gordana Goga Grubješić, the award is dedicated to local and community initiatives that encourage intergenerational exchange of knowledge, skills, and values, as well as to individuals whose exceptional dedication and passion have made them drivers of social change, paving the way for future generations in new struggles for equality. The award is presented each year in connection with the celebration of International Women’s Day.
Rights. Equality. Now! For all women and girls.
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