Thanks to the Central European Initiative’s (CEI) 2024–2026 agenda, the 16th annual Equal Pay Day conference in Prague (March 25–26, 2025) will introduce a key sub-project, bringing together 13 CEI partner countries and UNICEF to empower women, reduce inequalities, and increase female participation in decision-making, particularly in the area of fair pay.
The event will feature renowned speakers, expert-led mentoring, and inspiring role models from diverse countries and business sectors, creating a dynamic space for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
The main goal for 2025 is to support young Ukrainian professionals by presenting an UNICEF program that helps with their integration into corporate training programs, actively engaging in mentoring and other training activities, and providing work experience through participation in conference preparation with financial compensation. This initiative improves career opportunities for women from vulnerable backgrounds while promoting regional cooperation and is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The project Equal Pay Day Conference going international! IV. is funded by the CEI and uses the international reach of the conference to promote equal opportunities in Europe. The conference serves as a platform for discussions on the topic of fair pay and the position of women at work, raises awareness of key policies, including the EU Directive on Pay Transparency and national initiatives in these areas. The project also provides space for strengthening the regional network of organizations, mutual transfer of knowledge and experience, work on the preparation of other projects and the creation of a joint document calling for the elimination of pay inequalities.
A significant outcome will be a formal call to European governments: “It’s high time to reduce the Equal Pay Gap.”
