Today on the 26th of December, a monographic study titled ”Žene u parlamentarnom životu Vojvodine 1918-2018” (Women in Vojvodina’s Parliamentary Life 1919-2018) (Chief Editor Dr. Zoran S. Pavlović, publisher: Protector of Citizens – Ombudsman, Novi Sad 2018) was presented to the public.
The introductory speech about the topic, motivation and the book was given by Dr. Nebojša Kuzmanović, Director of the Archives of Vojvodina . After that, Professor Zoran S. Pavlović, as chief editor, spoke about the book, as well as the authors of professional and scholarly papers in the field of monographic works: Ljubica Otić, historian and museum consultant in the Museum of Vojvodina; Dr. Biljana Šimunović Bešlin, from the Faculty of Philosophical of the University of Novi Sad and Dr. Suzana Kujundžić Ostojić, etnologist, President of the National Council of the Bunjevac National Minority.
The reason for publishing the monographic study Women in Vojvodina’s Parliamentary Life 1918-2018, edited by the Protector of Citizens – Ombudsman, was ”[…] the one hundred year anniversary since the unification of Vojvodina with the Kingdom of Serbia in 1918. On that historical day, the 25th of November 1918, members of the Parliament present at the Great National Assembly in Novi Sad, voted for Banat, Bačka and Baranja to unify directly with the Kingdom of Serbia” – says Dr. Zoran Pavlović at the beginning of his memorable speech.
After that, the authors gave an inspirational speech about the methodology of their scholarly work during the research and study of the topic of women’s parliamentarism, historical events and the role of women in political events through time, as well as the women that, through their work and love for the country, left a mark on the political, public and private life of the nation, whereby the book shows to the expert and general public the complete results of the research of historical sources about parliamentarism in Vojvodina as a subject that has remained completely unexplored.
Among other things, they reminded the listeners of an event in the hall of a hotel, which was the ”Grand” hotel back then, whereby among the participants of the Assembly were (seven) women.
By proclamation of the Serbian National Board, general and equal voting rights were established – whereby, for the first time in history, women in Vojvodina had a right to vote, both active and passive. In Europe back then, such ideas were very rare (Finland and Norway).
Not only could they vote, but they could also be elected, and seven of them indeed were elected, and they were: Milica Tomić (from Novi Sad), Marija Jovanović (from Pančevo), Manda Sudarević, Mara Malagurski Đorđević, Katica Rajčić, Anastazija Manojlović and Olga Stanković (all from Subotica).
”… the goal of the study was to present the role of women in the Assembly of the AP Vojvodina through history, from the moment when women achieved their voting rights, untill today when entire institutional mechanisms exist that ensure equal rights of women, especially when the number of women in the assembly positions are greater then ever.”
At the very end, Dr. Zoran Pavlović reminded us of the most important task for people today, and that is to be humane and to ensure equality among both genders as well as to nurture the old and helpless.
