At the opening of the seminar, Srećko Prusina, Director of the Croatian Statehood Foundation (ZHDZ), and Marija Kušmiš, Mayor of the City of Novska, welcomed the participants and highlighted the central importance of the project for strengthening the role of women in political and social decision-making processes.
The second day of the seminar focused on intellectually demanding and highly topical subjects. In the morning session, the Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, Marin Piletić, spoke about language and the cultural identity of a nation. He emphasized the fundamental role of language in shaping national identity and underlined the importance of protecting the Croatian language and using foreign words with care. In this context, he referred to the Law on the Croatian Language, adopted in January 2025, as an important contribution to the preservation and promotion of the language. This was followed by two lectures by Prof. Dr. Gordan Akrap from the University of Defence and Security “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” on current security policy issues. His presentations addressed the political significance of the BRICS countries as well as questions of international security, with a particular focus on terrorism, its causes and consequences, migration-related impacts, and the foreign and security policy of the European Union.
The afternoon programme offered practical insights into diplomatic and protocol-related procedures. Krunoslav Badel from the U.S. Embassy in Croatia presented the roles and functions of embassies and explained how they differ from other diplomatic representations. He was followed by Zdeslav Perković from the Protocol Service of the Croatian Parliament, who spoke about professional conduct, communication, and protocol rules. The programme concluded with a hands-on workshop simulating a diplomatic dinner.
The final day of the seminar focused on the further development of communication skills and media training. Through practical exercises, participants had the opportunity to enhance their public presence, communication abilities, and professional interaction with the media. Once again, the seminar provided a valuable platform for learning, exchange, and personal development, thereby making an important contribution to the promotion of female leadership in politics and society.
