Route celebrating women writers wins CoE emblem
The poster for the Women Writers Route. Photo: Forum of Slavic Cultures
A cultural route that brings into the limelight the outstanding life stories and works of women writers and poets from the Slavic world has officially accepted the certificate recognising it as the first Council of Europe Cultural Route based in Slovenia.
The Women Writers Route showcases early 20th century women authors from Slovenia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Poland, Russia and Serbia whose work marked the struggle for human and women's rights, yet although important was never truly recognized.
The Slovenian authors included are writer Zofka Kveder (1878-1926) and poets Lili Novy (1885-1958) and Ljubka Šorli (1910-1993).
The project was launched six years ago at the initiative of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, an international organisation based in Ljubljana.
At the end of 2020, the cultural and tourism association Women Writers Route (Pot Pisateljic) was registered in Ljubljana, bringing together 15 partner organisations, several of which from Slovenia.
The route aims to present the works and lives of European women writers through inspiring activities, as well as advancing academic and cultural research of women's literature and its exploration by tourists.
It offers activities for all age groups ranging from tours to storytelling and theatre shows to creative and educational workshops and exhibitions. Key dates like the authors' birthdays and International Women's Day are also commemorated.
The Women Writers' Route was officially awarded the certificate in Crete in October last year, but now the document was handed to the association Women Writers Route by Stefano Dominioni, director of the European Institute of Cultural Routes, at an event at the Slovenian National Assembly on 12 September.
The ceremony was attended by members of the association from the six countries involved, and representatives of the local communities concerned, among others.
In her address, National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič said that writers "were often smart, strong and intelligent women". Despite times hostile to women, the desire for equality gave them strength to persevere through literature "in the seemingly hopeless struggle for gender equality".
MP Tamara Vonta, chair of the Slovenian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, cited author Kveder: "It is important for women to be independent, to have their own means of subsistence, to have the right to pursue their aspirations in their professional and private lives."
