Veronika Šprincová holds masters degree in gender studies from Charles University and has worked for Fórum 50% as a gender expert, lecturer and analyst. She has worked with Fórum 50% since 2009 and in 2018 she became the executive director. Between 2015 and 2019 she was a chairperson of the Gender Expert Chamber of the Czech Republic. Veronika has written numerous reports, publications and articles about gender equality and women's rights. She has experience with gathering and analyzing data. Veronika also has rich experience with public relations and cooperation with media, public speaking, advocacy work, lecturing and teaching. She represents Forum 50% in the Czech Women’s Lobby and in the Committee for the Institutional Safeguarding of Equality of Women and Men under the Government Council for Equality of Women and Men. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Dare to Lead! Empowering Women in Czech Local Communities

The main goal of the project was to empower women in the Czech society to increase their political participation. The goal was achieved mainly by means of two innovative training programs located in the country’s capital, Prague, as well as in Ústecký region. Following the IVLP experience, a highly experienced woman politician was invited to share her knowledge and strategies gained during her career. This project also featured an online round table with a US speaker who introduced the US approach to women’s empowerment and highlighted its benefits and motivated Czech women to participate in the programs. The main target group was women running for office in the October local elections. The participants were selected to bring together women representing various democratic political parties.

This project aimed to empower women in the Czech community to increase their political participation. It held two interactive weekend workshops for local female politicians, one in Prague and one in the Usti region. Project participants had the opportunity to meet with Czech senator Adela Sipova and local politician Lenka Simerska. Participants learned how to debate and communicate in politics efficiently. 29 women from various parts of the Czech Republic were empowered to run in the 2022 local elections and pursue the right to gender equality in the public sphere.  

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Veronika was a participant in the IVLP Project Women in Politics and Civil Society organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Des Moines, IA; Louisville, KY; Charlotte, NC

Country: Czech Republic

Click here to go back to the IVLP Impact Awards Main Page