United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Latest

Press Release

12 November 2022

The "Beyond words" project supported the volunteering program at the Srebrenica Memorial Center

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Press Release

11 November 2022

Strengthening protection and rescue services in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Story

03 November 2022

Indira Mehić Čejvan: Local community should stand united against domestic violence

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Latest

Press Release

12 November 2022

The "Beyond words" project supported the volunteering program at the Srebrenica Memorial Center

Learn more

Press Release

11 November 2022

Strengthening protection and rescue services in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina

Learn more

Story

03 November 2022

Indira Mehić Čejvan: Local community should stand united against domestic violence

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The Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

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Press Release

28 October 2022

#ImagineChange connects people and places across Bosnia and Herzegovina to mark UN Day 2022

The Old Town Fortress in Travnik, Banski Dvor in Banja Luka, the Old Bridge in Mostar, City Hall in Brcko glowed United Nations blue to mark the 77th UN Day on 24th October. Tonight, the Olympic Museum in Sarajevo will also be illuminated in the traditional blue connecting these iconic places across Bosnia and Herzegovina in a powerful message of peace and unity. 2022 marks the 30year anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a Member State of the United Nations. For the second year, UN Day was celebrated as part of the #ImagineChange campaign which highlights sustainable development champions working every day to make positive changes in the lives of people and communities across the country. Events started in Trebinje, where the United Nations team, led by the UN Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald and joined by UNDP Resident Representative Steliana Nedera, visited the Trebinje Fire Brigade – an important actor in efforts to promote disaster risk reduction. Hosted by Mayor Mirko Curic, they also visited Herzeg House which captures the heart of the famed Via Dinarica route in Herzegovina’s award winning locally produced products. In Stolac, the Principals of the First primary and Primary school, and its students, showcased their newly refurbished joint library where students and teachers gather to learn and work. A special video message by the United Nations Under-Secretary-general Alice Nderitu was shown on the occasion, while the UN Resident Coordinator and UNESCO Head of Office Siniša Šešum passed certificates of appreciation to the Principals. In Mostar, the UN team visited the Partisan Cemetery with representatives of the city, drawing attention to the importance of preserving cultural heritage, whilst sending a clear message of 'No to Hate' speech and actions that have generated damage to the memorial. Preserving tradition is an important part of a sustainable future, which is showcased by the Handmade Art Gallery in Mostar. Visited by the UN RC and UNWOMEN representative David Saunders, the gallery promotes gorgeous products made by women-led entrepreneurs in one of the most scenic locations in Mostar. The UN team joined youth activists in Tuzla, at a vibrant gathering organized by the Youth Resource Centre. Accompanied by music performed by the Rock Solid Birac band with youth musicians from Srebrenica, Milici, Vlasenica and Bratunac, young leaders discussed their priorities, activities, and the changes they would like to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the UN Resident Coordinator and the IOM Chief of Mission Laura Lungarotti. The closing ceremony of Monday events was held in Brcko, where the UN team was welcomed by Mayor Esed Kadric and the OHR Brcko Supervisor Mennuti, at a reception before the multi-awarded theatre play “Game” performed by Mostar Youth Theatre and supported by UNHCR. Based on the real-life events of people who traveled through Bosnia and Herzegovina seeking refuge, the play echoes the universal message of the value of peace, resilience, and tolerance. "On behalf of the United Nations, I thank the people and authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina for joining the UN Day Imagine Change campaign and for all that has been contributed to the United Nations and the multilateral system over the past 30 years of the countries' membership at the UN. The United Nations was founded out of hope — and resolve — following the Second World War, to move beyond global conflict to global cooperation. There have been many challenges to this mission, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet, as the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has emphasized, now, more than ever, it is imperative for us to bring to life the values and principles of the UN Charter in all corners of the world. By connecting people and places across Bosnia and Herzegovina we see the unity and commitment of communities to these values and to making a better, greener, more inclusive, and fairer future for all," said Ingrid Macdonald, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the support of OHCHR, the UN Resident Coordinator also met with human rights defenders and civil society organizations in Banja Luka. The representatives discussed how they are working to promote transparency, rule of law, quality education and a heathy environment and they emphasized the need to be able to work free from intimidation or reprisals. In Medjugorje, UNICEF and UNHCR Representatives Khan and Gagne provided laptops and school equipment to Ukrainian refugee children who are trying to continue their education in accordance with the Ukrainian curriculum with the hope that they will soon be able to return to home. The UN Day 2022 marking was officially closed with lighting up of the Sarajevo Olympic Museum, and a presentation of some of the winning projects under UNFPA's Youth Lab Programme on Wednesday. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to supporting people, communities and leaders across the country to shape a peaceful and prosperous future where no one is left behind. For UN Day 2022, we thank the many #ImagineChange champions and partners working every-day to make a better, greener, and more inclusive future for all.

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24 October 2021

UN Festival #ZamisliPromijeni / #ImagineChange gathers almost a hundred participants and thousands of citizens

More environmental protection, life without conflicts, true respect for human rights, better perspectives and more employment opportunities – that is the future that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina imagine in 25 years from now. By promoting culture, creativity and creation, innovation and entrepreneurship, equality but also diversity, heritage, art and ecology, the United Nations (UN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina marked its day with the #ImagineChange Festival at the Zemaljski muzej in Sarajevo. Twenty selected participants of the fair, youth bands, musicians, chefs, animators and poets – all partners of UN agencies, funds and programs in BiH, who are actively working on positive changes in their local communities and beyond, made a visit to the Zemaljski muzej an unforgettable and different experience for thousands of citizens. Participants of the #ImagineChange Festival came from different cities and municipalities all across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partnership between the United Nations in BiH and the Zemaljski muzej provided free entrance to the Museum from October 21st to 24th, celebrating the UN Day. More importantly, it reminded citizens that the treasury of the Museum is safeguarding traces of the rich past and the cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so they responded to the invitation to visit in large numbers. ”2021 was a challenging year for the world, including for so many of the people that the United Nations works with in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But through our work across BiH, we continue to see innovators, entrepreneurs, change makers, activists, and everyday people, working tirelessly to positively contribute to the development of their communities and the country. Some of these people and organizations - impressive change makers - joined us to celebrate the UN Day and showcase the many possibilities which exist across this country. They are the people who are paving the way towards gender equality and the empowerment of women; quality education; entrepreneurship and youth start-ups; climate action and environmental protection; healthy aging; food production and security and agricultural development, and much more. They are imagining change and making it happen. At this challenging time, when political rhetoric takes so much public space, it’s important to highlight the many positive voices and actions that happen every day, and to move past divisive narratives. We hope that they can be an inspiration to all”, said dr. Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in BiH. This year's UN Day is marked under the slogan #ImagineChange in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which celebrates all those heroes and changemakers who are, step by step, initiating positive changes in their communities, but it also invites all of us to imagine and work on changes that are important to us. Radomirka Alić, the founder of a small family business - Cafe Confectionery "Slatki zalogaj" Srebrenica was among the exhibitors. Great attendance and interest in Radomirka's stand marked the very beginning of the Festival. "Participation in the Festival is a great honor and joy. I am positively surprised and I did not expect that there would be so many people, and that they would like our program so much, part of which we brought for tasting. I am happy to have had the opportunity to work with the United Nations through the ”Biz Up” program late last year. We started our business with two goals - the first is to provide a job, and the second is to create a place in Srebrenica where everyone can gather, where it doesn't matter who you are or what you are - a place that breaks down prejudices and stereotypes 365 days a year." The moderation duo of the Festival were Haris Bilalović and Aida Vehabović - a seventeen-year-old girl from Kakanj, an award-winning actress who breaks down prejudices and who says: “It is a great honour to be invited to co-host the United Nations birthday program and I am happy to write down in my memory book yet another striking event with the UN. My most important message is that young people should be given opportunities to stay here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because we too can create and work like other countries if we make a change. The world remains with us young people, and if we start to change what doesn’t suit us, it will be a fantastic proof that we are doing well. From the sustainable development goals, I would single out education in the first place - education and practical work. Of course, everything depends on us young people and I hope that we will be able to make changes and that future generations will have more quality education." United Nations agencies, funds and programs have promoted cooperation with people, companies, organizations and institutions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, which they support in creating and implementing change in their communities, in cooperation with their international partners and donors. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is thankful to the UN agencies and partners: Nevid teatar, Muzička škola Banja Luka, AIESEC, Vjeko Kramer, youth bands Zelene oči, Krx, AMD and VuciBAtine who are working jointly in Srebrenica, Bratunac and Vlasenica, and also to Balkantina Sarajevo, SOR Narcis Posušje, Outdoor/Aquabalkan Konjic, NVO Genesis and UPSHIFT, the band Deminutiv, Healthy Aging Center Novo Sarajevo, coffee confectionery Slatki zalogaj Srebrenica, chocolate shop Bashka, BHWI Foundation, IOM Fashion Corner, Disaster Risk Reduction Program for Sustainable Development, IT Girls Initiative and all other participants of the Festival who have enriched the program and who imagine and change their environment for the better every day.

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Publication

01 June 2021

A Partnership for Sustainable Development: Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025

This Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF), adopted by the BiH Council of Ministers at its 22nd Session on 16 December 2020 and reconfirmed by the BiH Presidency at its 114th Extraordinary Session on 5 March 2021, will guide the work of authorities in BiH and the UN system until 2025. This framework builds on the successes of our past cooperation and it represents a joint commitment to work in close partnership for results as defined in this Cooperation Framework that will help all people in BiH to live longer, healthier and more prosperous and secure lives. This Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (CF) describes four strategic priorities for joint work by 2025: Sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth Quality, accessible and inclusive education, health and social protection People centered governance and rule of law Citizen and community engagement for social cohesion The authorities in BiH and the UN system have mutual accountability for the achievement of planned CF results. Based on their comparative advantages, UN system agencies will contribute policy advice, in accordance with international norms, standards, and best practices, and they will help to develop new capacities at all levels of government in BiH for the implementation and monitoring of strategies, policies and plans in BiH. Emphasis is placed on those strategies, policies and plans that align strongly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and targets as set forth in the emerging SDGs Framework in BiH. This is our Partnership for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. See more on the official signing of the Cooperation Framework: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/en/127284-partnership-sustainable-development

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Publication

24 March 2021

UN Principles and Resources on Preventing and Reporting Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Addressing and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse is a top priority of the United Nations. Sexual exploitation and abuse violate universally recognized international standards, harm the victim(s), and have always been unacceptable behaviour and prohibited conduct for UN staff, as per the Secretary-General’s Bulletin (2003) on Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. In February 2018, the United Nations endorsed the UN Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Involving Implementing Partners. The UN Protocol sets forth requirements for all the UN entities when implementing programmes with partners in the field, including government, civil society and other partners, to ensure adequate safeguards and appropriate action related to sexual exploitation and abuse. The UN in BiH adheres to the Six Core Principles on standards of conduct outlined in the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (2003) and has zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse. The UN in BiH operationalizes the UN Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Involving Implementing Partners and its requirements by, inter alia, incorporating prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse standards in all partnership agreements. The UN looks forward to working with all partners to jointly strengthen prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse in order to create a safer and more protective environment for every individual. The UN takes all reports of wrongdoing by its staff or affiliated personnel seriously. You are strongly encouraged to report in good faith any instances of sexual exploitation and abuse of which you become aware. Reports may be submitted anonymously, and information provided will be treated confidentially. For reporting procedures, follow the link: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/how-report UN-system wide policies and protocols can be found here: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/ Zero tolerance - Fact Sheet on the UN Secretary General's initiatives can be found at this link UN PSEA Glossary can be found at this link

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03 November 2022

Indira Mehić Čejvan: Local community should stand united against domestic violence

Since 2016, in cooperation with the Gender Centres of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS), UN Women CO BiH has been supporting the formation of new and the work of existing multisectoral teams for domestic violence prevention across the country. These teams, commonly comprising different stakeholders such as social welfare centres, police, health centres, municipalities and educational institutions, are indeed a testament that the response to domestic violence must be systemic and organised. We discussed the extent of the impact of cooperation and high-quality joint work for violence prevention and the protection of survivors with Indira Mehić Čejvan, director of the Social Welfare Centre in Jajce, a small town in the central part of BiH. Here the cooperation of various institutions had brought visible results. Mehić Čejvan, who is also the president of the Association of Social Workers of Central Bosnia Canton, explains the background of establishing a multisectoral team in Jajce, what makes it successful and why it is important for the local community. When was the multisectoral team for the prevention of domestic violence in Jajce set up and which institutions are represented in this team? Jajce was among the first local communities in FBiH to sign the Protocol on Interventions in Domestic Violence Cases in December 2012. As the next step, the Social Welfare Centre signed an agreement with non-governmental organisations on the introduction of 1265 helpline, which is still in use today. All local institutions of relevance had signed the Protocol. The most important for us was that the mayor of the Jajce Municipality, the Police Department and the Jajce police station, the Municipal Court and the Health Centre were involved in all activities, in addition to the Social Welfare Centre. Then, in 2018, we revised the Protocol in accordance with the new Law on Domestic Violence Prevention. Today, our multisectoral team comprises 12 members. Apart from previously mentioned institutions, it also includes representatives of primary and secondary schools, as well as the Mental Health Centre. Which activities of the multisectoral team would you single out as the most significant? We had a number of activities carried out, and initially, it was essential to raise awareness of the local community about the actual existence of domestic violence. During that time, our multisectoral team had awareness raising activities for the population in local communities. At first with a modest turnout of only 10 or 15 participants, but later it grew to become an enormous response. In those days, we educated several thousand residents on domestic violence and the rights of victims. Also, Jajce, as a small local community, does not have a safe house and social workers from the Social Welfare Centre pointed out this problem, which needed to be addressed more adequately. An initiative was filed with the Jajce Municipality, seeking a housing unit to accommodate domestic violence victims and the response was positive. We also received a donation from the Embassy of Germany to equip the housing unit. We named it Reception Centre for Victims of Violence and Victims of Human Trafficking. To what extent are other institutions, apart from the Social Welfare Centre, interested in participating in the multisectoral team and committed to the fight against domestic violence and gender-based violence? By the nature of its work, the Social Welfare Centre is the driver and initiator of activities. But we never had any obstacles – directors of institutions, as well as representatives of governmental and non-governmental sectors, responded to our every invitation and meeting, not only on domestic violence, but also other problems. This in itself is a testament of good cooperation. For example, if a judge from the Municipal Court or another professional from another institution that is a signatory to the Protocol notices a problem related to violence, especially violence against children, then the multisectoral team schedules a meeting and tries to find a solution to the problem or possibly introduce certain preventive measures at the local level. Also, the multisectoral team holds trainings in schools for teachers and students on the topic of combating domestic violence and peer violence. How much did the support and supervision of the Gender Centre FBiH with facilitation of UN Women contribute in strengthening the multisectoral team, how significant was it to you as practitioners? Talking about the support of the FBiH Gender Centre in strengthening the work of the multisectoral team in the local community, the fact is that without their support, both financial and professional, there would not have been a more serious approach and work on the topic of combating domestic violence. The key to solving many issues is in regular meetings of the team members, as well as in joint action aimed at preventing the occurrence of violence. Also, the exchange of experiences and knowledge from all sectors additionally resulted in a faster response on the ground. The FBiH Gender Centre also supported the education of professionals from all sectors. Have you noticed changes that illustrate positive progress in combating domestic violence in your community, and if so, what is the role of the multisectoral team in this? Following the adoption of the new Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence and thanks to the work of the multisectoral team in our municipality, 66 protective measures were ordered from 2014 to today, and we were recognisable in FBiH for that. It is certainly not only owing to the Social Welfare Centre, but because of the work of the multisectoral team. Also, this was achieved especially thanks to the judge working on domestic violence cases in the Jajce Municipal Court. In cooperation with all other members of the team, this judge decided to impose protective measures – its implementation was later monitored by other institutions. This shows that the work of the multisectoral team certainly had an impact. Let me note that in Jajce we have 28 local communities, and representatives from all 28 attended trainings on domestic violence. We thus demonstrated that the work of the team on the grassroot level is highly beneficial. We in the Social Welfare Centres are in trenches. Or in other words, we are first responders in reaching out to citizens who are in a state of social need. It’s very difficult to work in a local community where you don’t have an understanding of basic things – for example, to provide professionals with adequate working conditions and financing. If there is no such thing, I assume that people are not even motivated to give their best in certain areas. In the Central Bosnia Canton, all 12 local communities have signed intervention protocols in cases of domestic violence, and this is the success of the Association of Social Workers. Needless to say, success in these communities is dependent on support at the local level, but it is clear that certain activities aimed at combating domestic violence are carried out in all communities.

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28 October 2022

Local will never go out of style: ILO supports the textile industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The action is supporting women entrepreneurs, young people and other vulnerable workers. With this support, the textile companies managed to grow and create jobs even during the pandemic. Textile companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina were facing numerous challenges during the pandemic. Orders and sales significantly dropped, and supply chains were disrupted, making the purchase of raw materials too difficult from early February 2020. The industry estimates that that every third job lost during the pandemic in the country occurred in the textile sector.

The European Union-funded project EU4Business Recovery provides financial and technical support to the textile industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina mitigating the impact of the pandemic on sales and jobs. ILO is one of the implementing agencies supporting 29 local companies in the textile business including clothing, leather and footwear production. Project support includes purchasing new equipment and raw materials, productivity training based on the ILO SCORE training package , and access to new markets. At a recently organized fashion show in Banja Luka ILO met with some of the companies that benefitted from the EU4Business Recovery Program.

CatWalk achieved more than planned

Established in 2012, CatWalk from Sarajevo has specialized in women’s clothing and runs a retail store in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“The project has significantly improved our business and helped us overcome the negative effects of the years spent in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Ema Burdžović, CEO of CatWalk. Crucial contributions from the project were support in starting to export to the European Union, opening a web-shop, as well as a new retail store in the region. “We are launching our new product line – swimsuits - and have improved our production processes by purchasing software for clothes design,” Ema continues listing the company’s accomplishments. Originally, the management planned to create five new jobs with the project support. Ema proudly points out that that aim was not only achieved but eventually exceeded. “With the support we received from the ILO, we doubled the number of our workers, from 12 to 24”. Ten new jobs for Sana Linea

Another company supported by the project is Sana Linea, a textile company with a long history from Kostajnica, northern BiH. Established in 1947, the company currently employs 74 workers and is an entirely women-led business. They have 13 retail stores across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and two in Serbia.

“Through this support, we managed to modernize our production by purchasing special machinery and hired 10 new workers. We also developed our web shop and webpage so we can reach out to new customers. We have started exporting to EU,” says Marijana Bučevac, CEO of Sana Linea. About the project: The ILO, in partnership with the German Development Agency (GIZ) and UNDP implements an EU-funded project “COVID-19 Investment Response – EU4Business Recovery “ to support the recovery of BiH economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall objective of the project is to provide emergency support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to ensure their business continuity, retain more than 1,000 jobs, and create at least 100 new jobs, especially supporting women entrepreneurs, young people and other vulnerable groups.

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14 October 2022

Media plays a crucial role in promoting gender-responsive budgeting

Journalists who are reporting on this topic face non-transparent institutions, lack of interlocutor, financial and editorial support. Journalists and editors from the Western Balkans point out that the media are not focused on reporting on gender-responsive budgeting, as emphasised in the discussion during the UN Women Online Regional Dialogue “Media Reporting on Gender-Responsive Budgeting”, held on 12 September 2022. Reason for this is the lack of knowledge among journalists and editors on gender-responsive budgeting, and insufficient awareness of the importance of reporting on gender equality issues. “Budget reporting should be more focused on what the people need and on the problems that they face on a daily basis. Media coverage can and should encourage citizens to follow processes related to public finances and budget, and show them how they can be involved and advocate for issues that matter to them; and they can generally contribute to the transparency of public spending,” says Ermira Lubani, Gender-Responsive Budeting Programme Specialist in UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. Insufficient media coverage of gender-responsive budgeting is also caused by the non-transparent institutions that rarely base their decisions on budget allocations on the principles of gender-responsive budgeting and rarely speak about it in public. Research conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Mediacentar Sarajevo and UN Women shows that the media outlets report on budgets on a regular basis, but the coverage usually boils down to political disputes, curt indicative figures, press statements and politicians’ general statements about the budget. „There is a lack of analytical articles about budgetary proceedings written by journalists, especially from a gender perspective. Inquiry into specific budget items, its spending and budget scrutiny in terms of whether it ensures equal and fair distribution for all, is simply not the way how the mainstream media report on budgets,” says Selma Zulić Šiljak, co-author of the research. „Study on Media Reporting on Gender Responsive Budgeting in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020” is the first research on this topic conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the research, 40 per cent of journalists who participated in the survey answered that they are not familiar with gender-responsive budgeting and only 10 per cent of them answered that they have already covered gender-responsive budgeting, but only on rare occasions. Zulić Šiljak explains that the conducted research indicated the necessity of training for journalists and editors on gender-responsive budgeting. In March 2022, Mediacentar and UN Women held a training for BiH journalists to introduce them to gender-responsive budgeting, raise the journalists’ awareness on this topic and increase the volume of media reports. Journalist Slađan Tomić, who attended the training, says that he was not familiar with gender-responsive budgeting before the training, despite seven years of journalistic experience. The knowledge he acquired during the training prompted him to report on this topic. “By learning about budgets and how budgets can be gender-responsive, especially about the benefits, I gained basic knowledge about gender-responsive budgeting and how the media can report on it,” said Tomić. Journalists from the region share similar experiences and challenges Although research on media reporting on gender-responsive budgeting has not been conducted in the entire Western Balkans, the experiences show that journalists in the region face similar challenges in reporting on this topic. Journalists and editors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Serbia who participated in the UN Women Online Regional Dialogue organized by Mediacentar Sarajevo and UN Women state that the media in the Western Balkans are generally not interested in reporting on gender-responsive budgeting. Journalists agree that the rare media coverage of this topic causes lack of knowledge of journalists about economic and gender issues. “We don’t have many journalists who are focused on the economy and this is the problem because younger journalists have difficulties to understand and be involved in this sector. It is a challenge to explain to journalists issues in economy and the importance of gender-responsive budgeting,”,says Aurora Sulçe, executive producer for business of A2 CNN in Albania. However, journalists who report on these topics face difficulties in accessing information and lack of transparency of institutions. Documents and data published by institutions are often insufficient for journalistic stories, while institutions do not help by enabling timely access to additional information. “A significant number of employees in institutions do not understand what gender-responsive budgets are, and we have to make an extra effort to explain to them what we are looking for or to find those who understand the issue. Journalists who report on this topic face numerous obstacles even to get basic information on gender-responsive programmes,” explains Selma Učanbarlić, freelance journalist from Bosnia and Hercegovina. Milica Janjatović from Novi Sad School of Journalism states that the lack of transparency of institutions is a smaller problem compared to the lack of media interest in this topic. “There is certain information publicly available that could be a good start for media stories, but the media are the ones who need to put the pressure on the institutions, to ask them to be more transparent and to provide more information. The institutions will not do it by themselves, the media outlets have to do it,” explains Janjatović. Journalists also say that it is difficult to find adequate interlocutors, users of public funds and experts. Sulçe explains that women often refuse to speak publicly and believes that this is the case because men are still dominant in the media environment. „I can’t explain why they sometimes felt unsure to share their arguments and to be part of public opinion. Women must have a much more active role in society, and also be a role model in the media. Those women can help us journalists discuss more about gender equality,” emphasizes Sulçe. Also, journalists state that newsrooms and editors do not consider it necessary to invest time and resources in order to cover this topic. Hilma Unkić, freelance journalist from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who presented her experience in reporting on gender-responsive budgeting, says that journalists need support in order to produce quality media content. „First of all, journalists need to have editors who are familiar with the topic, who are patient to give us enough time to work on these topics, and, of course, to give us resources to do a quality story,” adds Unkić. Mediacentar and UN Women research points out that continuous and in-depth coverage of the overall process related to budget drafting, adoption and execution is needed. „This will make citizens aware of the importance of budgets and clarify their role and their power to influence the budget creation process, which may improve the exercise of their human rights and equality of all persons,“ the research states. Slow but visible progress Despite all the challenges, journalists believe that progress was made in the promotion of gender equality in the Western Balkans in the previous period, as well as in the media approach to the topic of gender-responsive budgeting. They say the progress was influenced by the support that UN Women provides to the countries of Western Balkans as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented. Since 2020, UN Women has been implementing the program “Transformative financing for gender equality towards more transparent, inclusive and accountable governance in the Western Balkans”, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The programme is designed to support governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Serbia with the overall goal to enhance the systematic integration of gender equality at all stages of national and local policymaking and budgeting processes in the Western Balkans. Journalists and editors say that much needs to be improved in societies in order to raise awareness on gender equality and to familiarize citizens with gender-responsive budgeting. Despite the numerous inequalities that citizens face on a daily basis, they are still not familiar with the processes and mechanisms that are available to them in realizing their rights, according to journalists. “We need to put the pressure on media to start reporting and in that way the general public will be more acquainted with what needs to be done in order to achieve gender equality,” says Janjatović. Journalists and editors from the Western Balkans conclude that the media plays a crucial role in promoting gender equality and putting pressure on decision makers to allocate public money in a fair manner, while taking into account and respecting the needs of all citizens. In their opinion, professional and responsible work of the media maintains democracy and trust in the governing institutions and influences political responsibility. *All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo. Conversations held by journalist Selma Učanbarlić whilst reposting on gender-responsible budgeting within UNWOMEN - media partnership on the topic.

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06 October 2022

Improved communication between institutions in Novi Travnik thanks to the multisectoral team for prevention of domestic violence

These teams typically consist of various institutions relevant for combating domestic violence, such as social work centers, police, health centers, municipalities, educational institutions. One such team was formed in 2017 in Novi Travnik. We discussed the importance of the multisectoral team, the activities done so far, but also the challenges they face in their work, with the team coordinator and employee of the Center for Social Work in this municipality, Ms. Neda Kapetan. How did the establishment of the multisectoral team in Novi Travnik come about and which institutions joined it? The process of establishment was long and begun at the end of 2016 when a coordinating body for the prevention and protection of survivors of domestic violence was formed in the Central Bosnia Canton. After that, we realized that it is best to take preventive activities to the local level because the problems are most specifically solved "in your own home". A multisectoral team was formed in Novi Travnik in 2017, but at the start it was big because it included representatives of all primary and secondary schools. The following year, when we formally established the team, we realized that such a large team would have been difficult to work with, so today we have six members. They are representatives of the social work center, the police, the health center, the municipality, one primary and one secondary school. I think we made the right move because now collaboration is easier. What is the importance of a multisectoral team and what is your main task? The basic function of the team is prevention and protection of survivors of domestic violence. Thanks to the support of the Gender Center of Federation of BiH and UN Women BiH, we implemented several projects aimed, above all, at strengthening the capacity of the team members themselves, then the wider community, and the youngest generation, in order to educate them about violence. Thanks to this team, communication between the different institutions has significantly improved, because now the flow of information is much better. Earlier, it would often have happened that we were missing information about activities carried out by an institution in the field of protection against domestic violence. Nevertheless, I think that these initiatives should not come exclusively from the NGO sector, and that their continuity needs to be maintained. So far, no multisectoral team has been recognized through the budget of municipalities, and the coordination body in the area of the Central Bosnia Canton was not financed by authorities, although the authorities have officially appointed us. We never received compensation for working in the multisectoral team. Instead we are financed through projects. In addition to a volatile financial source of funding, what are the biggest challenges facing the multisectoral team? People leave certain functions and work tasks, so it can be difficult for new people to decide to join the team. Not everyone is sensitized the same or wants to do this kind of work. Lately, collaboration between the police station and the Center for Social Work has been very good, and we are in contact very often in relation to cases of domestic violence. However, it is a devastating fact that from 2016 to 2018, we had an average of seven protective measures imposed annually at the municipality level, and that from 2019 to date, only two protective measures have been imposed. I believe that cooperation with the police must be better here, and that new people who get hired as inspectors should be further strengthened and educated. Also, at the meetings of the multisectoral team, we often get in a position to talk about specific cases of violence, but I believe that we should still focus on prevention. Have you noticed that women in Novi Travnik have become more empowered to recognize and report domestic violence? There's an anecdote that shows me that something is happening in the field, that people know that there a certain team exists and that things are functioning. A colleague once found himself in a shopping mall and two women were talking in front of him. One told the other that her daughter was having marital problems and that she had been suffering from violence. The other one told her that there was a social work center and that she needed to contact us, and that we would take care of it. I think it's our biggest indicator that people know they can reach out to us and get support. I would also add that another good indicator is the empowerment of survivors, who went through the system with a multisectoral approach, which included the path from the imposition of protective measures, the initiation of criminal proceedings for violence, to the provision of psychosocial support. We often witness that the survivors themselves point out that they have been strengthened through the process, and in many cases, they have empowered themselves and started a new life. What needs to be done in the future is to find an effective model of economic empowerment for survivors of violence. Very often the reason why women do not choose to report violence is because they are financially dependent on the abuser. We also need to think about effective ways of preventive action in rural areas, because it is noticeable that reports of violence mainly come from women living in the urban area. I believe the youngest generations must be educated and sensitized about zero tolerance to violence, and I firmly believe that it is not too early to start such programs at the preschool age, because in the long term that is the only way to influence the change of awareness among new generations.

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Story

30 September 2022

Saving Bosnia and Herzegovina's rivers and the environment for the benefit of all

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, as across the world, "the fight is not always easy, but it is always worth it when we know what we are fighting for," says Sara Tuševljak, an environmental activist. Saving the Kasindolska River from excessive exploitation and destruction united Sara and citizens in the fight for its preservation. The goal of this informal group of citizens from East Sarajevo is to stop the construction of mini-hydroelectric plants on the Kasindolska River by joining efforts. A healthier environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming a reality for the society through the actions of this and similar groups, despite the challenges and often negative exposure that these activist groups face. The story of how three workers, three students, two high school students, and one pensioner became environmental heroes in Bosnia and Herzegovina was shared with us by one of the group members – Ms. Sara Tuševljak, activist and a student at the Faculty of Law in East Sarajevo. "I believe that ecology and activism should be important to all people, not just young people. Our Constitution stipulates that every person has the right to a healthy environment and that everyone, in accordance with the law, is obliged to protect and improve the environment within their capabilities", says Sara. The announcement of the construction of three mini-hydropower plants: "Podivič", "Slapi", "Samar", was the wake-up call for action of this informal group of citizens, of which Sara is a member. "Kasindolska river", says Sara, "is an important resource. It springs on the Jahorina mountain, passes through canyons, and flows into the Željeznica river at Ilidža. For almost 90% of its flow the water is potable, and the first wastewater is poured when it reaches the Public Health Institution in Kasindol." Sara grew up by the river, learned to swim there, and her love for nature was instilled in her by her family. The problems started when a foreign company received concessions for the construction of as many as three mini-hydropower plants on the Kasindolska river in 2014. Environmental permits were issued for all three in 2015. "Citizens", says Sara, "directed initiatives and requests to the competent authorities during the construction, to point out the problems of illegal construction, procedural and legal errors, and violations of environmental standards. Ultimately, the construction of three mini hydropower plants would cause catastrophic consequences for the flora and fauna, and the human health." Sara and her uncle created a Facebook page “Stop the construction of mini hydropower plants on the Kasindolska river after learning that the construction of another mini-hydropower plant "Samar" on the same river will soon begin. The Facebook page was a channel of communication through which this group of activists informed the citizens of East Sarajevo that the first mini-hydropower plant "Podivič" has been operating since 2018 and pointed out the changes that have occurred since it was built. Cooperation was soon initiated with the Resource Aarhus Center, the Center for Civil Initiatives, the Foundation Atelier for Community Transformation (ACT), and Sara is already a Member of the Coalition for the Protection of Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Not even during the issuance of Location Conditions Assessment, which is a prerequisite for building permits for mini-hydropower plants, was the opinion of the local community where construction is planned asked or taken into account, which is contrary to the provisions of the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction. The District Court in Banja Luka, after a lawsuit was filed regarding the illegal construction of the three mini-hydropower plants on the Kasindolska river, issued four verdicts in favor of the citizens and annulled three environmental permits as well as the construction permit for the mini-hydropower plant "Samar". Nevertheless, one mini-hydropower plant - “Podivič"- was still built." Sara's fight, and that of other activists, is still going on. Large amounts of forests were cut down and roads were built for the construction of the “Podivič” plant. Activism and the need to seek legal protection and remedies might have been the leading motivation for Sara’s law studies. "I spend a lot of time in nature, hiking, and that's why it's very important for me to protect the nature. Especially the Kasindol river, because I spent beautiful moments around it with my family and friends," said Sara. The current goal of this informal group of citizens is to challenge the work of the still running "Podivič" plant, and to completely stop construction of the other two planned plants by pointing out irregularities in the process of issuing permits and putting pressure on the decision-makers. They are looking for a permanent solution and a ban on the construction of mini-hydropower plants. "The fight is not always easy, but it is always worth it when we know what we are fighting for" , Sara pointed out at the end, sending a message to all activists.

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Press Release

12 November 2022

The "Beyond words" project supported the volunteering program at the Srebrenica Memorial Center

Armin Suvalic holds an MA in English, lives and works in Doboj Istok. As one of the programme participants, he underlined that "denial is only possible if those who survived do not continue to remind us all that genocide really happened. Year by year there are fewer witnesses and survivors. If their stories are not recorded, new generations will not have basis to learn and research. I am glad that I had the opportunity to contribute to this collective memory, least in this way, and I hope that the project will fulfill its true purpose," said Armin. Volunteer work is also an opportunity for the descendants and relatives of the victims of the genocide in Srebrenica to contribute to the work of the Memorial Center. "Given that I am personally aware of how difficult it is for those who survived to speak and reach out, I feel deep respect for all those who mustered enough courage to be part of the process of documenting history. My motivation is respect and support for all of them, who have enough strength and courage to work on documenting history," noted Azra Delic. Nidzara Zekic, Master of Law, also participated in the volunteer program: "I have been following the work of the Srebrenica Memorial Center for a long time and I wanted to contribute to their work in some way. That is why I was overjoyed when I was given the opportunity to volunteer on "Beyond words". I can share my experience of working on the project as two-fold; for the first part in which I was delighted with the people who work at MC, and second, it was inspiring to see their effort, work and dedication." Volunteers made their contribution through the translation of materials, participation in search for 'key words' that will facilitate research work on materials, proofreading and editing of existing materials. "We are all responsible, to give a part of ourselves, and to do everything we can do, regarding Srebrenica. This is the only way we can show that we share the pain of the victims," adds Muamera Boskailo. "With these volunteering opportunities, the Srebrenica Memorial Center opened up for young people from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the center's activities and contribute to strengthening the capacity of the institution by implementing the "Beyond words" project. Concrete activities which included transcripts, translations and indexing of oral history video stories lasting over 60 hours significantly contribute to the increase of the visual history collection of the MC archives. The project shows how important it is to create a framework for fundamental research work on the preservation of testimonies," concluded Mahir Omerovic, the project coordinator. Fifty video testimonies will be indexed, as part of the project, providing the basis for content search by both domestic and international researchers. Translations of the material are currently underway, and on December 9, the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, the "Beyond words" publication will be presented at the Memorial Center, as a result of this research work which was supported by UNDP and UNHCR, through the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Press Release

11 November 2022

Strengthening protection and rescue services in local communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina

"The DRAS platform is extremely important for the sustainable development of our community and BiH. I emphasize the ease of use of this platform, so that every fellow citizen can look at the interactive map and be informed in time about the possible risks of e.g., landslides for their houses, business premises, schools, hospitals and accordingly react and protect themselves as much as possible," explains Elmedin Mehadžić, Coordinator of the DRR Platform in Bihać. The aim of the training is to improve skills and operation mechanisms that enable local communities in BiH to use scientific analyzes and information on vulnerability when assessing the risk of disasters, as well as effective planning of preventive measures and projects related to disaster risk reduction that should be included in strategic development documents. " We plan to further improve DRAS, including strategic information and analyzes defined according to the needs of local communities and higher levels of government. We invite all citizens to check on the DRAS platform today and find out whether they live in risky areas. With knowledge, we can protect ourselves and prepare in time, save lives and property, and together build the sustainability of BiH," said Vedran Ibrulj, UNDP Coordinator of the Disaster Risk Reduction Project. The online Disaster Risk Analysis System provides information on exposure to floods, landslides, earthquakes, and the locations of mine-suspected areas in local communities that are part of the Joint Programme. "Reducing the negative consequences caused by disasters is possible only if actions are focused on the prevention and management of disaster risks, and this approach should be an integral part of the country's development perspective. DRAS is one of the tools that provides support to competent institutions in risk analysis, and at the same time ensures the necessary level of transparency towards the population in partner local communities. It is very important that DRAS is developed in a way that meets the needs of the institutions, and that it is effectively integrated into the administrative structure in the country," emphasizes Boško Kenjić, Senior Program Officer at the Embassy of Switzerland in BiH. The DRAS platform provides decision-makers and residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina with unhindered access to data on possible hazards, with the aim of increasing awareness of risks and disaster prevention, and consists of three modules — module 1 is available to the public, and modules 2 and 3 to local authorities, in line with the user rights . The system can be accessed via the website: www.drasinfo.org. “Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ is 7.1 milion KM worth joint programme of the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations (UN), implemented by the UN agencies: UNDP , UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and FAO in partnership with domestic authorities. The Joint Programme aims to address key disaster risk reduction (DRR) priorities identified by 10 local governments and various stakeholders across various sectors: protection and rescue, education, social and child protection, health, and agriculture. The Programme puts special emphasis on improving local DRR coordination mechanisms, as well as affirming risk -informed strategic planning processes with focus on the most vulnerable population groups.

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Press Release

19 October 2022

The Second SDG Week places focus on smart choices for a sustainable future in the period of crisis

To tackle the interconnected risks, faced in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, the country's institutions, businesses and people must make smart choices that will pave the way for the effective implementation of the country's sustainable agenda, while increasing resilience, improving competitiveness and security for all – the messages delivered during the week outlined. Given that 2030 is only seven years away, the focus of the SDG Week 2022 was on accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. „Bosnia and Herzegovina began serious work at the beginning of 2017, when a working group was formed to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. We started with the localization of the process, because without local communities and their full participation in this and on the ground of citizens, there can hardly be success in the implementation of the goals, and we also realized that it is impossible to achieve the goals by 2030 only from public budgets”, emphasized Ambassador Miloš Prica on behalf of the Council for the implementation of the SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first event "Towards sustainable development financing - the time for smart choices is now!", presented the Roadmap for financing the Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as sustainable development financing models, practical examples from countries that have advanced financing models in the fields of energy, innovation and green economy, and the importance of optimizing public spending through gender-responsive budgeting (GRB). The goal was to highlight the importance of making smart decisions in a timely manner and building a sustainable, crisis-resistant future. The UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dr. Ingrid Macdonald, stated that “we live in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world where the climate crisis and pandemics do not respect borders. Only by working together - across communities and countries, can we face these challenges. Yet, we also have new opportunities with rapidly evolving financial, digital and communications systems. The SDGs week in Bosnia and Herzegovina provides a platform to raise awareness and create new partnerships in support of the 2030 Agenda - for the people, their health, prosperity, education, environment, equality, and overall quality of life. This week is an opportunity to share ideas, and invest in actions to promote a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for all. We also want to thank our partners, Embassy of Sweden in BiH, for continued support to the implementation of SDGs in BiH. We have come a long way, however we have less than ten years to reach the goals we committed to in 2015. The time for smart choices is now.” During the Round Table Discussion on Global Compact on Migration (GCM), the implementation of the GCM and the opportunities that migration provides for the advancement of sustainable development, both for countries of origin and for countries of destination, were discussed. The GCM is the first intergovernmental agreement that covers all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. The SDG Council in BiH organized a session in cooperation with local self-government units (LGUs) from the Sarajevo region to discuss the implementation process of the 2030 Agenda, priorities, and challenges. The Sarajevo city administration established a special city service that will actively deal with issues of sustainable urban mobility, sustainable development in the creative industry, complete urban transformation of the city and other areas that contribute to sustainable development. At the same time, the SDG Council organized a webinar with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), on the importance of civil society participation in the preparation of key documents, including the Voluntary National Review (VNR). “Sweden is a strong advocate for the global implementation of the 2030 agenda and we will remain a trusted part of the countries across the globe. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are happy that we are able to collaborate with the UN agencies, as well as the local authorities, to support the development of the endorsed SDGs Framework. It is worth noting that the SDGs work and Sweden’s support includes a system-wide transformation that incorporates more areas such as energy efficiency, gender equality and poverty reduction, all coming together to build a sustainable future that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration. This an excellent opportunity for us to have a proper look at what we can do in these remaining 7 years with the right financing and smart choices", said John Skoglund, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The joint workshop of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the Regional Program for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2), on the "Contribution of volunteerism o advancing SDGs at local level" brought together 25 representatives, volunteers, and activists of civil society organizations. Through the introductory discussion, the participants shared their own experiences and motivation for volunteering and discussed the contribution of volunteerism to improving the quality of life in the local community. As part of three thematic SDG events, discussions were held on: i) key issues related to social protection and the improvement of the social protection system in BiH, ii) experiences and needs to reach SDG number 4 - Quality education, with a special focus on the digital transformation of education, and iii) education about healthy lifestyles to enable young people to protect and advocate for their health, well-being, and dignity. The Ministry of Programming organized a workshop with SDG mentors where, together with this year's winners of the SDG Business Pioneers awards, they wrote down their promises related to sustainable development, which they plan to fulfill by 2023. The Kakanj Cement Factory hosted a mentoring session where they shared insights into their vision of the decarbonization process and plans to actively reduce their environmental footprint, as well as how they purposefully and continuously contribute to the improvement of their value chains and the development of their communities. To mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, October 13th, a round table event on „Sendai Framework mid-term review in Bosnia and Herzegovina – accomplishments & way forward“ was held, where the key findings of the Sendai Framework assessment for Bosnia and Herzegovina were discussed. A special focus was given on four priority areas of action and necessary steps in the upcoming period - understanding the risk of disasters; strengthening disaster risk management; investing in disaster risk reduction to increase resilience; and strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response and improved rebuilding during the processes of recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. The Section for Local Economic Development and European Integration of the City of Bijeljina held a training session for employees of the City Administration on the topic of localization and promotion of SDG goals, where the results and realized projects were presented. After the training, representatives of the City Administration of Bijeljina talked to the citizens about the Sustainable Development Goals and showed them a virtual journey to 2030 through virtual reality, which took place on the new promenade. All activities were attended by Ambassador Miloš Prica, Chairman of the Council for the implementation of the SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who pointed out that without local communities there is no SDG implementation, as well as that Bijeljina is a leader in the localization of sustainable development goals in BiH, and that it represents an example of good practice in the region as well. For the last day of the SDG Week, two events were organized, the first being "Future Talks: Circular Future(s) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Beyond", which focused on the transition of the economy towards circularity, through the vision set in the draft Roadmap for a Circular Economy for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The second event focused on the comprehensive education of young people about healthy lifestyles. "The transition to a circular economy can succeed in countries that are at different stages of development and that have different economic profiles. BiH has the perspective of being closer to the EU, and the EU is a global leader in the circular economy. The Roadmap for a Circular Economy for Bosnia and Herzegovina defines which economic sectors should be a priority in the process of transition to a green economy and is a good basis for identifying concrete methods and resources needed for its implementation. BiH can become completely circular, if society as a whole accepts this transition, including users and producers", said Steliana Nedera, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the closing. The United Nations agencies will plant tree seedlings for all participants of the SDGs week, which will offset the CO2 emissions that occurred during the preparation and implementation of 15 events. This campaign was joined by a private company Mibral, whose employees organized reforestation action on Igman mountain. The SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina is supported by the “Translating the SDGs Framework in BiH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth (SDG2BiH)” initiative financed by Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women, under the overall support of the United Nations in BiH. About the SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina SDG Week in BiH is a platform with the comprehensive support program for the Council for the implementation of the SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raising awareness and involving key audiences in discussions about current trends that lead to the implementation of thee 2030 Agenda and the advancement of the SDGs in BiH. To make the world a better place to live, which is one of the priority tasks of the 2030 Agenda, it is important to harmonize local policies with the Sustainable Development Goals through the partnership of local communities and their institutional partners.

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Press Release

14 October 2022

THE SENDAI FRAMEWORK MID-TERM REVIEW OUTLINES WAY FORWARD FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

The roundtable discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina's Mid-Term Review of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. As the first major inter-governmental agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, the Sendai Framework provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of natural disasters. Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a signatory country, is implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which is an inter-governmental agreement that aims to prevent and respond to disaster risks across the globe and significantly reduce disaster risk and loss of life, livelihood, and health. On this occasion, Selmo Cikotić, Minister of Security of BiH pointed out that the mid-term report on the implementation of the Sendai Framework is another important step for the protection and rescue system, and that BiH will be among the first countries in the region, to submit a Report on Implementation of the DRR Framework for the period 2015-2022. In order for BiH to demonstrate its implementation of strategic activities in disasters risk reduction, further development of measures need to be included by the sectors, that will ensure the integration of disaster risk management into relevant development policies at all levels of government. The Joint Programme, which is supported and funded by the Swiss Government and the United Nations (UN) in the amount of BAM 7.1 million, is introducing systemic solutions which will ensure the achievement of the Sendai Framework’s key DRR priorities at the local level in cooperation with representatives of the following sectors: protection and rescue, education, social and child protection, health and agriculture, in accordance with the needs of the BiH citizens and the challenges they are facing. Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in BiH said: "As we are approaching the midpoint of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR, it is an opportune time to assess progress, and examine the challenges faced in BiH. Globally, the facts are unequivocal. The climate crisis is already threatening lives and livelihoods around the world. We face more frequent and intense fires, floods, droughts, including in BiH. If local communities, the private sector, and public institutions are not ready to mitigate and respond effectively hazards can easily turn into disasters that threaten the gains of Sustainable Development. Early action saves lives, reduces suffering, and cuts costs. We have come a long way, however, increased investment in DRR is central to sustainable development in BiH. The time for smart choices is now". The key findings of the evaluation of the implementation of the Sendai framework for BiH highlighting the need for action in four areas: 1) understanding the risk of disasters; 2) strengthening disaster risk management; 3) investing in DRR to increase resilience; and 4) strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response and improved rebuilding during recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. The Sendai Framework is a global instrument which together with other instruments, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), formulates long-term development vision for humanity. It provides member states with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of natural disasters. Member states are developing their own approaches to ensure transformation of global goals into their national and sub-national policies, development frameworks and specific actions. Daniel Hunn, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Bosnia and Herzegovina underlined that "much like BiH, Switzerland is a mountainous country that lives with the risks of natural hazards. In Switzerland, we shifted our focus from managing disasters to prevention and risk management. How do we do that? By integrating a multi-hazard analysis, improving governance, and combining measures of prevention – risk mitigation – preparedness – response – and recovery. Prevention pays off financially, socially, and ecologically! This needs holistic thinking, the comprehensive approach that the Sendai Framework is offering us. This approach involves coordination among the different national, cantonal, and local level decision-makers, including all sectors and affected communities. It is a process that requires time, both in Switzerland and in BiH.” The round table was organized as part of the Sustainable Development Week in BiH 2022/ SDGs Week, a platform for actions, consultations, and discussions supporting the advancement of the SDG's in BiH.

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