United Nations 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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Event

07 July 2023

Call for applications within the project “Supporting local agricultural and rural development planning”

Background The call for application is implemented under the project titled “Supporting local agricultural and rural development planning” (TCP/BIH/3804) and is funded by the Technical Cooperation Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The aim of the project is to support the enhancement of institutional capacities in rural development and community development planning, programming, coordination and implementation at cantonal and municipal levels in the Republika Srpska and in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rationale for intervention Under the TCP/BIH/3804 project seven Agriculture and Rural Development Plans are under formulation in the Republika Srpska and two in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the Plans sustainable development of rural communities are vital for creating lasting positive change in the country. Sound planning and strategizing at the local level results in more targeted public sector interventions and expenditures related to rural development and agriculture, which leads to improved sustainable management of natural resources and better economic well-being of the rural communities in the long-run. The project is implemented in Una-Sana Canton and city of Bihac in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the municipalities of Gacko, Rogatica, Rudo, Visegrad, Osmaci, Foca and the City of Zvornik in Republika Srpska – all of these local authorities have committed to developing and later adopting the Local Agriculture and Rural Development Plans following the guidance and support of FAO. Agriculture has a strategic role in providing employment, nutrition and food security in the target municipalities. On farm processing and direct sale to intermediaries are the main marketing channels for the agriculture producers in the project areas, and in order to strengthen the market position of primary producers, a number of interventions are needed in the value chains of the priority agricultural products in the project areas. In Republika Srpska this call for application is aimed for piloting funding of a few small-scale demonstration projects, corresponding with the strategic priorities defined by the Local Agriculture and Rural Development Plans of the municipalities listed below: Osmaci: The municipality covers an area of 78,10 km². The municipality of Osmaci is located in the eastern part of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina in a region that is regionally known as Srednje Podrinje or the Birač region. Using data from the 2013 Census, it was determined that the total number of inhabitants is 5,546. According to statistical records, 1,675 households live in the territory of the municipality, of which all households, as already mentioned, are located in an area classified as rural. The average age of the owner of an agricultural holding determined by survey research is 58 years. Agriculture of the region mainly includes subsistence and semi-subsistence farming. Land fragmentation, lack of agricultural machinery and technologies, abandoned lands, outmigration from the rural area and negative demographic trends are the main obstacles to agricultural development. As priority value chains for development in Osmaci were selected raspberry production and distribution, beekeeping and honey production. City of Zvornik: Zvornik is located in the eastern part of the Republika Srpska. The town of Zvornik lies on the eastern slopes of the Majevica mountain at an altitude of 146 m. The area of the city of Zvornik is 382 km2. Using data from the 2013 Census, 54,407 inhabitants live in the territory of the city of Zvornik. According to statistical records, 17,690 households live in the city area, of which we can assume that 80% are rural households. The average age of the owner of an agricultural holding determined by survey research is 59 years. The food sector in this city is one of the strongest in the project area. Despite the relatively high production, small and medium farmers are facing similar constraints as in small municipalities: a strong focus on primary production and challenges related to the storage and marketing of the produce. As a priority value chain for development in the city of Zvornik was selected fruit production and processing, both organic and conventional. Višegrad is located in the eastern part of the Republika Srpska. The area of Višegrad is 448 km2. Using data from the 2013 Census, 10.118 inhabitants live in Višegrad. The total rural population is 5,289, or 49.6%. Despite the accelerated development of urban tourism in the area of this municipality, this growth did not spread to rural areas and agricultural development, and the main reason is migration from rural areas and negative demographic trends. As priority value chains for development in Višegrad were selected raspberry production and processing, greenhouse production, honey production and beekeeping. Rogatica: The municipality of Rogatica is located in the middle of the eastern part of the Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on an area of 645.92 km2. According to the results of the last population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2013), the total number of inhabitants in the Municipality of Rogatica was 10,302. About 40% of the population lives in the rural part of the municipality. This is the largest agricultural area within the project site in terms of resources and production intensity. However, despite a good resource base, there is a low degree of product finalization and added value. As priority value chains for development in Rogatica were selected production and geographic identity protection of rogatic potatoes, meat production and processing in the cow-calf system, and milk production and processing. Rudo: The territory of the municipality of Rudo is located on the triple border of Republika Srpska, Serbia and Montenegro. The area is distinctly hilly and mountainous, with villages scattered and intersected by mountain passes on an area of 344 km2. According to the results of the last population census in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2013), the total number of inhabitants in Rudo Municipality was 7,578 inhabitants in 89 associated settlements. The rural population numbers 6,203 people or 77.9% of the total. Despite the modest resource base, the small number of farms and low economic development, the municipality is distinguished by a strong agricultural cooperative and good projects of established value chains in raspberry production and milk processing, which should be further developed. As priority value chains for development in Rudo were selected, raspberry production and distribution, milk production and processing, and rural tourism. Foča: The municipality of Foča is located in the southeastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the Republika Srpska entity. Foča is located on the banks of the Drina River. The municipality of Foča covers an area of 1,115 km2. According to the 2013 census, the municipality had 18,288 inhabitants. 7,051, or 38.6% of the population, live in rural areas. The municipality, which lies in the heart of the national park and which does not sufficiently take advantage of the links that can be developed between agriculture and tourism, needs to strengthen value chains in fruit growing and meat and milk production through the improvement of production and processing technology. As priority value chains for development in Foča were selected meat and milk production and processing, plum and raspberry production and processing, and beekeeping and honey production. Gacko: The municipality of Gacko is located in the southeast of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In terms of altitude, it is the highest mountain part of Herzegovina, with an average altitude above 1000 meters above sea level. The altitude of the Gacko settlement is 956 meters above sea level. The surface area of the municipality is 736 km². According to the results of the last census in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2013), the total number of inhabitants in the Municipality of Gacko was 8,710 inhabitants in 71 associated settlements. Of the total number of inhabitants, 40% live in rural parts of the municipality. Gacko is a typical mountain municipality with recognizable animal products that easily find their place on the market but which should be branded and protected so that the added value and benefit for the producer would be greater. As priority value chains for development in Gacko were selected, Gacko cream (kajmak) production, beekeeping and honey production. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this call for application is aimed for piloting funding of a few small-scale demonstration projects, corresponding with the strategic priorities defined by the Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Period 2023 -2027 for Una-Sana Canton and by the Local Plan of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Period 2023-2027 of City of Bihać: Una-Sana Canton: The Una-Sana Canton is located in the extreme north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, bordering the southern and south-eastern parts of the Republic of Croatia. It is one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with an area of 4,125 km2 it covers 15.8% of the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. 8.1% of the total territory of BiH. In the territorial-political system this Canton is organized by eight local self-government units (municipalities/cities): Bihać, Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Petrovac, Bužim, Cazin, Ključ, Sanski Most and Velika Kladuša. In 2021 the Canton area was populated with 264,248 inhabitants, out of which 13.42% are under 14 years old and 14.35% are over 65 years old. According to the 2013 Census, a total of 78,255 households live in the area of the Una-Sana Canton, of which 60.98% or 47,718 households are located in rural settlements and 39.02% or 30,537 households in the urban part of the Canton. Favourable climatic conditions and available land resources enable a greater number of agricultural productions, but as in most of the BiH, the agricultural sector faces numerous problems such as small holdings, poor equipment and low technical-technological levels of production. As priority value chains for development in Una-Sana Canton were selected beekeeping and honey production, meat production and processing. City of Bihać: The city of Bihać is located in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, administratively belongs to the entity of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is the administrative, economic, cultural, university and sports centre of the Una-Sana Canton. The city of Bihać covers an area of 900 km2, which is 21.8% of the territory of the Una-Sana Canton and 1.7% of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The average altitude is 224 meters; most of the territory of the City is located on terrains up to 600 meters above sea level, while its smaller part is located in the mountain and hill-mountain zone at an altitude of over 900 meters. In 2021, a total of 55,291 inhabitants lived in the City of Bihać. According to the data from the Census, in 2013, a total of 18,293 households lived in the area of the City of Bihać, out of which 26.66% or 4,877 households were located in rural settlements, and 73.34% or 13,416 households in the urban part of the City. Agricultural production is an important part of the City's economy, especially vegetable and milk production, and recently honey production has experienced a special expansion. As priority value chains for development in the City of Bihać were selected vegetable production and distribution. All these municipalities and cities, to a greater or lesser extent, are characterized by large spatial dispersal, lack of organization of agricultural production and poorly developed value chains. In terms of value chain improvement, two directions were identified. One direction refers to production, which is characterised by the low level of production technology, low yields, lack of equipment and mechanization, and lack of access to knowledge and information. The second direction refers to the processing, which in most cases takes place on the farm and is performed by women, where there is a lack of quality and safety checks lack of adequate packaging, resulting to the exclusion of traditional products from formal marketing channels. Women’s high involvement in manual activities, as well as unpaid housework, including care work, leads to their economic dependency and invisibility of their work. The lack of opportunities for youth to be employed in rural areas is another challenge due to the limited number of full-time jobs in these rural areas. It leads the young generation to move to the towns and cities and leaves them uncertain about their future. This leaves elderly households with no labour force for the extension of agriculture production and larger agriculture households with a lack of seasonal workers to be hired, which creates great need in automation and digitalisation of the production process. These crucial factors create the necessity to encourage and support those most marginalized groups to participate in and benefit from the intervention. Specifically, it is needed to support youth, women, people with disabilities and others in the key relevant areas (relevant to the grant measure) where they already figure prominently. Sustainable development of rural areas cannot be achieved successfully without improvement of competitiveness of the agricultural sector, including technical-technological renewal, support of valuable economic initiatives, support of agricultural holdings, smallholders and family farms and local population through rural development grant programmes. During the implementation of this project and preparation of LARDs, FAO national consultants, in cooperation with the private sector and representatives of local self-government, defined activities for the improvement of value chains at each of the communities within the project area which should contribute to the improvement of competitiveness of producers and producer organisation, but also to the improvement of quality of life in rural areas. Scope and actions According to the local Agriculture and Rural Development Plans formulated in each of the target municipalities, existing production in the communities is limited to primary products, whereas to increase income of the local population, it is crucial to develop the value chains. The current technological and equipment levels of the agricultural sector in the communities necessitate their further support, which will largely contribute to the improvement of competitiveness and income generation in the communities. Therefore, the measure targets the support of the following direction through two sub-measures: Measure 1: Investments in tools and equipment for value adding to agricultural products: Agricultural processing equipment; small agriculture machines. Equipment and tools for marketing, sorting and packaging. Measure 2: Investments in infrastructure related to primary agricultural production: Irrigation equipment, greenhouses, etc. Each applicant can apply to only one measure. Territorial scope Eligible grant projects may only be implemented in Una-Sana Canton and city of Bihać in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and municipalities of Gacko, Rogatica, Rudo, Visegrad, Osmaci, Foca and the City of Zvornik in the Republika Srpska that are the project sites which have been pre-identified and recommended by the state and entity-level governments during the development of the Technical Cooperation Project TCP/BIH/3804 – “Supporting local agricultural and rural development planning”. Applicants: Who may apply? The aim of the small-scale investment intervention is to make a benefit for the maximum of local people, not only the individual. Therefore, those interventions will be found eligible, which bring benefits to the majority of the community directly or indirectly. Producers’ or farmers’ associations, organizations and unions; cooperatives, for which agriculture is either the main or additional field of activity and other types of membership-based organizations, which among other things, are involved in agriculture that are legally registered and operating in one of the locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina mentioned under section 3, have a bank account, are not in the state of bankruptcy and have not received the same type of tool/equipment under another grant support during the last 1 year are eligible to apply on this call. Duration of the projects The deadline for the realization of the grant project activities is 31st December 2023. Deadline for submission of the applications: The deadline for submission of applications is 21st July 2023, at 17:00. Further information related to the administration and submission procedure can be found in the documents below.

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Press Release

05 July 2023

Presenting the joint United Nations project "Women Driving Resilience in Agriculture and Rural Areas"

Women make up as much as 49.8% of the population in rural areas, and only 38.3% of women are owners or co-owners of agricultural land. Of the actively employed women in BiH, 20.5% of them work in agriculture, while only 18.3% of agricultural farms are run by women. The joint project of UN Women BiH and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), financed by Sweden, aims to remove the structural barriers faced by women in rural areas through the introduction of technologies that would save time and make their work easier, as well as to present innovative sources of financing. Through training women in rural areas to better cope with the specific challenges of doing business in agriculture, the project will improve living standards, as well as the socio-economic position of families in rural areas. "It is a great honor for us that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in the Steering Committee of this project, and that we will provide our expertise in its implementation. We are also glad that we will have the opportunity to expand cooperation with entity ministries in the creation of strategies for agriculture that will especially focus on gender equality," said Slobodan Cvijanović, Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. „Today the UN team in Bosnia and Herzegovina is strengthening our support to the critical role of women in agriculture and rural development. Whilst just over 20 percent of women in BiH work in agricultural activities in rural areas, according to the Sarajevo Economic Institute (2018), many are engaged in the lower value chain activities with less decision-making authority and profitability. Women in rural areas therefore represent an important, yet still untapped, resource for the country. The UN is looking forward to working with all stakeholders, especially rural communities, agricultural producers, government counterparts and the women themselves, to improve the lives of women in rural areas across BiH, which will in turn benefit the broader social and economic development of the country,“ said Ingrid Macdonald, UN BiH Resident Coordinator. “Equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, is important to Sweden and is an integral part of everything we support. That is why we are pleased to fund this project that will empower women in agriculture and rural areas to better manage challenges they are facing. The aim of the project is an improved environment for women and girls engaged in agricultural activities supporting them in advancing their socio-economic position,” said Eva Gibson Smedberg, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Sarajevo. A meeting of the project’s Steering Committee was also held today, consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Agency for Gender Equality of BiH, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of FBiH, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of RS, as well as representatives of Sweden and UN agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These activities are part of continuous work of UN Women on economic empowerment of women in BiH, as well as continuous support to women in agriculture and in rural areas, supported by Sweden. Since 2021, UN Women has been working to establish cooperation in this area with municipalities and cities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina from both entities.

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Story

05 July 2023

WHO 75: 75 Years in Service of Improving Public Health

The first half of the 20th century saw some of the most tragic and destructive global events in human history. Societies have suffered a devastating loss of lives, food scarcity, destroyed public health services, and an unprecedented number of displaced persons. There were legitimate concerns that epidemic outbreaks would rapidly spread throughout the population, such as the one known as the Spanish flu at the end of the World War I, with estimated deaths ranging from 17 – to 50 million people. In April 1945, leaders from around the world gathered in San Francisco, United States of America, to establish the United Nations. At the meeting, they also agreed on the creation of another global organisation, specifically devoted to global health rather than global politics, an organisation that would prevent and control disease so that everyone could attain health and wellbeing at the highest possible level. The World Health Organization (WHO) was established three years later, with its constitution coming into effect on 7 April 1948, marked from then on as World Health Day. The WHO Charter, or its constitution, states that health is a fundamental human right that every human being is entitled to "without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition" and that "the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security." Public health has changed dramatically in the 75 years since the launch of the World Health Organization. Over the past seven and a half decades, there has been extraordinary progress in protecting people from diseases and destruction, including smallpox eradication, reducing the incidence of polio by 99%, saving millions of lives through childhood immunisation, declines in maternal mortality, and improvement of health and well-being for millions more. However, the successes so far do not mean that WHO’s work is finished. There are new, critical health threats, such as COVID-19 or climate change- related events, and these are expected to become more frequent and more severe. That is one of the reasons WHO is urging Member States to take action to place health high on the political and development agenda and increase investments in health. The health workforce is critical. Continuous and increasing investments in education, skills, and decent jobs for health need to be prioritised to meet the rapidly growing demand for health and addressing changing health needs. Without drastic change, a shortage of 10 million health workers is projected by 2030, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. "We have to work hard at coming together to confront these health threats. This means thinking beyond nationalistic priorities, it means coming together around joint priorities, and most importantly, it means supporting organisations like WHO that work for the collective good," stated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. One of the actions WHO has achieved, in collaboration with Member States, is taking action to promote health by preventing disease and addressing the root causes of ill health. This resulted that between 2017 and 2022, 133 governments increased an existing or introduced a new tax on products that harm health, such as tobacco and sugary drinks. What’s in the future for WHO? At this year’s Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly, the UN agency’s decision-making body, Dr Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, warned that the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency is not the end of COVID-19 as a global health threat, urging countries to prioritise primary healthcare as the foundation of universal health coverage. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that protecting health is fundamental to our economies, societies, security and stability," said the WHO Director-General. Learning from the worst pandemic in recent history, WHO stands ready to support the world's countries as they negotiate a pandemic accord, the revision of the International Health Regulations (2005), and other financial, governance, and operational initiatives to prepare the world for future pandemics. Over the past five years, WHO has invested in science and digital health, creating a science division. The investment has come at the time when science is under sustained attack every day. Disseminating evidence-based and scientifically underpinned information is of the utmost importance. Countries must protect the public from misinformation and disinformation, the results of such actions are still alive in our minds and even in our lives still. The future of health depends on how well all of us, together, power health through science, research, innovation, data, digital technologies and partnerships. "The history of WHO demonstrates what is possible when nations come together for a common purpose," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has led the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Story

13 June 2023

LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers must feel safe and accepted

Local community as a whole must send a message to LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers that they are welcome in BiH, safe and accepted. Even though BiH government, civil sector and local community are giving their best to welcome LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers, there are still some challenges that we are all facing as a community. “In the year when the humankind is marking the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, when we think that a lot has been done, we are still facing certain challenges. For example, among asylum-seekers, same sex couples are not recognized as families, and are often put in different accommodations far away from each other,” said Gabrijela Rubić, Project Manager at UNHCR’s partner Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative (BHWI), during a panel discussion organized by BiH Pride March with support from UNHCR. The discussion followed a screening of a Mexican film Luciernagas (Fireflies), which depicts a deeply human story about a young gay man who fled from persecution in Iran and ended up living in the limbo of exile, far from everything he knows, in the tropical port town of Veracruz, Mexico. While dealing with the distance between himself and his loved ones, he began to discover a new life, and started to integrate into the new community. “Throughout our long-term experience working with refugees and asylum-seekers, including with LGBTIQ+ persons, we have seen many similar cases like in the film. Some scenes from the film reminded me of situations we had with refugees who thought us how to dance Salsa while we thought them how to dance Bosnian ‘kolo’,” said Rubić. LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers feel alone in often homophobic environments. They often fear for their safety, fear from rape threats and are additionally isolated. “We need to invest in constant education of a wider community,” said Marija Šarić, Project Manager at NGO Wings of Hope, concluding that all parts of our community have responsibility to provide hospitality to all refugees. “The workshop that we had last year with LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers and local community, with support from UNHCR, had provided a safe environment for those people and an environment where they felt accepted. Many of them felt uncomfortable going back to their temporary accommodations afterwards. This shows that civil sector and donor community should invest additional efforts in similar activities and projects that will ensure that these people feel physically safe and accepted,” said Mirjana Gavrić, psychotherapist.

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Story

30 June 2023

Macdonald: Media freedom is of central importance for UN in BiH and the world

The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ingrid Macdonald, noted Monday at the conference 'Media Innovation and Trends - Media Freedom and Shaping the Future of Media' organized by the FBiH News Agency (FENA) in Sarajevo that media freedoms are a topic that is of central importance for the United Nations not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but around the world. “This is something we're working on and support, not only as representatives of the UN Secretary-General in BiH but also UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and others,” said Macdonald, who was the keynote speaker of the first panel at the conference. Concerned about the situation in which the media and journalists are at the global level, she stated that the UN has established a comprehensive Plan of Action for the Safety of Journalists to end impunity for crimes committed against them. “We're not just talking about physical attacks, but also online, economic and legal attacks. There are many ways to attack and threaten journalists,” Macdonald said. In recent statements during World Press Freedom Day, she recalled, the UN Secretary-General emphasized the need to address attacks on journalists and stressed the importance of halting attacks on those who speak the truth. “Unfortunately, we didn't notice that the situation at the global level has improved. Journalists and truth are still and to an increasing extent victims,” she said. As an example, she cited the Covid-19 pandemic campaign, where there is great concern that facts are being misinterpreted, used and abused. “This is often seen here on the political side, but also in other areas, such as climate change. Not only are journalists attacked, but also scientists, doctors, technicians and others. This causes great concern of the UN,” said Macdonald. Speaking about Bosnia, she said that the latest developments on the political scene, especially the proposed criminalization of insult and slander, cause concern, and that this could be used to suppress critical voices in the media and among journalists. She added that the comments of UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of opinion, expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, especially the criminalization of insults, are definitive and explicit in terms of democratic standards, and freedom of expression is very important, and it is necessary to achieve that balance. “It is important that the authorities withdraw the proposed draft amendments and the criminalization of defamation and insults because they are contrary to the standards,” Macdonald noted. The UN office in BiH, she said, published a comprehensive report on the safety of journalists, and does so continuously in order to highlight the importance of the topic. “Many will say that there are numerous challenges that journalists face in performing their work. Not only are there political pressures on the media that are noticeable, but also economic pressures, verbal attacks, threats, online and judicial harassment, limiting the right to access information,” she stressed. She concluded by saying that the UN is fully dedicated to providing support and facilitating journalists’ work in BiH, ensuring better protection of journalists in a more favourable environment for the media.

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Story

30 November 2023

Sexual violence and harassment in BiH: Civil society organizations persist in the fight for fairer laws

This marked an important step in enhancing the protection of integrity of women and girls. The amendments, which now clearly define the relationship between perpetrators and survivors, were initiated by the Banja Luka-based civil society organization United Women, known for its longstanding fight against gender-based violence. With these changes, it is no longer necessary for survivors to be in a subordinate relationship or to be particularly vulnerable due to factors such as age, old age, disability, or pregnancy. "This amendment contributes to greater protection because now the victim of sexual harassment can be anyone; it's not just a person in a subordinate position to the perpetrator of violence," explains Gorica Ivić, executive director of United Women. Another significant change is that this criminal offense is now prosecuted ex officio rather than at the victim's request, as it was before. As stated in the adopted initiative, this is important because survivors of sexual harassment find it difficult to decide to report, and it is not realistic to expect them to propose criminal prosecution. However, despite the progress made, it does not mean that the legal framework regulating sexual violence and harassment in BiH is fully aligned with the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Another civil society organization, Foundation Lara from Bijeljina, advocates for redefining the crime of rape, which currently lacks adequate definition in both BiH entities. "The definition of rape as a sexual act without the consent of the other person, not just an act committed by the use of force and threat, is the threshold we want to cross. It would change the societal attitude toward sexual violence that still predominantly affects women and girls and is unfortunately rarely reported," explains Radmila Žigić, executive director of Foundation Lara. Activists have already discussed this change, which would contribute to women's sense of safety and their right to make decisions about their own bodies and sexuality, with representatives of the judicial community. According to Žigić, younger judges and prosecutors are open to change, but conservative views have been expressed, stating that during the trial, it is necessary to determine how much the survivor contributed to the criminal offense and whether she resisted. "Gender biases and distrust in the victim's testimony can be interpreted from this resistance," concludes Žigić. Amer Homarac, legal representative of Foundation for Local Democracy in Sarajevo, believes it is important to stop viewing the crime of rape through the prism of force and coercion. He explains that the criminal legislation in the Federation of BiH, established in 2003, must now be harmonized with continuously improving international standards. "It's no longer a matter of whether force will be used; it's crucial that someone does not want such an act, and any action performed without consent constitutes the basic form of the crime of rape." The initiative for amendments to the Criminal Code in Federation of BiH has passed the first phase of the parliamentary procedure and has been adopted in draft. It also partially addresses another important issue – recording and sharing explicit content, says Homarac. "Recording explicit content of a sexual nature where participants, with or without consent, are abused, and extortion takes place, is a very current and significant problem of the modern age where such content is easily shared via internet. There is a need to regulate this segment, and the new proposal, or draft law, addresses that too." Waiting for the right moment for change Advocating for certain legal changes requires a lot of effort, knowledge, and accumulated experiences from other countries. Gorica Ivić says that the initiative submitted by United Women went through a well-thought-out process that involved important legal authorities. The positive result was also due to the fact that this non-governmental organization has become recognized as an important partner with the capacity to influence laws and propose changes. "The civil society sector is a corrective factor that observes this area. I think this was a good example of an advocacy, well-planned process, and we succeeded because the organization already has credibility," says Ivić. The initiative of United Women was submitted as part of the project "Banja Luka - A City with Zero Tolerance for Sexual Violence and Harassment" in collaboration with UN Women and with the support of Sweden. Representatives of organizations United Women, Lara, and FLD are also members of the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence established by UN Women BiH in 2021 as part of the global initiative Generation Equality. Since then, numerous individuals from the government, non-government, and judicial sectors have signed the membership declaration to work together to improve the legislative framework regulating sexual violence and harassment. Meetings of the Action Coalition represent a rare opportunity to discuss improvements in this area, ongoing problems and next steps. "The previous meetings of the Action Coalition have been important for exchanging experiences from the field and conducting an overview of the situation. This is quite challenging in the complex legislative system that BiH has, and that's why it was important for us to periodically gather key stakeholders to inform each other in a timely manner about their advocacy and other activities in the fight against violence against women and girls," says Mersiha Zulčić, project coordinator at UN Women BiH. The legislative changes are one of the many steps that need to be taken for women and girls to feel safe and protected in their environment. In this process, changing public awareness remains crucial, as the public still tends to blame women in cases of sexual violence and harassment. Therefore, it is important for the legal framework to advance beyond the current public perception. "The general public perception regarding criminal legislation and any repressive mechanism can be positive or negative, but the fact is that if there is a prescribed criminal offense, public perception becomes secondary to what is primary – that someone will be prosecuted for the offense they committed," concludes Amer Homarac.

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Story

24 November 2023

Economically independent women can escape the cycle of violence more easily

During the summer, Semka Agić from Gračanica starts her day at five in the morning. This is when she first visits her small farm with sheep, fifty laying hens, and two ducks. In the morning, she brings them grass, checks if they need water at noon, cleans the chicken coop and barn, and makes a final visit in the evening. Working on the farm is Semka's first job after more than 30 years, having worked in retail before the war. "Now I'm breaking even. Mainly, I earn enough from selling eggs to feed the chickens and sheep," says Agić. In addition to income, the job is meaningful to her as it fills her time, and the challenging terrain she must navigate daily to reach her farm, located on a hill behind her house, keeps her constantly active. "I climb up there, with my hat, glasses, lipstick. I set down the hay, sit, play music on my phone. I always have juice and some biscuits, and the chickens peck around me," shares Semka. This 69-year-old retiree is one of ten women who started their small businesses as part of a project to economically empower women who have survived wartime torture and domestic violence. The complex project "Building Economic Resilience of Women Victims of Gender-Based Violence through Economic Empowerment and Improved Access to Income" involved market research, educating interested women, and ultimately starting businesses. It was implemented by the Tuzla association Vive Žene, in cooperation with UN Women BiH, and with financial support from the European Union. Some of the skills the women in the project have mastered include writing a CV, preparing for an interview, business communication, job searching online, and presenting their skills. However, one of the most important aspects was the psychosocial support provided to empower them and help them see themselves as capable and ready for the job market. During the project, some women started their own businesses, while others found employment in the private sector. "It takes time for women who have survived violence to see themselves in the story of having to get up, get ready, go to work for eight hours, and then return home. It's a huge change in their daily lives. That's why it's very important to strengthen them psychologically. A lot of support is needed for them to move beyond the victim role because offering them work while they're in that role won't be effective," explains Aida Mustačević Cipurković, a psychotherapist and project manager at Vive Žene. Among the project's beneficiaries is 63-year-old Hana Mehidić from Živinice, the first woman to approach Vive Žene for domestic violence in 1999. Since then, Vive Žene has played a significant role in her empowerment. "They help me a lot in everything. First psychologically, and in everything in life that I need, I turn to them. I feel stronger with them because I have no family to help me." Vive Žene has been continuously working for 29 years to address the consequences of wartime trauma and prevent all forms of violence. Established in 1994 to provide shelter, care, and rehabilitation for women and children victims of war persecution, it now offers various programs such as family, psychological, social, and legal counseling and accommodation in a safe house, supporting women who have survived different forms of violence. With perseverance and support from Vive Žene, Hana completed evening primary school to be eligible for employment through the employment bureau, which occasionally facilitated her work as a cleaner. As part of the economic empowerment project, she was given a 40-square-meter greenhouse to grow vegetables. "They told me about the project for women who have suffered violence, for us who want to be independent, live off our work, not depend on anyone. I immediately accepted, joined the project, and started. It wasn't hard, I went for a year, and I enjoyed the seminars," says Hana. Besides being able to sell vegetables and keep some for herself, the greenhouse is also an important form of therapy for her. "The greenhouse means a lot to me. I'm so happy when I go there, it's like therapy. Believe me, it relaxes me. I talk to the plants as if they were living beings." Economic independence strengthens self-esteem Domestic violence affects women of all social strata and educational backgrounds. However, highly educated women often have control over their own money, which is an alleviating factor. Experience at Vive Žene shows that financially independent women can choose their life path differently and more easily escape the vicious cycle of violence, explains Aida Mustačević Cipurković. The need for women to have a safer and more independent future after leaving a violent relationship, but also later the safe house, is one of the motivations for working on their economic empowerment. "When women want to leave the safe house with the decision to continue their life, they often return to violent relationships because they don't have many choices. This is something that touched all of us, but we didn't have the power to make things different. In recent years, the time has come to see how we can look at this problem from a different angle and try to solve it. Fifteen years ago, we couldn't even dream of this," says Mustačević Cipurković. The economic empowerment model involves much more than starting a business or finding a job for someone who has survived domestic violence. Damir Bećirović, an economics professor and consultant on the project, explains how he and his colleagues, through research and analysis, concluded that the transitional phase is crucial in the entire process. "We need to support someone with an entrepreneurial talent or an idea, that's a phenomenal thing because they will contribute much more to themselves and society than through individual employment. But we must understand that it's much more important to invest in strengthening and rehabilitating these people, rather than bombarding someone in an acute state with pressure." Bećirović, who mentors women in the project and visits them in the field to monitor the process, says he has witnessed a progression in the level of self-esteem many beneficiaries have gained. Semka Agić dreams of expanding her business into tourism. She has an idea to set up several tents near her house for people to enjoy nature. "Without phones, sit up there, watch the oaks, listen to the birds," she says with a smile. Hana Mehirić would like to have more land and a larger greenhouse, as she is not afraid of additional work. "I may be old, but I fight. There are times when I fall, can't go on. But I don't see it as impossible. I just say to myself: I must," concludes Hana.

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01 November 2023

55 new cities join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on World Cities Day - Banja Luka is the Creative City of Music!

New cities were acknowledged for their strong commitment to harnessing culture and creativity as part of their development strategies, and displaying innovative practices in human-centred urban planning. With the latest additions, the Network now counts 350 cities in more than one hundred countries, representing seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music. The new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network are: Asaba – Film Ashgabat – Design Banja Luka – Music Battambang – Gastronomy Bissau – Music Bolzano – Music Bremen – Literature Buffalo City – Literature Bukhara – Crafts and Folk Art Bydgoszcz – Music Caen – Media Arts Caracas – Music Casablanca – Media Arts Castelo Branco – Crafts and Folk Art Cetinje – Design Chaozhou – Gastronomy Chiang Rai – Design Chongqing – Design Concepción – Music Da Lat – Music Fribourg – Gastronomy Gangneung – Gastronomy Granada – Design Gwalior – Music Herakleion – Gastronomy Hobart – Literature Hoi An – Crafts and Folk Art Iasi – Literature Iloilo City – Gastronomy Ipoh – Music Kathmandu – Film Kozhikode – Literature Kutaisi – Literature Mexicali – Music Montecristi – Crafts and Folk Art Montreux – Music Nkongsamba – Gastronomy Novi Sad – Media Arts Okayama – Literature Ouarzazate – Film Oulu – Media Arts Penedo – Film Rio de Janeiro – Literature Şanlıurfa – Music Suphanburi – Music Surakarta – Crafts and Folk Art Taif – Literature Toulouse – Music Tukums – Literature Ulaanbaatar – Crafts and Folk Art Umngeni Howick – Crafts and Folk Art Valencia – Design Varaždin – Music Veliky Novgorod – Music Vicente Lopez – Film The city of Lyon, Creative City of Media Arts since 2008, has been granted a status of a Creative City of Literature, following its request to change creative field. Newly designated cities will cooperate with Network members to strengthen their resilience the face of evolving threats such as climate change, rising inequality, as well as rapid urbanization, with 68% of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050. “The cities in our Creative Cities Network are leading the way when it comes to enhancing access to culture and galvanizing the power of creativity for urban resilience and development,” says Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General. An upcoming policy paper – “The added value of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network at local, national and international level” – will testify to the leading role played by cities towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, while demonstrating ways in which UNESCO supports the UCCN members by fostering dialogue, peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. The newly designated Creative Cities are invited to participate in the 2024 UCCN Annual Conference (1 - 5 July 2024) in Braga, Portugal, under the theme “Bringing Youth to the table for the next decade”

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30 October 2023

First International Day of Care and Support

On the occasion of 29 October, first International Day of Care and Support Why we should all care about care When women stay at home, take care of the family and the elderly, when they choose to pause or even stop their careers because of family obligations – it is often due to care work. This type of work considers housework, taking care of children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, and it is very often invisible, underestimated and underpaid if done professionally. At the same time, many women in BiH perform these duties without any compensation. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the largest percentage of inactive women in the labour market in Europe. According to the 2022 Labour Force Survey, out of the total number of employed persons in BiH, only 36.8% of women are employed. Women cite unpaid care work as one of the main reasons they do not look for jobs, they do not start businesses, are forced to work part-time jobs, or slow their career progression and professional development. Women in BiH spend an average of six hours a day on unpaid care work. In reality, this means two jobs for those who are working – unpaid, as well as the paid. This data is from the Baseline Study on Care Economy, the first comprehensive study on care economy in BiH conducted by Economic Institute Sarajevo and UN Women. Spending this much on care work is costly to both women and the society. But for women, the major cost is the unrealized potential to participate and lead in the economy, politics, and society at large. Leveling the care work burden The public, civil society, and private sector in BiH have started recognizing the need to address the uneven burden of care work. Because of the rapid shrinking of the labour market due to emigration, companies have started encouraging more equitable and robust maternity leave policies, encouraging more men to take paternity leave, and introducing more flexible working arrangements. Some companies, such as Violeta from Široki Brijeg and GS TMT from Travnik, and are opening kindergartens and elderly care facilities for their employees. Civil society organizations are also responding to care needs through increased advocacy efforts to lobby for policy change and through directly providing care services across several areas, including homecare services for the elderly. Governments have initiated important measures as well. Policies have been introduced to legally recognize parents as full-time caregivers for children or people with disabilities, allowing them to receive income for the care they provide, and have introduced new types of childcare compensations. However, these efforts need to be expanded. Recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work requires systemic and multi-sectoral response from social protection, healthcare, employment, education, economic development, as well as the private sector, civil society, financial institutions, and donors. Transforming the care economy is one of the critical areas to achieve gender equality and inclusive growth, and to advance progress towards the Agenda 2030. Systemic and holistic investment in care economy can enable more women to be active in the labour market, but can also generate employment. In BiH, the formal care economy accounts for approximately 120,000 jobs or roughly 15% of total employment (compared to an average of 17% across other European countries). This includes people employed in the education and health sector, providers of residential care, and social work services in both the private and public sectors. Increased demands for care require an increased labour force. For instance, based on 2020 data, to accommodate around 6.600 children who were not enrolled in pre-school in BiH, an additional 1,104 workers would need to be employed, out of which 1,035 would be women. New employment in the pre-school education sector would have an additional chain effect on the wider economy. Care is everyone’s responsibility In order to address the existing obstacles for women in the labour market, and systemically invest in care, the United Nations are supporting key stakeholders in BiH in reforming the care economy. Within the global Generation Equality initiative, UN Women in BiH has launched the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights, to bring together governments, public institutions, UN agencies, international financial organizations, donors, academia, civil society, and the private sector, and generate commitments to empower women while transforming the care economy. To support these efforts, along with conducting the Baseline Study on Care Economy, which features care economy models to pilot and recommendations to advance reform, the first governmental stakeholder, the FBiH Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, led by the Minister Adnan Delic, became a member of Global Care Alliance. The Ministry pledged to draft a law on social services, a strategy for the development of the social and child protection system, as well as several other measures in the field of social protection. Care work is a foundation of sustainable development. Without it, individuals, families, societies, and economies would not be able to survive and thrive. We all receive or give care throughout our lives in different forms and capacities. Given its fundamental significance for the sustainability of life, care cannot be left solely to women, either as unpaid work or as low-paid or informal-paid work. Coordinated, strategic, and holistic investment in care is needed both directly by governments, but also in partnership with civil society and the private sector. We should all care about care because care concerns us all.

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15 November 2023

Treehana wants to offer all women the comfort of clothing they deserve, through slow, sustainable fashion

Tihana Todić, a 31-year-old woman entrepreneur born in Banja Luka, was among the 25 women entrepreneurs who joined the first Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2023 satellite event in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was held in October, organized by UN Women BiH and Foundation 787. After successfully graduating from high school with a specialization in interior design, today she is a graduate student at the Faculty of Technology, majoring in Design and Clothing. Tihana started her own company named Treehana, a slow fashion brand focused on sustainability and zero waste. What was the inspiration behind starting Treehana? What motivated you to create a slow fashion brand focused on sustainability and zero waste? The Treehana brand was created primarily out of a personal need. The brand was created in 2016, but many years earlier I was sewing my own clothes. Given that I am above average height, it was always a problem for me to find clothes that fit me, that did not have short sleeves or legs, and on the other hand, I loved oversized clothes, which could not be found so often here at that time. The initiative to offer other women the comfort of clothing they deserve arose from this personal problem. Not only for tall women, but for all women, because there is no body that has the same proportions. All our clothes are made exclusively upon the order and measurements of clients so that they fit them perfectly, and on the other hand, we don’t want to have surpluses or waste, we don’t mass produce. We think about our health because that is the most important thing. Therefore, we use natural materials, and very little synthetic ones, only where necessary, such as a jacket that needs to be water-repellent and similar. As a woman entrepreneur in the slow fashion industry, can you share your thoughts on the role of women in driving change within the industry? What obstacles have you encountered on your journey, and how have you overcome them to build a successful business? The only obstacle I encountered was challenging the very idea of this concept of work. When I started with the brand, the idea was to do everything online and to send by mail, and at that time it wasn't so popular, and I had to educate the market about it first. And the very influence of the environment – because of the thought that this is not possible, because people were used to trying on clothes, seeing materials in person and similar. So, I had to find a way to bring them closer to the quality of the material, to instill confidence in the production itself, and sometimes to send samples of the material by mail before the actual production, etc.
Many consumers are becoming more conscious of their fashion choices. How do you see the future of sustainable fashion evolving, and what role does Treehana aim to play in shaping this future? I think that slow, sustainable fashion is just at its beginnings and that it has a very bright future. I believe that many people will soon become aware of its true significance and that they will live accordingly, realizing that we really do not need a new piece of clothing every 15-30 days to be well dressed, but that we can always create new styles and combinations from existing sources. Treehana's role is precisely in raising awareness of the importance of this, to learn what the style is, and to be a successful part of this principle of dressing and living. What are your impressions from the recently held Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2023 satellite event in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The EXPO was great! Although I was familiar with some information shared at the first workshop, it is always good to remind myself and refresh my knowledge. It certainly gave me additional motivation and direction for future development. It is also good to meet other women entrepreneurs, to share experiences and problems also. And it's certainly great to get first-hand information from potential investors.

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Press Release

30 November 2023

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign launched with a performance of theater play „Perseids“

Despite significant invested efforts that have contributed to protection from violence, it still remains a serious problem in BiH. Data indicates that every second woman in BiH has experienced some form of violence from the age of 15 onwards. Therefore, creating a society that does not look for excuses for violence is crucial and must involve all of us, stated UN Women BiH. Sweden has a strong commitment to combatting violence against girls and women globally, said Sara Lindegren, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Sweden in BiH, at the campaign opening. „I want to acknowledge all those who work every day to build local capacity, change stereotypes and behaviours, and care for survivors. But more is needed to help survivors and change norms. We hope that the upcoming campaign can contribute to creating a society where a life without fear of threat and violence will be a reality for every girl and woman in BiH,“ she added. „The power of art can promote women’s rights and gender equality. Artists have a special role in disrupting harmful social norms, and in promoting zero tolerance to violence against women,“ said Resident Coordinator of United Nations in BiH, Ingrid Macdonald. Jo-Anne Bishop, UN Women BiH representative, said that despite many invested efforts, we still witness violence against women in its many forms, including the gravest one – femicide. „Violence against women is preventable with increased efforts and investments to transform social norms and stereotypes, empower women economically, and strengthen essential services for survivors. UN Women, with the support of Sweden and our partners, continues to advocate for an end to violence against all women and girls. I want to extend a call to everyone – be our ally in this. Every effort invested in preventing violence is a profound step towards a safer world for all women and girls.“ As part of this year's campaign, UN Women BiH will reflect on partnerships with numerous organizations from the governmental and non-governmental sectors, and collaboration has also been established with influencers and artists. The campaign partially focuses on reflecting achievements in preventing gender-based violence but also emphasizes the message that there is #noexcuse for violence against women and girls. One of the collaborations was realized through the performance of the play "Perseids," the first engagement in the theater scene for the young director Karmen Obrdalj. She stated that the work on the play originated from her strong need to address violence against women. "Complex female characters are rarely seen in domestic audio-visual arts. We wanted to finally give space for a female story to be heard," said Karmen, adding that she believes that art and theater are means through which essential topics can be communicated. During the campaign, panel discussions on strengthening community responses to violence will be held in Tuzla (29 November) and Banja Luka (7 December); an exhibition of illustrations and a discussion on the role of art in violence prevention will take place in Sarajevo (8 December); and another performance of the play "Perseids" will be performed in Mostar (5 December).

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Press Release

06 November 2023

Empowering Youth for Climate Action Conference

This event was jointly organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under the auspices of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the aim to discuss the challenges and opportunities leading up to COP 28 (Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - UNFCCC), which will be hosted by the UAE in November and December 2023. The Ambassador of Egypt in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yasser Abdelrahman Ali Sorour, reflected on the COP27 hosted by his country last year. "World leaders and climate scientists were not the only ones who gathered in Sharm El Sheikh; young people were also a significant part of the conference which recorded the largest number of participants, with 50,000 attendees, including 14,000 youth. The Egyptian COP27 Presidency prioritized youth involvement, through the creation of the first-ever youth-led climate forum, and the appointment of a Youth Envoy, Omnia El-Omrani. This allowed young representatives to present the Global Youth Statement, emphasizing their role in addressing the climate crisis. The establishment of the Children and Youth Pavilion provided youth access to negotiations and networking. Despite these achievements, more effective participation of children and young people in decision-making processes is needed." COP28 will mark a significant milestone, with the first Global Review of the Paris Agreement, a comprehensive assessment of progress towards climate goals and the identification of measures needed to bridge existing gaps. The UEA Ambassador, Nabila AlShamsi, based in Montenegro, addressed the event via the Zoom platform and presented the four pillars of priorities of the upcoming UAE COP presidency: accelerating the energy transition, solving financing issues, focusing on people, lives and livelihoods, and insurance of full inclusiveness, which will guide the process for all parties to achieve a clear roadmap for accelerating progress through the global energy transition and an inclusive approach to climate action. Building on the Youth Envoy initiative from COP27, the UAE has established the role of Youth Climate Champion to strengthen the work of youth-led or youth-focused organizations within the COP process. In this regard, H.E. Shamma Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of Community Development and Youth Climate Champion, the first in history with a ministerial role, sent an inspiring video message to the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the participants of the conference, in which the influential role of youth in initiating change was emphasized. In addition to thematic discussions, the conference provided a platform to discuss the climate ambitions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing the need for proactive measures in the fight against climate change. A delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina will also participate in COP28. Saša Magazinović, Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Chairman of the Green Club, which gathers parliamentarians from all over the country, emphasized the urgency of climate action and thanked the UN and UN agencies for organizing this conference, as well as for the support they provide to Bosnia and Herzegovina in this area: "The fight against climate change is not sufficiently addressed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there are numerous reasons but no justifications for this. In addition to the good will that Bosnia and Herzegovina showed, as a signatory to many initiatives, international agreements, and conventions, implementation and concrete work are needed. It is also necessary to raise awareness about this issue so that the citizens themselves understand the importance and their role in it. Furthermore, the battle against climate change comes with a cost, as discussed in last year's COP and will be in COP28. Countries that are unable to finance these obligations on their own need support. The socio-economic consequences of the green transition can be very painful if we do not address them promptly. This is one of the EU's obligations for the country. I believe that climate change should be a vital national interest for the country and can serve as a unifying factor in our society." Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reiterated the UN's commitment to addressing climate change and highlighted the importance of engaging young voices in climate-related matters: “This year represents the halfway point for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 which have been committed to by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet, we face a world on the verge of a precipice. The UN Secretary-General has called a ‘code red for humanity’ as we struggle to retain hope with unprecedented inflation; an unparalleled climate emergency; the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945; rising discrimination and hate speech; backsliding of women’s rights; civic space under pressure and new technologies rapidly advancing. Young people are at the forefront of the fight for a sustainable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for the world. They are driving change, not just for tomorrow but for today. Youth are one of the most important stakeholders to prioritize, including at the decision-making table.” Sylvain Merlen, UNDP's Resident Representative a.i. in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized the UNDP's sustained involvement in supporting the country to fulfil its climate goals, which in cooperation and with the support of international and domestic partners, implements projects that promote clean energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, disaster risk reduction, adaptation, and climate resilience, aligning with the vision of the Paris Agreement. He also informed that UNDP recently organized the first session of the Climate, Peace, and Security Experts Academy, in partnership with the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), building on a major initiative of COP27 Presidency, which recognizes that climate is already a key driver of peace and security challenges, as well as of climate-induced migration, and which need to be addressed through new mechanisms. The second session of this Academy will take place in Istanbul at the end November, to which youth are also invited, as their energy and the creativity is essential. Laura Lungarotti, Chief of IOM Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans, presented IOM's efforts to support young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to apply environmentally friendly solutions in addressing migration issues in the country. She also presented recently released IOM publication, contributing to the discussion on the nexus between migration, environment, and climate change. The paper examines the susceptibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina to wildfires, droughts, floods, water pollution, land degradation, and air pollution, documenting how these risks are interconnected and exploring their potential impact on migration and displacement. The panel discussion featured youth activists, representatives from domestic institutions, Embassies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, international organizations, NGOs, and academia. It emphasized the imperative of involving young people in climate-related decision-making, recognizing their potential as agents of change and the essential role of continued education and participation in advancing the climate agenda. At the expert facilitated panels, around 30 youth representatives had opportunity to share their insights and ideas on climate-related topics, resulting in a set of youth messages to be delivered to COP28.

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Press Release

03 November 2023

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

In its last report, UNESCO highlights that journalists and media workers around the world continue face many forms of violence simply for performing their critical role of transmitting information of public interest, including covering elections and demonstrations. More and more journalists are subjected to abusive lawsuits. UNESCO documented that 86% of crimes against journalists happen with impunity. Intimidation, threats and attacks against journalists create a climate of fear, impacting the free circulation of information and fundamentally threatening everyone’s right to freedom of opinion and expression. In a report on the safety of journalists and access to information in Bosnia and Herzegovina published in 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina observed that journalists increasingly face political and economic pressure, threats, including death threats, online violence, and other forms of intimidation. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are increasingly used by politicians and others to silence independent media outlets as well as legislative initiatives. The recent recriminalization of defamation by Republika Srpska and the draft Republika Srpska Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work on Non-Profit Organizations, which would apply to some media and media organizations, are of utter concern. United Nations Special Rapporteurs issued communications in that regard, calling for the withdrawal of such legislation. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina echoes the concerns of the Special Rapporteurs and reiterates its call to repeal the criminalization of defamation and to withdraw the draft Law on non-profit organizations. "Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that is essential to foster democratic societies. Ongoing legislative developments are making the environment for the safe and free exercise of journalism even more challenging", stresses the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ingrid Macdonald. She added that such developments are not compliant with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s human rights obligations and commitments, nor with the European Union priorities for accession. "In cases of threats and violence against journalists, international human rights law requires that Bosnia and Herzegovina complies with its positive obligation to prevent, protect and provide justice, in order to guarantee a safe environment for journalists", says Siniša Šešum, Head of the UNESCO Antenna in Sarajevo. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina urges all competent authorities across the country to respect the work of journalists and to take all possible measures to ensure accountability for any attacks against them. As underscored today by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, "We need much more effective action by police and justice systems to investigate and prosecute crimes that target journalists because of their work". This is critical to foster an environment where a pluralistic, free and independent media can flourish at the benefit of all.

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Press Release

02 October 2023

Draft Republika Srpska law restricting the right to freedom of association cannot be justified

The draft Law discriminates against and stigmatizes non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving foreign funding and other forms of assistance by foreseeing a distinct legal framework. It envisages a special registry for such organizations, and additional administrative and financial reporting requirements, when compared to other NGOs, without providing justification for such a two-tier system. The draft law also includes provisions that are vaguely formulated and could significantly curtail the legitimate activities of such NGOs, including advocacy. They might also lead to the arbitrary closure of NGOs. The right to freedom of association is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 20) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 22) to which Bosnia and Herzegovina is a party. This encompasses the right of associations to freely seek, receive and use human, material and financial resources from domestic, foreign and international sources, as stressed by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. In the General Principles and Guidelines on ensuring the right of civil society organizations to have access to resources, the Special Rapporteur highlights that “States must respect, protect and facilitate the right to seek, receive and use funding and other resources of all associations, without discrimination”. He recalls that “restrictions on associations’ right to seek, receive and use resources must meet requirements set out in Article 22(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, meaning that they must be provided by law and comply with the strict test of necessity and proportionality in a democratic society”. The Special Rapporteur specifies that “Receipt of foreign funding as such does not justify the imposition of additional restrictive measures, nor stigmatization measures such as requiring all associations receiving foreign funding to be labelled as “foreign agents,” nor targeting, whether through audit procedures, the imposition of penalties or otherwise”. In July 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 50/17 on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, calling upon States to “establish and maintain a safe and enabling environment in which civil society actors can operate freely, including by fostering and facilitating their access to financial resources, to ensure that national legislation, policies and practices are in compliance with their international human rights obligations and commitments, and to refrain from applying laws and engaging in practices that unduly interfere with their ability to do so including with regard to their ability to access funding.” Many civil society organisations across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including in Republika Srpska perform a critical function in promoting and protecting human rights, in peacebuilding and in development, including supporting the most vulnerable people in society. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina calls upon the authorities in Republika Srpska entity and across Bosnia and Herzegovina to fully respect the rights to freedoms of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly, including online, and to ensure there are no obstructions to the critical work of civil society organisations. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina uses this opportunity to reiterate that the criminalization of defamation is unjustified and unacceptable and should be repealed. As Bosnia and Herzegovina starts its preparations for its 4th Universal Periodic Review, progress in complying with the recommendations from the 3rd cycle is critical. The 3rd cycle includes over 20 recommendations related to the rights to freedoms of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly.

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