‘Baseline Study on the Care Economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina’ – Policy Brief

This brief presents the findings of the ‘Baseline Study on Care Economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina’ and the disproportionate responsibility placed on women when it comes to care as a source of gender inequality. The study draws upon both secondary data and primary quantitative and qualitative data collected through survey research, focus groups with women about the unpaid housework and care obligations they perform and through interviews conducted with key institutional stakeholders (NGOs, line ministries and social services). The study sets out an evidence base to support positive change in Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of more equitable provision of care (across housework, childcare, care for the elderly and care for people with disabilities), which would contribute towards the economic and social empowerment of women. Fifteen recommendations are outlined, underpinned by the ‘3Rs approach’, which focuses on recognising, reducing and redistributing existing unpaid gendered care work within and across the household, the community (civil society), the market (private sector) and government (by improving the legal and institutional infrastructure).