How to strengthen the response to digital violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the global UNiTE initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls, was launched this year with a powerful message: the digital space is becoming a new arena for violence and harassment and requires greater attention from the whole society.

Representatives of institutions and civil society, experts, and young people gathered in Sarajevo for the panel session “How Can Bosnia and Herzegovina End Online Violence” to discuss the key current challenges, as well as the next steps that require an equally serious systemic approach to technology-facilitated violence as to any other form of gender-based violence.

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina has in recent years developed an important legislative roadmap and clear definitions of certain forms of digital violence, one problem remains: legislative progress does not keep pace with the speed at which digital violence is changing, growing, and taking on increasingly sophisticated forms. This is why the opening of the campaign focused primarily on three-layered and interconnected challenges.

The first is the deep gap between legislation and reality. Although laws are advancing, institutions still lack the capacity to respond effectively in practice. The police, prosecutor’s offices, and health and social services often do not have either the experts or the equipment needed for digital forensics, which results in women who experience violence still being told to “block the account” or “turn off the phone” – a symptom of a system that does not provide adequate protection.

The second is the sense of abandonment that women and girls experience when the violence begins. Safe houses, SOS hotlines, and social protection professionals are insufficiently prepared for the specific nature of digital violence, which is why young people, especially adolescent girls, often do not even recognize that they are victims until the violence escalates. Without systematic education for young people, parents, teachers, and all service providers, digital violence will continue to remain invisible, overlooked, and reported too late.

The third challenge carries a particularly urgent character: the upcoming 2026 elections. Bosnia and Herzegovina is entering a complex election year in which generative artificial intelligence can shape public perception in a matter of seconds - deepfake videos, synthetic audio materials, fabricated screenshots, and coordinated online campaigns will become a reality of the political arena. And, as is the case globally, women in politics will feel the impact most acutely.

Next Steps

Clear next steps have emerged from all these challenges. It is necessary to harmonize the legal and strategic framework across all levels of government so that digital forms of violence are precisely defined and institutions have unified, applicable procedures. A particular focus must be placed on strengthening digital forensics, building a network of trained investigators and prosecutors, and empowering social services. Equally important is investing in digital literacy across all generations, from young people, to parents and teachers, to the professionals who provide support to survivors.

The need to prepare the system for digital violence during electoral processes was also emphasized, through monitoring of the online space and cooperation with technology platforms. Yet perhaps the most important message was that we must shift toward prevention, building positive models, engaging young people, artists, athletes, and influencers, and creating a digital culture that discourages violence while fostering safety and solidarity.

The participants of the panel discussion agreed on one thing: in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the knowledge exists, the will exists, and now coordinated action is needed. Technology-facilitated violence is not a technical issue but a matter of human rights, the democratic process, and equal participation in society.

Guiding Principles for Future Action

The gap between law and reality

What women experience every day has now been publicly stated: the laws exist, but the people, procedures, and tools needed to make them effective are lacking. If violence is advancing faster than institutions, the system must accelerate.

The burden placed on women

Women must not bear the consequences of digital violence on their own. The responsibility for protection does not fall on them; it falls on the system. Survivors do not need more courage. They need more support.

An election year and new vulnerability

Entering an election year brings an entirely new type of risk. Generative AI can damage someone’s reputation in an instant. Women will be the most frequent targets, which is why the response must be faster than manipulation and more resilient than disinformation.

If institutions, schools, services, the technology sector, and local communities act together, Bosnia and Herzegovina can build a digital space in which technology is no longer a weapon but a tool of freedom. The safety, participation, and right to be heard of every woman, girl, and young person must not be an ideal; they must be the standard. And not because it is easy, but because it is right.

The activity is organized as part of the global “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign and is implemented through the Joint Programme “Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA)”, in partnership with the European Union (EU), Sweden and Denmark, and implemented by UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF in Bosnia and Herzegovina, within the framework of the cooperation between the United Nations and the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of advancing gender equality and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).