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

19 September 2023

IT GIRLS and diversity

Anđela Laketa, a student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Banja Luka, was among the 40 participants of the First IT Girls summer camp held in Sarajevo, where UNICEF supports the development of digital skills of girls and boys in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is not the first time for Anđela to participate in a UNICEF lead activity, as she previously participated in the one-minute film workshop held in 2014 as part of the "Take us seriously - we're talking about possibilities" project: "Nine years ago, I participated in a workshop for one-minute films, I was 10 years old and in the fourth grade of primary school. The teacher recommended me to sign up and try it, and that I would like it, and it was wonderful, I've had a great experience since then," says Anđela. "Now I'm here again with the IT Girls in another UNICEF project, this time because of a high school teacher who sent me the application form and suggested I try, and again it's great. Whenever I encountered something that UNICEF was doing, it was a really useful experience. The one-minute films we shot at the workshop talked about children's rights, and we worked together with children from the Institute "Dr. Miroslav Zotović", I also worked with a boy, we talked and hung out, and afterwards I stayed in contact with a lot of them", Anđela recalls the creation of the film in which she showed the work of an art workshop. The films, which were entirely produced by children with and without disabilities, aimed to promote children's rights and social inclusion with a particular focus on the opportunities and rights of children with disabilities. "Back then we worked with children's rights, now we work with women's rights, and everything is somehow connected. I have continued to follow the things that UNICEF is doing, however, until now I have not directly participated in these activities. I feel happy when I see what is being done in the world when I read about what young people are doing for each other". "It's great at the IT Girls camp, and everything looks very promising to me. We all participate equally, regardless of our differences and different expectations, and we support each other in learning. For example, I am interested in robotics, my friend is interested in software, which is different from each other. But - I'm there if I hear something related to software, she's there if she hears something related to robotics, so we stick together." Anđela enrolled in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Banja Luka, electronics, and telecommunications, and plans to choose electronics in the future: "Right now, I'm focusing on my studies, less on looking for companies and scholarships, I want to gain as much knowledge as I can as well as some nice experiences during this period, and then we'll see what happens later on." She says that she believes that in her generation, the gap between the genders is less felt at the university than it was before, but that she is aware of the real problems she may encounter in the future: "Later, when we start working, we may encounter the problem of unequal wages, but I believe that by the time we get there, it will be a little different. When I look at the 40 of us here like this, I think we will fight for it." For girls who want to work in the IT sector, he has only one message: "Never give up!" The "Take Us Seriously - It's About Ability!" project was realized with the NGO Genesis Project and the Foundation for Creative Development in partnership with UNICEF, USAID, and the Delegation of the European Commission in BiH as part of the program "Strengthening the system of social protection and inclusion of children in BiH "(SPIS) implemented at all levels of government, and in 32 municipalities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first summer IT Girls camp was implemented by UNICEF with the support of DP World, in partnership with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sarajevo and the scientific and artistic association Laboratorium from Tuzla.

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Story

13 September 2023

Youth Ambassadors from Western Balkans discuss portrayal of refugees and migrants in film

This makes it a crucial platform for addressing refugee and migrant concerns. This was one of the conclusions from a workshop session that UNHCR BiH in partnership with IOM BiH held with 30 European Youth Ambassadors from Western Balkans region and youth from BiH as part of the Human Rights Day programme of the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival. During interactive discussion young human rights activists shared their visions of how they see the cinema should deal with the human rights issues and had a more in-depth insight into why it is important to differentiate refugees as a vulnerable category when portraying mixed migration movement. “Mixed migration is a movement, a process in which a number of people share the same means of transportation and routes, generally in an irregular manner, but for different reasons. They have varying needs and profiles and may include asylum-seekers, refugees, trafficked persons, unaccompanied/separated children, and migrants in an irregular situation. Respect for the Human Rights, dignity and well-being of all persons who are a part of mixed migratory flows, remains a paramount for IOM,” said Elma Selman, IOM BiH Protection Coordinator. “While the term migrant in a broader definition refers to any person who moves away from their usual place of residence, UNHCR recommends that people who are forced to flee their residences and are likely to be asylum-seekers or refugees are referred to as such, and that the word ‘migrant' should not be used as a catchall term to refer to refugees or to people who are likely to need international protection,” said Hugues Bissot, UNHCR Senior Protection Officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Not using the correct terminology could cause a potential risk undermining their access to the specific legal protections that states are obliged to provide to refugees.” Going through various excerpts from documentaries, feature, and animated films, and thorough interactive discussion, youth from the Western Balkans agreed that the role of cinema in shaping public opinions and educating people is very strong, and that in films, especially documentaries, it is crucial to present refugees as persons who flee their countries due to persecution or fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or belonging to a particular social group or due to a situation of indiscriminate violence.

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Story

16 August 2023

Celebrating Youth Leadership on International Youth Day

Amidst the multifaceted crises facing our world, the unwavering optimism, innovative solutions, and resilience shown by the youth remind us there's still time to realign with the SDGs. On International Youth Day, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ingrid Macdonald, emphasised the importance of youth in our society: "Today, as we mark the International Youth Day, I would like us to celebrate the determination, ideas and leadership of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As Secretary-General António Guterres has underscored, humanity depends on youth's boundless energy, ideas and contributions everywhere." "Today, and every day, let's stand with young people in shaping a just, inclusive and sustainable world for people and the planet. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to the strong representation of young people, particularly those who can be left behind — young people with disabilities, young refugees and migrants who seek new beginnings, and the LGBTIQ+ youth who champion equality." In Bosnia and Herzegovina, International Youth Day is marked by a series of events under the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth's campaign focused on showcasing young people's resilience, resourcefulness and leadership when it comes to creating a better world for all. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported by the Austrian Development Agency, hosted the "You(th) Speak First" event in Dom Mladih Sarajevo. This event assembled youth from across the country, offering them a platform to voice their concerns, needs, and challenges. Youth activists relayed their experiences, highlighting what improvements are needed for the youth's quality of life. Key discussions included representatives from three umbrella youth organisations and their proactive initiatives for youth, emphasising the importance of youth participation in decision-making at all governmental levels. The outcomes of these discussions were shared with authorities and international community representatives. Dajana Bašić, from the Prnjavor Youth Center, established with IOM's Bosnia-Herzegovina Resilience Initiative (BHRI) project's support, commented, "International Youth Day is every day when we hear a young person's voice or witness their progress benefits the community. I've had many such enriching experiences and am committed to championing such voices, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina." Echoing her sentiments, activist Adnan Družić of the Bosanski Petrovac Youth Council said that future youth days should also be about youth achievements and transformative projects in their communities and praised the BHRI project for its continuous support, thanks to which the young people in Bosanski Petrovac got more opportunities for quality time and personal development. The Fusion Fiesta Festival was held on International Youth Day at Safet Zajko Park in Sarajevo. It was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Sarajevo Canton, the Special Olympics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Institute of Public Health FBIH, and with the support of the Italian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival celebrated the diverse cultural fabric of Bosnian and Herzegovinian youth, featuring cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, educational games, and various interactive activities. Highlights included an inclusive inter-municipal youth basketball competition with teams from across BiH, a friendly football match, musical performances, a cuisine quiz, street shows, and art workshops. The festival is part of the "Moving Us Closer," project which aims to foster social cohesion, reduce prejudice and discrimination, and encourage intercultural dialogue and reconciliation among young people from seven cities: Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Brčko, Bosanski Petrovac, and Bijeljina. UNICEF invited young people to present their viewpoints through video content and spread their messages across various UNICEF platforms. The youth shared their observations on environmental protection to foster increased awareness about the crucial importance of environmental conservation and acquire the green skills necessary for life in the 21st century to ensure a sustainable future. Additionally, the IOM supported the Neretva Green Fest as part of the PYAF RM DemoFest, in collaboration with the youth from OKC UrbanArt Jablanica. Over the weekend, volunteers at the Green Fest planted 100 lavender and oleander seedlings, revamped the light poles on the Museum's Plateau, painted a mural showcasing local landmarks, and adorned a bridge with decorative flowers. A key feature of the Neretva Green Fest was the "ECO-UP walk and talk". This educational initiative covered topics such as environmental protection, the circular economy, nature-focused volunteerism, and both current and future innovative strategies in environmental conservation. One attendee, Sara Krečinić, expressed her joy in participating, noting the skills she acquired and the power of teamwork. On the occasion of International Youth Day, United Nations in BiH, in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers and the United Nations Development Programme, published a story about Anes Kujović from Sarajevo, the world's first UN Volunteer with Down syndrome. With a determined spirit and with the great support of his family and friends, he managed to fight for his place in the community. Today, Anes sits in the Department for Education, Culture and Sports in the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo, where he performs administrative tasks as a UN volunteer.

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09 August 2023

Anes Kujović from Sarajevo is the first UN Volunteer with Down syndrome in the world

Anes Kujović from Sarajevo is the first person with Down syndrome in the world who became a United Nations Volunteer as part of the Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2) and thus gained the opportunity to attain work experience. In the premises of the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo, where hundreds of employees are busy completing their daily duties, hides his inspiring life story. The life path of 21-year-old Anes was not the same as that of his peers. From early childhood he walked through a world that often did not understand his unique abilities. He was born with Down syndrome, which greatly influenced his upbringing and life circumstances, from schooling, adolescence, to acceptance in society. But every obstacle was a new step towards success for him. With a determined spirit and with the great support of his family and friends, he managed to fight for his place in the community. Today, Anes sits in the Department for Education, Culture and Sports in the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo, where he performs administrative tasks as a UN volunteer - the first in the world with Down syndrome. Every new working day for Anes is a new victory and a reminder that he managed to break barriers, doubts and misconceptions of people. "I work in the Municipality as a UN volunteer," says Kujović proudly, and continues to describe his day: "I work from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and sometimes I stay longer. Sometimes I go to work alone, and sometimes my father drives me, mostly when it's raining or stormy. I have my card, which I scan at the entrance, sign and take the elevator up to the third floor, because our offices are on that floor." Anes' contagious smile and cheerful spirit bring joy every day in the premises of the Municipality, where he is surrounded by a team that believes in his abilities. "I have great work colleagues. We work, but we also know how to joke and laugh sometimes. My tasks are to enter data into tables, distribute documents to the departments for signatures, attend meetings with the mayor, we welcome guests together, and sometimes I also attend sessions of the Municipal Council", explains Kujović. He adds with satisfaction that he learned a lot while working in the Municipality of Centar Sarajevo, but like other employees, he is faced with tasks that he completes more slowly: "It is a little more difficult for me to write reports, but I hope that I will learn that well soon." Although he faced numerous difficulties during his upbringing and education, Anes did not allow anything to sway him. With the great support of his family and friends, he strove to remain positive in everything, as evidenced by his mother Sevdija. "It was not easy, but Anes was the initiator of our joint struggle. We followed his needs and tried as a family to satisfy them. Society was full of prejudices and mistrust towards the possibilities of children with disabilities," said Kujović. Kindergartens and regular schools were not open to children with Down syndrome when Anes was growing up, but his desire to succeed was stronger. He managed to finish regular elementary school, and then became the first high school student in Sarajevo with Down syndrome. "It was very difficult to 'break through the walls' in people's heads and that tired us the most. In his own way, Anes managed to break the prejudices in the environment and be a favorite student at school. When we see him today happy, satisfied and full of self-confidence, we forget what we went through," said Kujović. Anes got the opportunity for his first internship through the Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD2), which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In order to promote diversity and inclusiveness in all spheres of society, ReLOaD2 has provided the opportunity for internships to all young people from the area of this municipality and 12 other partner local governments, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. To the delight of the Kujović family, Anes became the first UN volunteer with Down syndrome in the world. In addition to the internship, by participating in the ReLOaD2 project, Anes got the opportunity to further develop his skills through various educations, as well as the mentoring support of Faris Bečić, a young man who is also engaged within ReLOaD2 and who monitors his progress and attitude towards work. The specific tasks in which Anes is involved together with Faris are administrative tasks such as opening cases, scanning and printing documentation, archiving documentation, holding meetings with parties and civil society organizations, recording incoming projects through public calls and the like. Bečić explains that mentoring support within the ReLOaD2 programme is crucial during the transition to work for people with disabilities. The process of mentoring, as he says, enables the monitoring of a person in the process of work, development and growth of skills, as well as the attitude towards work and the way of solving simple and complex tasks. In the course of working with Anes, he says that he is building an incredible relationship full of sensibility. "I have not met a person who prefers to work. Anes is always ready to work with a huge amount of respect for me as a mentor, but also for all colleagues. The results of his work are really visible after a few months," said Bečić. Anes regularly receives compensation for volunteering. He calls it a "salary" from which he plans, as he says, to pass the driving test and buy a car. "The internship brought enormous changes to Anes. His self-confidence has increased, he has developed critical thinking and is much more responsible towards work than he was towards schoolwork. He is happy because he is really building a friendly relationship with his work colleagues who are the center of his daily stories", said Anes' mother Sevdija. Anes is one of the extremely rare people with Down syndrome in Bosnia and Herzegovina who has achieved the right to work, one of the fundamental human rights. Although many people like him can make a great contribution to the development of the community, and be useful both for themselves and for society, systematic support for the employment of people with Down syndrome has not yet been developed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "This responsibility belongs primarily to the institutions, which should encourage others to accept differences by their example. In this regard, it is necessary to develop policies and services for inclusive employment, because the goal is not only to hire them, but to maintain long-term employment," said Anes' mother, Sevdija Kujović. The Municipality of Centar Sarajevo hopes that other institutions will follow their example and work on programs to empower young people with disabilities. So far, ReLOaD2 has provided internships in cities and municipalities for 22 young people throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, including four people with disabilities.

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09 August 2023

SDGs in review: Positive change towards a greener, inclusive future in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Despite a complex political situation, this year Bosnia and Herzegovina will present a second Voluntary National Review (VNR) endorsed by all government levels across the country at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, outlining the progress achieved on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2021, the Council of Ministers formally adopted the “Sustainable Development Goals Framework”- the first country-wide vision for sustainable development in over a decade and established a first-of-its-kind inter-ministerial SDG Council, sending a strong signal of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s commitment towards inclusive, sustainable development.

In the face of recent global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and historic levels of inflation, the SDG Framework provides a roadmap to ensure that no one is left behind in current and upcoming processes of strategic planning and investment in Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brčko District. Within the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union and its own long-term socio-economic vision, the framework helps address critical transitions in the areas of governance, economy and the environment to ensure a fairer, prosperous and greener future for all.

In my role as the Resident Coordinator for the United Nations for three years in BiH, I have seen first–hand the SDG Council’s efforts to cultivate leadership for the SDGs, including across the Western Balkans. The generous support of Sweden, implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women has allowed the UN Team in Bosnia and Herzegovina to accompany this process. Against the backdrop of the upcoming VNR, here are some of my reflections: Inclusion despite challenging times Despite political divisions, the SDGs have provided a platform for inclusion of a wide range of actors on the future of development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the private sector, citizens, and academia. An example has been the consultation of over 45 civil society organisations, notably those working with vulnerable groups in the development of the VNR, with consultations held in Sarajevo, Brcko District, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar during March 2023. The SDGs are fundamentally about the right to development, and economic, social as well as civil, cultural, and political rights to ensure that the commitment to modernize and transform society leaves no one behind. Energy transition and efficiency Like many countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina faces often complex transitions in the energy sector, both with the need to improve efficiency of existing energy networks, and to promote renewable energy for a greener future. Under the SDG Framework Bosnia and Herzegovina has created “virtual power plants”, connecting networks of electricity generators, storage devices, and smart meters, to better manage consumption while ensuring system stability. By the end of 2022, six virtual power plants had access to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electricity market. Leveraging the private sector’s role To foster a culture of sound competition and reinforce commitment to the SDGs, Bosnia and Herzegovina introduced the SDGs Business Pioneers Award five years ago, recognizing private sector excellence in promoting sustainable development. In 2023, 114 companies put forward entries to recognize their work to create and retain decent jobs and reduce their impact of the environment. The final round of candidates showcased examples of their efforts to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable businesses, circular economy, digitalisation and decarbonisation across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Driving regional cooperation The country has been actively promoting regional cooperation through the mid-term evaluation of SDG progress in the EU Adriatic-Ionian macro-region, annual meetings of Western Balkan experts, the involvement in the Central European Initiative, and active participation in the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Geneva.
Challenges For the time being, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public funds are insufficient for 2030 Agenda implementation. Thus, an intergovernmental working group was established with the aim of providing recommendations to mobilize alternative resources and propose innovative financing methods to propel progress toward the 2030 goals.

To accelerate positive change, with the support of the United Nations Joint SDG Fund, the UN has supported the drafting of a Strategic Financing Framework for Agenda 2030 in late 2020. This framework aims to optimize the allocation of public funds for sustainable development, address the SDG financing gap in priority areas, and explore innovative financing instruments through collaboration with finance ministries, entities, and experts at both national and international levels. The United Nations support for the SDG Framework The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, coordinated by my office, are proud to have provided continuous support to the efforts of the authorities and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the SDGs Framework and advance the 2030 agenda. I have been proud to lead the United Nations team as it has convened stakeholders, international community, and local counterparts, across the country in person and online, to provide expertise, insight and lessons.

The time for smart choices is now. Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to accelerating its progress towards sustainable development by sharing experiences and collaborating with partners, both within and beyond its borders, to generate added value and make a significant impact on the global SDG agenda. This blog was written by Ingrid Macdonald, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and published on the UNDCO website with editorial support from UNDCO.

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Press Release

25 September 2023

The UN Advises Bosnia and Herzegovina Authorities: How to Overcome the Crisis in Agriculture and Ensure Food Security

The costs of raw materials have increased, some by up to 200 percent, which has led to an increase in the prices of all foodstuffs. Thus, wheat flour rose in price by 55 percent, beef by 31 percent, milk by 62 percent, butter by 42 percent, sugar by 53 percent, and edible oil by as much as 118 percent. These are the statistics from the Assessment Report of the Global, Multidimensional Crisis of the Agricultural and Food Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period September 2021 - September 2022, prepared by the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, in 2023 the UN Development Program (UNDP) conducted two assessments – Mapping of Soup Kitchens in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rapid Food Security Assessment for the Vulnerable Population Groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which uncovered the extent of food insecurity in Bosnia and Herzegovina and provided a set of strategic recommendations to help address this challenge. The assessments were supported by the UN Global Fund for Sustainable Development. The weaker purchasing power of citizens And that again affected the citizens. Unfortunately, negatively, as it weakened their purchasing power. In such an economic and social environment, in which life is complicated for both producers and consumers and where prices for transport, services, and goods are soaring, the consequences are felt the hardest by those who earn the least, and who are at risk of even greater poverty. In this context, we can quote the increasingly frequent statements of traders that citizens continue to buy fruits and vegetables by the piece, one potato or tomato, two peppers... They no longer have enough for a kilo. The Assessment Report also describes how the local authorities reacted to such a situation. This report is part of a set of documents prepared to support governments at all levels in responding to the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in BiH and globally. Lack of a coordinated approach of BiH institutions to support citizens The assessment points out that BiH's response to the crisis in the agricultural sector showed a lack of coordination across the various authorities which delayed reactions and aid measures, all due to a disparate administrative structure that lacks cohesion and harmonization. As a result, measures aimed at preventing and mitigating the consequences of the crisis whilst timely and welcome were not sufficient. The key measure at the state level was the reduction of customs duties on fertilizers imported from third countries. The relevant entity ministries increased the budgets for agriculture and introduced a measure of direct price control by determining the maximum amount of margins for basic foodstuffs and other products. Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in BiH Ingrid Macdonald emphasized that the previously mentioned UN publication also showed that there is no harmonized agricultural policy in BiH. It is fair to say that agricultural policies and interventions that are divided between as many administrative units as there are in BiH cannot contribute to a stronger development of agricultural production. BiH Farmers are competing against well-organized agricultural industries in the region and globally. Additionally, BiH has the lowest agricultural budget in the Western Balkans region, and trade barriers for imports are the lowest in Europe. As a consequence, in the observed period BiH recorded a -2.50 million trade deficit in the agricultural and food sector. Also, the study shows that the majority of agriculture producers in BiH are smallholders. To help them continue with production as prices of agriculture inputs increased, the entity ministries of agriculture lowered the minimum threshold of farm size and farm production - says Macdonald. Insufficient investments in the agricultural and food sector What the governments in BiH are doing and the budgetary funds they allocate is not adequate, because, as Macdonald emphasizes, investments in the agricultural and food sector are insufficient to contribute to stronger competitiveness of domestic production. Even the financial subsidies in agriculture are unevenly allocated. For instance, about 65 percent is directed towards a single sector, in the case of BiH to the milk sector, while the remaining 35 percent is divided across all other value chains. - Macdonald points out. All the facts mentioned in the Publication are best felt by producers and householders who feed their families by earning money in agricultural activities. As Bosnia and Herzegovina has not had an agricultural census for more than 70 years, since the 1960es, the relevant entity ministries have a database of registered producers only, for subsidies purpose, which do not even nearly cover the overall agricultural production. And in such circumstances, where a farmer who cultivates 100 hectares of land has the same status as an individual who cultivates a garden as a hobby, where subsidies are insufficient and uneven, there are more and more producers who quit and turn to other activities. This can be catastrophic and a great threat to the extinction of farming in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and consequently agricultural production. In that case, it would partially be the reason for the reduction in food production, which would have a negative impact on the entire population. Growing concern about food security All of the above can be put into context with the results of the assessments of food security among vulnerable population groups and the state of play of soup kitchens in the country, conducted by UNDP. The assessment focused on the most vulnerable population groups - those who fall “between the cracks” of the social protection system and are left to themselves for their daily food intake. The results of the survey among 175 individuals and 250 households country-wide revealed that the current economic instability caused a rise in food insecurity among the most vulnerable as compared to the pandemic years. As many as 77 percent of respondents are at risk of food deprivation and food insecurity, while 32 percent of respondents define themselves as “food insecure,” due to frequent food deprivation. The assessment also showed that persons who are left out of the social protection system are at a higher risk of chronic food insecurity than those in the system and are left to their own devices when it comes to securing the next meal. More than 18,500 people in need across Bosnia and Herzegovina got access to free meals through different forms of soup kitchens in 2022. There are 55 soup kitchens across the country that cater to the food needs of those in need – such as pensioners, unemployed, single parents, low-income families, people with disabilities, Roma. However, there are 70 local governments that do not have soup kitchens and hence – do not offer food services to the most vulnerable population groups. As the Resident Representative of UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina Steliana Nedera emphasizes, the right to food is a human right, which ensures that all human beings live free from hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. She stressed that a thorough policy action is required to strengthen the social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and secure that the right to food is equally respected. She also pointed that in September 2023, UNDP, together with communities, authorities and businesses will facilitate a series of public dialogues across the country to help prioritise the policy actions that can alleviate food insecurity in the country. Key recommendation – common agricultural policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina If we return to the beginning of the text, it will be easy to conclude that a regulated system of agriculture and food production is the only adequate systemic solution for a simpler, more accessible, and cheaper food supply for all categories of the population, including the most vulnerable. As regards recommendations for solving all the mentioned problems, we believe that it is necessary to establish a common agricultural policy in the country, that is, to harmonize the agricultural policy and increase the budget allocations for agriculture as well as investments. In this regard, I draw special attention to the EU pre-accession funds for agriculture and rural development. Additionally, it is necessary to change trade policies and adopt measures that will protect domestic producers from import price dumping and unfair import competition, and the domestic market from price increases on world markets. It is also necessary to introduce ad-hoc measures in crisis situations, such as the reduction of the import tax, which also reduces import taxes on food items, agricultural inputs, and equipment - Macdonald concluded, appealing to all levels of government in BiH to better understand the role and contribution that women can make to the development of the agricultural sector. Key recommendations – food insecurity A comprehensive policy action is required to strengthen the social protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina and secure that the right to food is equally respected and no one is left behind. Re-thinking of social services from the viewpoint of food security is needed, alongside improvements in food centers’ models, infrastructure and resourcing. These efforts need to be inter-connected with effective measures to increase employment, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty, especially among the most vulnerable population groups.

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Press Release

13 September 2023

Parliament vests the Human Rights Ombudsman institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the role of torture prevention

The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes that the law entails the creation of the National Preventive Mechanism as part of the human rights institution as this is long overdue. The establishment of this mechanism is required by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, to which Bosnia and Herzegovina is a party since 24 October 2008. The role of the mechanism will be essential to protect individuals deprived of their liberty from torture, ill-treatment and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Moving forward, it will be essential for the mechanism to enjoy complete financial and operational autonomy. The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism have all urged the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism, as did several recommendations from the third Universal Periodic Review of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2019. The United Nations urges the prompt establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism to monitor the situation of persons in any place of deprivation of liberty and extends it support to facilitate this process. Noting that the law includes a provision on cooperation between the Human Rights Ombudsman institution and civil society organizations, the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina stresses the critical role the institution can play to promote and protect the work of civil society organizations and contribute to opening the space for them to safely and freely fulfil their essential role in society. As per several recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review and the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina underscores the importance of strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman institution, including through ensuring its independence and financial autonomy. The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina stands ready to support the Human Rights Ombudsman Institution to advance the promotion and protection of human rights across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including to promptly establish and operationalize the National Preventive Mechanism.

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Press Release

13 September 2023

FBiH Ministry of Labor and Social Policy strengthens cooperation with the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ingrid Macdonald, and representatives of UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, ILO, IOM and UNFPA confirmed their commitment to continue supporting the Ministry with experts, capacity, and funding in the years to come. “Labor and social policy are amongst the key areas of focus for the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our cooperation with the Ministry is a priority and the United Nations will invest over 16 million BAM in labor and social policy during 2023-2026. Together with the Ministry, we are working on the implementation of plans and programmes focused on those who are most marginalized, but also in addressing the root causes of inequalities”, said Ingrid Macdonald. "Cooperation with UN agencies is extremely important to us and I am glad that at this joint meeting, we made a cross-section of all the agreed activities, the implementation of which will certainly contribute to the strengthening of the social protection system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the next three years", noted Minister Adnan Delić. Through UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, ILO, IOM and UN Women, the UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina will support a feasibility assessment for the establishment of a Family/Children’s Fund, support the finalization of the Law on Social Services, the Child Disability Strategy assessment and referral reform, Support to the development of the FBiH Strategy on social and child protection and humanitarian cash transfers in emergency situations, Development of FBiH action plan on Deinstitutionalization of children, Support to the development of the Pazarić Institution transformation plan, Expansion of foster care for children, including of children on the move, Support to social service workforce strengthening, the redesign of the Ministry's website (to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities), a performance review in pilot social protection institutions, the implementation of energy poverty subsidies programme, strengthening the position of women within the labor market, the development of the Strategy on Population Development of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, support to activation, re-skilling, up-skilling and employment of women in rural areas, support to self-employment of women, support in the integration of Gender Responsive Budgeting in Ministry’s budget, support to the Ministry as commitment makers for the Global Action Coalition on Care Economy as well as support in implementation of recommendation from the UN Women Baseline Study on Care Economy.

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Press Release

11 August 2023

Statement by the UN Resident Coordinator on the occasion of the shooting in Gradačac

“This senseless and gruesome act of violence left us all in shock. No one has the right to use violence and there is no justification for taking a life – whether of a woman, man or child. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and with the injured,” says Macdonald. The United Nations stands horrified by the fact that the murder of a female victim was livestreamed via a social network, which is one of the latest in a streak of femicide and severe cases of gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Femicide, the intentional killing of women and girls based on their gender, represents a glaring and grave violation of human rights. To address this pressing issue and protect the lives and dignity of women and girls, the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina urges immediate collective action and unequivocal condemnation of all forms of gender-based violence, including femicide. “The United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina advocates zero tolerance towards all types of violence. Femicide represents a severe threat to the attainment of gender equality, human rights, and peace. Hence, we firmly stand against this violence, and we call on the authorities to resolutely commit to eradicating this heinous crime, and urge the international community, governments, civil society, and individuals to join forces to prioritize the eradication of femicide,” said Macdonald. As a human rights violation, addressing root causes is critical to put an end to gender-based violence and discrimination. The United Nations reiterates its unwavering commitment to the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to eliminate all forms of violence, including violence against women and girls, through putting in place and strengthening legal frameworks, policies, and comprehensive action plans. The United Nations reiterates its willingness to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), as well as the Istanbul Convention, that the country has ratified, and obliges the state to provide protection from all kinds of gender-based violence. The UN calls upon authorities to strengthen legislation and to ensure its enforcement, punishment, and prevention. “Today’s violence could have been prevented. We must urgently do more to uphold the values of mutual respect, peace, non-violence, and justice, in all circumstances,” adds Macdonald.

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Press Release

09 August 2023

United Nations and Sarajevo Film Festival: An Unbreakable Union of Film and Culture

This dynamic partnership celebrates the tapestry of diversity and resilience while confronting global challenges such as climate change, migration, and human rights violations. "From the corridors of culture to the heartbeats of film, Sarajevo's alliance with the UN is a crescendo of transformation, empowers emerging filmmakers and activists, and ignites their purpose to be at the forefront of revolutionary change and sustainable progress," says Jovan Marjanović, the Festival’s Director. In partnership with the “Green Club” representatives of parliaments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, UNDP is contributing to the Sarajevo Film Festival’s “Greening the Sarajevo Film Festival” commitment to make the festival net carbon-neutral and pioneering Green Pavilion. A media campaign will promote sustainable practices and an online competition will recognize short films promoting climate solutions, renewable energies, and urban mobility, with the top five entries receiving awards during the festival. UNHCR will sponsor a thought-provoking session titled "Mixed Migrations - Differences between Refugees and Migrants," with interactive experience bringing together 25 European Youth Ambassadors to promote the subtle potential of cinematic vocabulary to create empathy, one reel at a time. This event will build an assembly of youth supporters of human dignity as a salute to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which will also be celebrated at the festival with the online appearance of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, Volker Turk. Under the aegis of the United Nations Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund, within the initiative “Youth4inclusion, equality and trust”, the United Nations, in alliance with UNESCO, supports the prestigious Best Director award for the Sarajevo Film Festival. A platform to champion creativity, diversity, and storytelling prowess, this award highlights cinema's potential to instigate change, and write the script for a more harmonious tomorrow. “Sarajevo is home to one of the most prominent film festivals in Europe – devoted to originality, quality and continuing growth, the Festival pictures an important contemporary chapter of a centuries-old city. It boldly tackles challenging social topics, opens dialogue and highlights the acceptance of diversity as a norm. As a long-term partner and a friend of the Festival, we wish to invite all citizens of BiH to join in person or via digital platforms, in the celebration of creativity and enjoy a good film,” says Siniša Šešum, Head of UNESCO Antenna Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina "The Best Director Award shines as a beacon of creativity, an ode to the power of storytelling in shaping a world painted with the hues of understanding and unity. It is central to a partnership that the UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina is proud to support! The festival attracts over 100,000 visitors and contributes to economic activities worth over 40 million euros during its duration. I applaud the festival’s ambitious commitment to be net carbon-neutral which is a fantastic example of green transition in action," says Dr. Ingrid Macdonald the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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