1

Strengthening skills for gender –

responsive law making of elected

women and man

Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić, director of the Agency

for Gender Equality of B&H

Davorin Semenik, secretary of the Commission for

Gender Equality of the Parliamentary Assembly of

B&H

22.11.2011

Gender Equality Law

Gender Equality Law of B&H was adopted in

2003 and it regulates all areas of public and

private life.

The Agency for Gender Equality prepared

amendments on Gender Equality Law 2009.

The Gender Equality Law provides in article

15 for an obligation to undertake positive

measures in order to ensure that at least 40%

of women are represented in all decision

making positions, including delegations.

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Harmonization of Laws with GEL

Law on radio - TV system,

Law on radio -TV service,

Law on comunications,

Law on civil service in B&H institutions,

Law on finansing of political parties.

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Election Law of B&H

• The Election Law of B&H introduced election list

quotas with a zipper system (art 4.19).

• Non compliance with this article removes the list

from ballot.

• In 2010 a Working Group was established to

prepare amendments on the Election law which

aimed to create a system which could ensure

participation of women in elected bodies over 30%

• The Amendments were denied in two readings of

the House of Representatives (lower house)

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Implementation of the Project

The pilot project “Enhancing Women’s Meaningful

Participation in Politics in B&H” was the first

systematic gender mainstreaming capacity development

effort targeting Members of Parliament in B&H. It was

implemented in cooperation with the Agency for Gender

Equality of B&H .

The Project contributed to raising awareness on

importance of gender equality and enhancing of

women’s participation in decision making processes.

Efforts to enhance capacities of key policy makers to

mainstream gender equality into

laws/policies/programmes in B&H have focused so far to

a large extent on Governmental agents.

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Implementation of the Project

Two seminars with representatives of gender

equality commissions on state and entity level,

Practical work on the harmonization of laws on

police officers with Gender Equality Law,

Public presentation „How to use Media in promotion

of political participation of women“ in order to

improve public presentation of women politicians

and candidates.

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7

International framework

1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

1950 European Convention on Human Rights and

Fundamental Freedoms,

1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights,

1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social

and Cultural Rights,

1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination against Women (CEDAW),

1995 Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action

UNSCR 1325 „Women, Peace and Security“.

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B&H framework

Constitutions od Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities and cantons,

Gender Equality Law of B&H (2003, amended in 2009),

Entity laws on protection of domestic violence (2005)

Election Law,

Criminal codes,

Family codes,

Labor Laws

Harmonization of Laws

Gender Equality Law – harmonization of Laws

with GEL – 40% of women on decision making

positions,

Positive measures,

The Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina

(“Official Gazette of B&H“ 23/01…37/08)

The Law on Political Party Financing (“Official

Gazette of B&H“ 102/09)

100 Laws on state and entity level were

harmonized with Gender Equality Law (labour

laws, laws on social protection). 22.11.2011 9

Gender Action Plan • Strategic, five-year document, adopted by the

Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 14th of September 2006.

• Activities in 15 areas;

- Harmonization of laws and bylaws

- Adoption of strategies and action plans

- Developing statistics and researches,

- Activities (trainings, educations, cooperation with

media, publishing, etc.)

Action Plan for the implementation

of UNSCR 1325

• The Action Plan was adopted by the Council

of Ministers in July 2010.

• The first Action Plan for the implementation of

UNSCR 1325 in the Region of South-East

Europe,

• Developed with full participation of institutions

that are responsible for the implementation

(participatory approach).

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B&H Parliamentary Assembly –

House of Representatives

22.11.2011

13

B&H Parliamentaryy Assembly –

House of Peoples

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Entity Parliaments

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Elected Ministers

State level of governance

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Regional governance heads of

executive

16 22.11.2011

Elected judges - State level

17 22.11.2011

B&H Constitutional Court

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Number of female representatives - growth 1987-2006*

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1987 1990 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006*

Arab countries

Central and East Europe

Central Asia

East Asia

South America

North america and

West Europe

North and West Asia

Africa

Elections 2010

State and entity Parliaments

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Women

Media

Education and

health of children

services

Society

Lost of secure

Working place

Family

Political party

Bodies

Voters

Guilt?

Politicans

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WOMEN

NATALITY

EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

HEALTH OF CHILDREN

EDUCATION FOR WORK

FOOD/COOKING

HEALTH CARE

SOCIAL SERVICES

WORK IN THIRD SECTOR

VOTING ON ELECTIONS

HOUSING

PUBLIC SERVICES AND

TRAFFICK

WORK

Overall

earnings

Human potential

Family

Quality of education

Development

of politics

Loans/

morgages

Reconciliation

of professional

and working life

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The Agency for Gender

Equality of B&H

protokol@arsbih.gov.ba

00 387 33 209 761

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