Director of the BiH Gender Equality Agency, Ms Samra Filipović – Hadžiabdić, addressed today in Sarajevo the EU Heads of Missions in BiH and presented the Agency’s priorities in 2014.

Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Renzo Daviddi, praised the good cooperation established between RS and FBiH centres and BiH Gender Equality Agency. He underlined that the EU and the Agency share the same priorities in their efforts to advance the gender equality agenda in BiH. Political and economic empowerment of women and combating sexual and gender based violence against women and in particular, violence during conflict are some of the EU priorities on the issue. He also expressed his full support to the implementation of Action Plans the Agency has developed and encouraged all concerned to take a more proactive stance in the implementation of gender equality.

Ms Filipovic  stressed that this year  the Agency will focus on the three priorities: combating violence against women; the participation of women in  decision making positions and the economic empowerment of women. She underlined the importance of continuous awareness raising in the fight against gender based violence. She elaborated on the trainings planned  by the Agency to enhance the participation of female candidates in the run to upcoming elections. Finally,  she elaborated on an initiative to establish a fund to support female entrepreneurship in BiH.  

Ms Filipovic’s presentation was followed by a lively debate. The EU MS representatives who took the floor touched upon the following issues: the activities carried out and planned in terms of economic empowerment of women; the way in which the issue of civilian victims of sexual violence was dealt with; the role of the Parliament on gender issues and how the issue of different social standards for women at entities’ and cantonal  level was addressed.