The staff of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina today marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, and joined the campaign ’16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence’ to raise awareness of the issue.
“Violence against women and girls is one of the most serious human rights violations. One in three women worldwide has experienced it, regardless of her ethnic, religious or educational background. There is neither justification for it, nor excuses for us to stay ignorant of the pain women suffer”, said Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative.
“Action to prevent and eliminate gender-based violence is the responsibility of each and every individual, civil society and governments worldwide. It also remains a priority for the European Union. We must work to provide women with access to economic opportunities, to ensure their equal participation in public life, repeal laws and practices that continue to discriminate against them and ensure that homes, offices, streets and schools are safe for women and girls. Only by setting it as a priority and joining efforts can we succeed at this front.”
The EU has assisted Bosnia and Herzegovina through a range of programmes with regard to respect of women’s rights and gender equality, assisting victims of sexual violence and rape during the war, peace building and reconciliation. Through the Instrument for Stability, the EU is currently funding a EUR 1,7 million project to ensure access to justice for witness/victims through strengthening Witness Support Networks across BiH. The EU also supports the preparation of the new regional intervention in the development of gender equality in the Western Balkans and Turkey to be implemented by the UN Women with EU funding for an amount of EUR 4,5 million.
Tonight, the EU House building in Sarajevo will be lit in orange in support of the UN-led ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign.
