Ambassador Verveer: Increase women's participation in politics and decision-making

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The participation and leadership role of women is not only good for women, but the entire society can benefit from it. This message was conveyed by Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Special Representative for Gender Equality within the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship, during a three-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

At a meeting with the staff of the OSCE Mission to BiH held in Sarajevo, Verveer praised efforts aimed at integrating a gender perspective into all dimensions of the Mission's activities, from its engagement with security sector actors and activities focused on preventing violent extremism, to promoting and protecting fundamental freedoms and eradicating corruption.

"Women must be given space to contribute to decision-making processes by expressing what they see, think, and hear. Otherwise, societies cannot progress," Verveer stressed.

"The Mission's work is gradually helping to make this a reality in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

The Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Bruce G. Berton, elaborated on the progress the country has made since Ambassador Verveer's last visit in 2016.

"There are several bright spots on the horizon: for example, the adoption of new laws at the state and entity levels addressing issues such as discrimination and domestic violence," Berton said.

"However, these laws are not always followed by their implementation, given that the current political stalemate represents a significant obstacle to progress," he added.

During her visits to Sarajevo and Banja Luka, Ambassador Verveer met with the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marina Pendeš, as well as officials from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

Other meetings during her visit included interactive discussions with civil society representatives from across the country, many of whom focus on reconciliation and peacebuilding, as well as domestic violence, working lunches with businesswomen, female municipal mayors and city mayors, and meetings with the BiH Agency for Gender Equality and the gender centres of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska. She also met with multilateral partners operating in BiH. 

At a public lecture she delivered in Sarajevo, Ambassador Verveer recalled her first trip to BiH as a White House official during the conflict. Since then, she noted, women from BiH have continued to demonstrate their resilience, determination, and strength, among other things through their ability "to cross imaginary lines of division" and promote reconciliation.

Ambassador Verveer concluded her lecture with a message of unity: "When we begin to overcome our divisions - our ethnic divisions, our religious divisions, and our divisions between men and women - only then can we truly move forward."