Every second woman in BiH has experienced some form of violence, most often from a partner

Every second woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced some form of violence during her lifetime, most often combinations of physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence. What is particularly devastating is the fact that even women with poorer health, as well as women with disabilities, are not spared from violence, according to the results of a study by the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the occasion of November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

The study “Prevalence and Characteristics of Violence against Women in BiH” showed that psychological violence is the most widespread, with a total lifetime prevalence rate of 42 percent, followed by physical violence at 24 percent.

- Six percent of women experienced sexual violence during their adult life. This study also established that the most widespread violence is that perpetrated against women by their current or former partners, as they are the perpetrators in 72 percent of cases. Young women are more exposed to violence than older women, so the prevalence rate among women aged 18 to 24 is 56 percent, and among those over 65 it is 44 percent - it was stated.

The director of the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ana Vuković, said that gender-based violence or sex-based violence is a global phenomenon that affects women and girls across the planet in all countries and cultures, regardless of social system, religion, values and attitudes.

She added that it is believed that the roots of gender-based violence are deeply embedded in patriarchal tradition and that by changing harmful gender stereotypes and eliminating gender discrimination, it is possible to influence the reduction or elimination of gender-based violence as an extreme form of discrimination.

The Gender Centre of the Federation of BiH conducts the “White Ribbon” campaign every year, where men wear a white ribbon from November 25 to December 10 around the world and show that they are against violence against women and girls.

In the Federation of BiH, there is also a free SOS telephone line 1265 where cases of domestic violence can be reported. 1,004 calls were made in 2013 and the first half of 2014.

In 2013 and the first half of 2014, based on data from cantonal ministries of interior, and according to Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH, 1,669 cases were reported, and 916 reports of committed criminal offenses were filed. According to data from municipal courts under Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH, 324 verdicts were rendered (by type of sentence: imprisonment 9 percent, fine 6 percent, suspended sentence 83 percent, other 2 percent). 231 protective measures were imposed (by type of protective measure: eviction from an apartment, house or other residential premises and prohibition of return to the apartment, house or other residential premises 15 percent, prohibition of approaching the victim of violence 26 percent, protection of the person exposed to violence 0 percent, prohibition of harassment or stalking of the person exposed to violence 46 percent, obligation of psycho-social treatment 6 percent, mandatory treatment for addiction 7 percent). In six safe houses in the mentioned period in the territory of the Federation of BiH, 323 victims of domestic violence were accommodated, while 4,986 services were provided via the SOS telephone. Of that number, 95 percent of calls were made by women, and 5 percent by men.