BIH OMBUDSMAN: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW PROGRESS IS MADE AND CALL FOR CHANGES

SARAJEVO, MARCH 7 (ONASA) – Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. Jasminka Džumhur, Nives Jukić and Dr. Nevenko Vranješ congratulate March 8, International Women’s Day, but also remind that there are still many challenges in the field of achieving gender equality and improving the position of women in bh society.
In their work so far, the ombudsmen have dealt with several cases in which the complaints indicated a violation of gender equality, and more specifically, the fact that women who remained in a different situation were faced with a violation of their rights from the employment relationship, as well as the fact that extramarital unions does not de facto enjoy the same level of protection as a married union with regard to the realization of certain property rights, such as the right to maintenance or inheritance of joint property.
That is why it is important to emphasize that, despite significant progress, women’s economic inequality is still at the very root of all other forms of violation of women’s rights based on gender, their marital and family status, and maternity.
In the process of protection against gender-based discrimination, the Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina established mechanisms that are used in cases of this type, which also includes criminal-legal protection, while Ombudsmen take measures on citizen complaints in accordance with the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination.
This date is an opportunity to review the progress made and call for changes, including a change in the way of thinking about the roles of women and men in society, without which there is no true respect for women’s human rights.
The ombudsmen therefore call for additional efforts to ensure equality and the enjoyment of all rights, especially the participation of women in public life in accordance with the provisions of the BiH Gender Equality Law, and call on the competent authorities to take measures, including affirmative activities, to ensure this principle.
In doing so, the Ombudsmen emphasize the importance of taking measures to prevent violence against women, including violence through information and communication technologies, hate speech, etc.