Sarajevo, (Fena) – The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women, organized the “Men Against Violence” event at the Europe House in Sarajevo.
This assembly included a conversation titled “Men as Agents of Change: Tackling Gender Inequality and Gender-Based Violence,” aimed at emphasizing the significant part men can assume as allies in the fight against gender-based violence and all types of violence, especially towards women.
Prior to the event, Adnan Delić, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, highlighted the necessity of addressing these matters, particularly from a male viewpoint.
“Establishing legislative frameworks that define what gender equality means is essential for improving our society. At the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, alongside our partners, including UN agencies and representatives from the European Union Delegation here today, we concentrate on countering prevalent stereotypes in our society. Our aim is to challenge these stereotypes through different initiatives, such as the establishment of safe houses throughout the Federation of BiH designed to tackle gender-based violence and enhance women’s equality,” Delić told the media.
Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed appreciation for the event’s organization and stressed that gender-based violence and inequality pose serious societal issues that mainly impact women. He remarked that men and boys hold a crucial position as catalysts for positive change in this field.
The European Union continues to provide support to Bosnia and Herzegovina through numerous projects carried out in partnership with local entities and international organizations, targeting the monitoring and resolution of discrimination and gender inequality.
The event communicated a crucial message: male involvement is imperative in the struggle against gender-based violence and in the pursuit of gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Violence towards women and girls continues to be a considerable problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with nearly half of women (48 percent) reportedly facing some form of violence, such as intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment since the age of 15, according to a 2019 study by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). (14.11)
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