A comprehensive strategy adapted to the situation of COVID-19 for a Sarajevo without gender-based violence

A time frame of implementation: The expected duration of the project is 16 months.

In 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina became one of the signatories of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention mandates the coordinated work of institutions and bodies that provide support to users in crisis situations. Crisis centers for the support of victims of sexual violence represent a specialized support service intended for the specific needs of victims in order to ensure optimal support and assistance. (Articles 23, 24, and 25 of the Istanbul Convention).

The goal of this project is to create conditions (and adapt them to crisis situations such as a pandemic) for the implementation of the articles of the Istanbul Convention, which recommend the establishment of crisis centers for victims of sexual violence in order to more effectively respond to violence against women and the integration of crisis center services with other assistance services victims, along with the general raising of public awareness about gender-based violence and institutions that are obliged to implement the Convention.

With the project, we want to advocate for the proper implementation of the Istanbul Convention through improving political advocacy for the elimination of gender-based violence by increasing funds from public funds for services for women victims of domestic violence and adopting the Draft Law on Protection from Domestic Violence in FBiH; establishing an institutional response to violence through a comprehensive response of the health system to cases of sexual abuse and establishing the first crisis center for victims of sexual violence in BiH; improvement of work coordination and cooperation of the Safe Network with institutions at all levels of government, and especially with the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the implementation of this project, we expect that public advocacy will result in the adoption of the Draft Law on Protection from Domestic Violence in BiH and the expansion of public services in the area of ​​gender rights, as well as the improvement of the capacity to respond to the provision of health care services for victims of sexual violence through the adaptation of assistance services to the conditions of the COVID pandemic.

We also expect a successful citizen sensitization campaign based on strengthening the quality and media coverage in relation to gender-based violence.

The project is implemented by the Foundation of Local Democracy in cooperation with Medicusmundi Mediterranea and the Association of Journalists, and the financial sponsor is the Agency of the Government of Catalonia for International Cooperation.