The Gender Equality Forum 2025 was held today in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the motto “Towards Just Societies – Gender Equality as a Driver of Regional Development”, organized by the Government of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Forum is dedicated to the role of women in strengthening peace, prosperity and inclusion in the Western Balkans, and its conclusions will be presented at ministerial meetings within the process.
Opening the Forum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, emphasized that the fact that the Forum is being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a strong confirmation of the trust that international partners show in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As he said, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains firmly committed to the Berlin Process, and gender equality is an important segment in regional cooperation and diplomacy.
“We are proud to be the organizers together with Germany and Great Britain. Last year, marking the tenth anniversary of the process, we initiated a declaration on good neighborly relations, and now a declaration on the role of women in diplomacy and the establishment of a network of women diplomats of the Western Balkans. In doing so, we demonstrate our readiness to make gender equality the foundation of modern, efficient and inclusive diplomacy,” said Konaković.
He warned that societies in the region, including BiH, remain too conservative, despite legal measures aimed at increasing women’s political participation.
“You have a minimum of 40 percent of women on the electoral lists, but voters still elect mostly men. That is why it is important to strengthen citizens’ trust in women leaders through forums like this. I have had the best experiences in my career with female associates, which shows how important it is to open up space for women in executive and political positions,” he added.
Similar messages were sent by Christine Toetzke, Director General of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), who highlighted the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for Europe.
“Our goal is clear – the full and equal participation of women and vulnerable groups. Gender equality is a central element of national development, regional cooperation and European integration. The Western Balkans lose around 18 percent of GDP annually because women are not equally represented in the labor market,” said Toetzke.
She emphasized that women around the world are still insufficiently represented in leadership positions, while they often face harassment, including online abuse.
“With this forum, we are sending a clear message: gender equality is not a subject of negotiations. Women’s voices must be heard and protected, both online and offline,” the German government representative emphasized.
Germany, she said, as the largest bilateral donor in the region, recognizes its special responsibility and will continue to cooperate with governments, municipalities and civil society to achieve full equality.
Baroness Harriet Harman, the UK’s Special Envoy for Women and Girls and a member of the House of Lords, recalled her own political experience in the British Parliament, where in the early 1980s only three percent of women were women.
“Today, there are 40 percent, but this did not happen by itself, but thanks to determined leadership. Women are the key to economic development, but also to stopping the brain drain. If we want to retain young people and give them prospects, we must ensure better conditions for women – from childcare and maternity leave to equal rights and greater representation in politics,” said Harman.
She added that the region faces numerous challenges, but also opportunities that can be used to strengthen the position of women and thereby accelerate overall social and economic progress.
This year’s Forum builds on the recommendations from last year, with an emphasis on their concrete implementation. Particular emphasis was placed on efforts to combat gender-based violence online through global partnerships, strengthening cooperation between institutional mechanisms for gender equality and protection from discrimination, and establishing a Regional Network of Women Diplomats.
The conclusions of the Forum will be presented at ministerial meetings within the framework of the Berlin Process in Belfast, confirming the region’s shared commitment to building more just, inclusive, and stable societies, Fena news agency writes.
Photo: Fena
