A protest march under the slogan “Women’s Safety Is a Public Responsibility” was held today at the Square of the First Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, marking International Women’s Day. The event was organized by an informal group of activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Participants in the march highlighted the issue of violence against women and the need for stronger institutional responses, as well as the importance of continued efforts to protect and advance women’s rights.
Politician and activist Besima Borić said that women in Bosnia and Herzegovina have made certain progress in recent years in the legislative framework addressing gender-based violence, but that the implementation of these laws remains slow.
“Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina have achieved significant progress when it comes to the legal regulation of gender-based violence, but that which is progressing far too slowly are the resistances coming from within institutions. It seems to me that there is also a form of violence inside institutions, among those who delay the implementation of the laws,” said Borić.
She added that it is necessary to remain persistent in the struggle for women’s rights and that the March 8 protest march serves as a reminder of the true meaning of the date.
“We do not celebrate March 8, we commemorate it. We mark the achievements and the beginnings of women’s struggles for labour and social rights, but we also remind ourselves that those achievements are always at risk and must constantly be defended,” said Borić.
Journalist Rubina Čengić said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not doing enough to prevent violence against women and that a systematic approach to the issue is lacking.
“If you do not act against something, you silently accept that such things happen. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we do not have official records at any level of government on the number of cases of violence, femicide or attempted femicide,” said Čengić.
She also warned about insufficient funding for safe houses and the lack of preventive measures.
“Safe houses are actually the last link in the chain of protection. Before that, there should be a series of measures, from prevention through education, work with perpetrators of violence, counseling services and various forms of support for women who are victims of violence. Those steps are almost never discussed,” said Čengić.
The organisers said that the goal of the march was to remind the public and institutions that women’s safety is a matter of public responsibility and that systematic work on preventing violence and protecting victims is necessary, Fena writes.
