The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Ana Trišić-Babić met with UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon during the 57th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Trišić-Babić thanked Ban Ki-Moon for visiting BiH in July 2012 and for his personal commitment and work on the issue of human rights, especially regarding women and gender equality.
The need for a systematic approach to prevent all forms of violence against women was said to be necessary, including legal and political protection to victims and setting up a database and to conduct research.
It was assessed that cooperation of BiH with the relevant UN bodies was satisfactory, and that BiH strives to timely fulfill all its obligations towards the UN.
They specifically spoke of the efforts that BiH is taking in connection with the participation of soldiers and police officers from BiH in peace operations of the UN throughout the world. In this regard, it was announced that BiH is ready to support UN policies to include a higher percentage of women and to create policies to establish peace, as well as for a larger role of women in UN peace operations throughout the world.
It was pointed out that BiH adopted a decision for 1/3 of the nominated candidates for UN peace missions throughout the world be women.
The Deputy Minister also informed the UN General Secretary of the decision of BiH authorities to send nine police officers on a peace mission of the UN to South Sudan, among which nine are female police officers.
During the talks they emphasized the importance of implementing resolutions of the UN Security Council 1325 (2000) on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and about gender-based violence in conflict.
The significant role of BiH in the work of the UN Council of Security from the period of 2010-2011 of permanent membership was underlined. They confirmed the necessity of lending support for the peace process in countries through concrete projects.
Both sides concluded that the issue of peace in the country and in the region should not be neglected and that it needs concrete support and help for this long process, through education and culture that represents significant areas for strengthening dialogue in society.
They spoke of the internal situation in BiH and in the region, as well as BiH aspirations for its path towards the EU and NATO.
