The Ambassador of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Helena Lagerlof, condemned on behalf of Sweden the recent cases of verbal and physical harassment of female politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the meeting that took place on Tuesday, Ambassador Lagerlof discussed the subject with representatives in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, who informed her firsthand about physical attacks against them, as well as about online insults directed against them, which also included death threats.
“Violence, threats and harassment that is specifically aimed at elected representatives who are women is unacceptable and as such must stop. This is against the basic values of any viable democracy,” Lagerlof stressed.
She also noted that systemic prevention of any form of violence and attacks against democratically elected female politicians is imperative.
Lagerlof stated that disagreements and opposing views are an integral part of almost every political debate, however, allowing the situation to escalate into harassment and attacks is unacceptable.
“Sweden would like to see a greater number of active women on the political scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina because they represent the needs and perspectives of half the population, make the political picture more diverse and inclusive, and the future of the country more sustainable. However, in order to achieve this, we must first ensure that they are safe while are engaged in this business,” concluded Lagerlof, the Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
