B&H: Findings of the Research on Protection of Women and Girls from Violence Presented in Sarajevo/BiH:Nalazi istraživanja o zaštiti žena i djevojčica od nasilja predstavljeni u Sarajevu

03 July, 2019 – Representatives of the Foundation United Women participated at the round table “Good Practices, Obstacles, and Shortages in System of Protection of Women and Girls from Violence – Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, held on July 1, 2019 in Sarajevo. The research was conducted by the Center of Women’s Rights from Zenica, as contribution to the regional study that involves Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, and B&H, with focus on examining shortages and failures in institutional response on violence against women and girls.

In relation to legal qualification of criminal offences of gender based violence, findings of the monitoring of criminal proceedings point at cases in which prosecutors, during preparation and submitting indictments, inadequately access elements of the criminal offences for which the Criminal Code requires stricter penalties. This practice has been identified in criminal offences against both adult women and underage victims of violence. Obligation of informing women survivors of violence about available mechanisms of support and assistance is not legally regulated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there are no legal obligations of any public institution to provide such information to victims of violence. Judicial proceedings for domestic violence are unsatisfactory – although the law requires urgent procedures, the practice shows that proceedings last for several years, which additionally endangers survivors of violence.

Bosnia and Herzegovina still does not apply efficient mechanism for collecting data on violence against women, and there is lack of protection and efficient specialized services for other forms of violence against women, such are rape, sexual abuse and harassment. There are no rape crisis centers for victims of rape and crisis centers for victims of sexual violence in the country. Victims of violence from marginalized and socially excluded categories are lacking information about their rights, and do not know where to seek for help and assistance.

The research also points at needed legislative changes, activities of governmental institutions at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including local self-governance and judicial institutions.
Research is the part of EU funded UNWOMEN Regional Program for ending violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”.

03. juli 2019.g. – Predstavnice Fondacije Udružene žene su učestvovale na okruglom stolu „Dobre prakse, prepreke i nedostatci u sistemu zaštite žena i djevojčica od nasilja – situacija u Bosni i Hercegovini”, koji je održan 1. jula 2019.g. u Sarajevu. Istraživanje je proveo Centar ženskih prava iz Zenice, kao doprinos regionalnoj studiji koja uključuje Albaniju, Kosovo, Crnu Goru, Makedoniju i Bosnu i Hercegovinu, sa fokusom na analiziranje propusta i nedostataka u okviru institucionalnog odgovora na nasilje prema ženama i djevojčicama.

U vezi sa pravnom kvalifikacijom krivičnih djela rodno zasnovanog nasilja, nalazi monitoringa krivičnih postupaka ukazuju na slučajeve u kojima tužioci, prilikom pripreme i podnošenja optužnica neadekvatno procjenjuju elemente krivičnih djela za koja krivični zakon predviđa strožije kazne. Ova praksa je uočena u vezi sa krivičnim djelima rodno zasnovanog nasilja u kojima se kao oštećene pojavljuju punoljetne žene i u djelima počinjenim na štetu maloljetnika. Obaveza informisanja žena koje su preživjele nasilje o dostupnim mehanizmima podrške i pomoći nije regulisana niti jednim zakonom u Bosni i Hercegovini, i ne postoji zakonska obaveza bilo koje javne institucije da pruži ove informacije žrtvama nasilja. Sudski postupci za nasilje u porodici rmation to victims of violence. Judicial proceedings for domestic violence are unsatisfactory – although the law requires urgent procedures, the practice shows that proceedings last for several years, which additionally endangers survivors of violence.

Bosna i Hercegovina još uvijek ne primjenjuje efikasne mehanizme za prikupljanje podataka o nasilju prema ženama i uočen je nedostatak zaštite i dostupnih specijalizovanih servisa za druge oblike oblike nasilja prema ženama, kao što je silovanje, seksualno zlostavljanje, i seksualno uznemiravanje. U BiH ne postoje krizni centri za žrtve silovanja i krizni centri za žrtve seksualnog nasilja. Žrtve nasilja koje pripadaju marginalizovanim i socijalno isključenim kategorijama imaju nedovoljan pristup informacijama o svojim pravima, i ne znaju kome da se obrate za pomoć i podršku.
Istraživanje takođe ukazuje na nužne izmjene zakona, aktivnosti vladinih institucija na svim nivoima u Bosni i Hercegovinim uključujući i jedinice lokalne samouprave i pravosudne institucije.

Istraživanje je dio programa UNWOMEN za zaustavljanje nasilja prema ženama u zemljama Zapadnog Balkana i u Turskoj „Sprovođenje normi, mijenjanje stavova“, koji finansijski podržava Evropska unija.

Photo: Center of Women’s Rights from Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina