Overview
The Mission promotes gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina by supporting the political participation of women, combating gender-based violence (GBV), and strengthening institutional responses at all levels. It has worked with major political parties to introduce voluntary gender quotas, ensure parity on candidate lists, and endorse joint principles to combat violence against women. The Mission also co-operates with law enforcement, the judiciary and social services to improve responses to GBV, supports legislative reforms, and promotes parliamentary oversight through thematic sessions.
The Mission’s field offices play a key role in localizing gender equality efforts, including the development of local gender action plans and improving GBV responses at all levels of authority.
Public awareness is raised through campaigns, such as the 16 Days of Activism and International Women’s Day, while collaboration with international partners helps co-ordinate and amplify impact.
Featured
Activities, news and other highlights
Brochure
Protecting Women, Strengthening Laws and Institutional Response: The Role of the Parliament of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Combating Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
In 2024 the OSCE Mission in BiH supported four committees of both houses of the Parliament of Federation of BiH4 in holding three thematic sessions on domestic violence. This collaboration was the result of a need for an increased and strategic approach towards the gender-based violence issue that needed an urgent respond and long-standing co-operation between the Mission and the key stakeholders and decision-makers.
News Item
Towards Safer Communities: Co-ordinated action to end violence against women and domestic violence
SARAJEVO, 21 May 2025 – In a decisive step toward strengthening protections for survivors of domestic violence and violence against women, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) convened a meeting today in Sarajevo to advance the implementation of the new legal framework in the Federation of BiH (FBiH).
Study / report
OSCE-led Survey on Violence Against Women: Bosnia and Herzegovina - Results Report
This report presents the representative survey findings of the OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The survey was implemented in 2018 in selected countries in South Eastern Europe and Eastern Europe. The OSCE-led survey included a quantitative and qualitative component and was undertaken with the goal of providing comparable data on different forms of violence women experience in their childhood and throughout the course of their lives. The research examined violence that women experience in conflict and non-conflict settings, as well as the impact violence has on women and girls, including its lasting consequences. Questions on norms and attitudes connected to violence against women were asked to better understand the underlying causes of violence.
Learning, training and research
Strengthening competenceThe OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina offers courses and learning resources to support practitioners and other interested audiences in the OSCE participating States.
News and activities
Current announcements, press releases, media advisories and other updates
Resources
Official OSCE documents, publications and other manually selected resources
Studies and reports
Reports, studies and analyses for policymakers, researchers and all those interested in this field of our work.
Manuals and guides
Practice-oriented manuals, guides, handbooks and recommendations for policymakers and practitioners working in this field.
OSCE stories
Read up on the OSCE, our people on the ground and our work
Story
Op-ed by Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Kathleen Kavalec and Swedish Ambassador Johanna Strömquist, on the occasion of International Women’s Day
7 March 2021
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Story
Breaking Free: What makes victims of domestic violence survivors?
7 March 2016
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
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