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Keywords: EU; women; work; employment; EU legislation; law; judiciary; politics;
Legal framework of the European Union confirms its determination towards gender equality. Over the last decades there has been developed a series of provisions of primary and secondary law of the EU as well as a large number of political documents and initiatives in the field of gender equality, particularly in the field of employment and work conditions. Case law of European Court of Justice has contributed to the great extent to development of European law in this field. The EU point out a few important fields putting them in its focus of actions: first of the fields refers to employment, in particular, access to employment, promotion at work including the access to professional training as well as working conditions, including the redundancy conditions. The second refers to equal work or work of equal value, the third to harmonization between private and professional life and a special protection of pregnant women and maternity leave. The European Union recognizes the importance of introduction of measures of an affirmative action aimed at accomplishing the goals in these fields. In the field of equality between women and men, over the last decade there has been adopted a numerous of directives which have been changed and amended over time. Directives that can be directly linked to the issue of work and employment are, inter alia: Directive of Council 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security; Directive of Council 2004/113/EZ of 13 December 2004 on implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services, i.e. service provision; Directive 2010/41/ EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity and repealing Council Directive 86/613/EEC; Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (“The Recast Directive” ). Except the mentioned, it is important to point that the EU has adopted a series of directives relating to the rights of pregnant and postpartum women, then maternity, parenting and paternity based rights amongst which the key important are Directive 92/85/EEZ (“The Pregnant Workers Directive”) Directive2010/18/EU of 8 March 2010 (“The Parental Leave Directive”). Also, the European Court of Justice, as the EU institution whose task is to interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries, the most frequently in a liberal manner than courts of member states do at the time of decision- taking, has given a great contribution to the process of advocating the promotion of women at labour market including those related to different forms of discrimination against women. The possibility to use the EU law on gender equality in court proceedings before national courts of member states represents a powerful instrument for protection and accomplishment the right to equality whether the EU law is integrated into national legislation or not. In fact, member states are often late with transposing or, sometimes, do it in a way being opposed to goals which some directives try to achieve. However, due to the principle of supremacy of European Union law, in case of inconsistency of national legal regulations with the EU regulation and in accordance with the European Court of Justice’s decisions, national courts of member states are compelled to base its decision on the EU regulations, i.e. are compelled to do everything in its power to achieve the result the directives’ goals strive to by interpreting the national law. Except legal documents and court justice of the European Court of Justice, political documents of the European Union too represent a significant resource, especially in terms of determining the directions and actions in the field of gender equality. One of such documents, which was adopted in the aim of promoting the equality between women and men is a Women’s Charter. The Charter highlighted the five specific fields of actions necessary to take additional efforts to confirm the dedication of Europe to equality of women and men offering a better life and sustainable future for all: Economic independence; Equal pay for equal work or work of equal value; the representation of women in decision-making and positions of power, respect for women’s dignity and integrity, but also an end to gender-based violence, both in the European Union and outside the EU borders. Although, after reading the legal documents of the European Union it could be argued that equality of women and men is the fundamental value, the goal and the driver of the European Union’s economic growth and that the EU in all its actions is trying to promote the equality of women and men, things are often different in practice. Decisions of the Court of Justice confirm that even long-year member states face difficulties when implement the principle of gender equality and the prohibition of discrimination as general principles that the European Union is based on. This is why the European Union is trying to make a positive impact on promoting the equality of men and women and gender equality not only in member states but in EU accession process countries. In that sense, the EU requires the adjustment of a candidate country’s legislation to the EU legislation. Member states are, except adopting the laws, obliged to take measure aimed at revoking all laws, regulations or proceedings which are not in accordance with the principle of equal treatment. Each provision being opposed to the mentioned principle and is part of employment contract, collective agreement, employment internal act, a regulation being applied to self-employed occupations or organizations of workers and employers are, accordingly, declared null and void and must be amended.
More...Keywords: BiH; European Commission; EU accession; civil society; law; human rights; gender;
Ovaj dokument predstavlja zajednički napor organizacija i pojedinaca uključenih u rad Inicijative za monitoring evropskih integracija Bosne i Hercegovina da pruže dio odgovora na Upitnik Evropske komisije za BiH. Dokument se oslanja na četverogodišnji rad Inicijative koja kroz alternativne izvještaje, od 2013. godine, daje pregled napretka BiH na putu u Evropsku uniju. Odgovori predstavljeni ovdje nisu sveoubuhvatni u smislu odgovora na sva pitanja u Upitniku, niti nam je to bio cilj. Sveobuhvatne odgovore treba da dostavi država BiH, a organizacije civilnog društva željele su predstaviti svoju perspektivu i ponuditi odgovore na pitanja koja se tiču, prije svega, demokratije i vladavine prava u BiH. Odgovori su zasnovani na znanju, analizama i direktnim iskustvima organizacija civilnog društva sa terena. Naš cilj je dati dodatak zvaničnim odgovorima i doprinijeti preciznijoj, uravnoteženijoj i na građane orijentisanoj procjeni pitanja mjerodavnih za status kandidature BiH u EU. Čvrstog smo uvjerenja da napredak BiH ka članstvu u EU treba da bude temeljan i upotpunjen sa stvarnim reformama, boljom upravom i jačanjem demokratskog procesa kako bi građani BiH stvarno imali koristi od procesa pridruživanja EU. Nadamo se da će ovaj dokument doprinijeti dostizanju tog cilja.
More...Keywords: BiH; institution; LGBT; human rights; protection; LGBT conference; Western Balkans;
Sarajevo Open Centre and Open Society Fund BiH hosted a conference on December 16th, 2013 with the aim of sharing best practices for improving LGBT human rights in the Western Balkan region. Representatives from LGBT organizations and ombudsperson offices in BiH, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia were present, as well as those from international organizations, such as the OSCE Mission to BiH, the United Nations office in BiH, and some representatives of foreign embassies. We also invited all relevant BiH institutions such as Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the three members of the Presidency, human rights committees from multiple levels of parliaments, and the gender agency and entity gender centers. However, we received few responses and no one attended. We present a summary of lessons learned as a first step to transferring this experience to the local context, recognizing the fact that utilizing European Union integration processes is key for accomplishing all of the following recommendations.
More...Keywords: CEDAW; CEDAW convention; women human rights; BiH; alternative report; annex; economic position; political life; violence; victims of war; women trafficking; marginalisation; women from rural areas; LBT;
Dodatak trećem alternativnom izvještaju je nastao kao rezultat zajedničkih napora grupe aktivistkinja i aktivista iz nevladinih organizacija u Bosni i Hercegovini sa dugogodišnjim iskustvom u direktnom radu sa ženama čija su prava ugrožena ili direktno povrijeđena, kao i aktivnostima zalaganja za usvajanje rodno osjetljivih i odgovornih zakona i javnih politika u oblasti zaštite ženskih ljudskih prava i ravnopravnosti polova.
More...Keywords: CEDAW; CEDAW convention; women human rights; BiH; alternative report; annex; economic position; political life; violence; victims of war; women trafficking; marginalisation; women from rural areas; LBT;
(English edition) The Annex to the Third Shadow Report is a result of joint efforts invested by the group of experienced female and male activists of non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a long experience in working with women whose rights are either threatened or directly violated as well as in advocacy of the adoption of gender sensitive and gender responsive legislation and policies in the field of women’s human rights and gender equality.
More...Keywords: BiH; human rights; LGBT; 2014; 2015; progress report; SOC; written submission;
Period covered by the submission: October 2014-March 2015
More...Keywords: Civil servants; public administration; public institutions; civil society; discrimination; human rights; equality; constitution;
Princip ravnopravnosti i zabrane diskriminacije sadržan je u svim međunarodnim sporazumima o ljudskim pravima. Povelja Ujedinjenih nacija obavezuje sve članice na “poštivanje ljudskih prava i osnovnih sloboda za sve, bez razlikovanja rase, spola, jezika ili vjere”. Također, Univerzalna deklaracija o ljudskim pravima garantuje svim ljudima slobodu i jednakost u dostojanstvu i pravima, bez obzira na “bilo kakvu razliku kao što je rasa, boja kože, spol, jezik, vjera, političko ili neko drugo uvjerenje, nacionalno ili društveno porijeklo, imovina, rođenje ili neki drugi status”. Ustav Bosne i Hercegovine (BiH), Ustav Republike Srpske (RS), Ustav Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine (FBiH) i Statut Brčko distrikta Bosne i Hercegovine (BD BiH) sadrže odredbe o zabrani diskriminacije. Dodatno, Ustavom BiH je zagarantovana direktna primjena Evropske konvencije o zaštiti ljudskih prava i njenih protokola u BiH, te je utvrđen njihov prioritet nad svim ostalim zakonima. Pored toga, Aneksom I na Ustav navedeno je dodatnih 15 međunarodnih dokumenata, među kojima su i Međunarodni pakt o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima, Konvencija o ukidanju svih oblika diskriminacije nad ženama, kao Konvencija o pravima djeteta. [...]
More...Keywords: Discrimination; law against discrimination; Bosnia and Herzegovina; equality; equal opportunities; constitution; human rights;
Ovim zakonom uspostavlja se okvir za ostvarivanje jednakih prava i mogućnosti svim licima u Bosni i Hercegovini i uređuje sistem zaštite od diskriminacije. U skladu sa Ustavom Bosne i Hercegovine i međunarodnim standardima koji se odnose na ljudska prava i osnovne slobode, ovim zakonom utvrđuju se odgovornosti i obaveze zakonodavne, sudske i izvršne vlasti u Bosni i Hercegovini, kao i pravnih lica i pojedinaca koji vrše javna ovlaštenja (u daljnjem tekstu: nadležne institucije Bosne i Hercegovine), da svojim djelovanjem omoguće zaštitu, promovisanje i stvaranje uslova za jednako postupanje. [...]
More...Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; European Commission; progress report; European integration; European Union; EU accession; progress evaluation;
Kao i prethodne dvije godine, Inicijativa za monitoring evropskih integracija BiH objavila je Alternativni izvještaj o napretku BiH za 2015. godinu,1 u kome se predstavlja pregled napretka Bosne i Hercegovine u ispunjavanju Političkih kriterija (poglavlje 2. u Izvještaju koji objavljuje Evropska komisija) u 2015. godini iz perspektive skoro 30 bh. organizacija civilnog društva koje djeluju na poljima ljudskih prava, političke odgovornosti i vladavine prava. Ovaj dokument predstavlja uporedni pregled izvještaja Evropske komisije i Alternativnog izvještaja, kakav je urađen i prethodnih godina. Cilj komparativne analize je da ustanovi u kojoj mjeri je Evropska komisija u svojim zaključcima i preporukama uzela u obzir preporuke i nalaze organizacija civilnog društva; te da utvrdi koje su podudarnosti i razilaženja ova dva izvještaja. [...]
More...Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; European Commission; progress report; European integration; European Union; EU accession; progress evaluation;
As in the previous two years, the Initiative for Monitoring the EU Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina published the 2015 Alternative Progress Report1 that presents an overview of progress Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has made in 2015 in completing the Political Criteria (Chapter 2 in the Progress Report of the European Commission) from the perspective of almost 30 civil society organizations in BiH that operate in the spheres of human rights, political accountability, and the rule of law. This document presents a comparative overview of the European Commission’s Report and the Alternative Report, like the one produced last year. The aim of the comparative overview is to determine to what extent the European Commission, in its conclusions and recommendations, acknowledged the recommendations and conclusions of civil society organizations; and to determine similarities and differences between these two reports. [...]
More...Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; institutional framework; human rights; ombudsman for human rights; protection of human rights;
Institucija ombudsmena za ljudska prava Bosne i Hercegovine je centralna nezavisna institucija za zaštitu i promociju ljudskih prava. Imajući na umu da u Bosni i Hercegovini ne postoje druge institucije ombudsmanskog karaktera (npr. tematski ombudsmani), niti druge institucije za ljudska prava, kao što su fondacije ili vladine kancelarije za promociju civilnog društva, značaj Institucije ombudsmena za ljudska prava Bosne i Hercegovine je još veći. [...]
More...Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; institutional framework; human rights; ombudsman for human rights; protection of human rights;
The Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of BiH is a central, independent institution for the protection and promotion of human rights. Having in mind that there are no other institutions of ombudsman nature in Bosnia and Herzegovina (e.g. thematic ombudsman), nor other institutions for human rights, such as foundations or government offices for the promotion of civil society, the importance of the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of BiH is even greater. [...]
More...Keywords: Sarajevo Open Centre; Bosnia and Herzegovina; human rights; LGBT people; state of human rights; progress report; discrimination;
This submission is short summary of the current developments, but also of the very detailed “Pink Report. Annual Report on the State of Human Rights of LGBT People in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014”, published by the Sarajevo Open Centre.
More...Keywords: Sarajevo Open Centre; Bosnia and Herzegovina; human rights; women’s rights; progress report; gender studies;
This submission is short summary of the current developments, for more information, read a detailed Annual Report On The Human Rights of Women In Bosnia And Herzegovina In 2014, published by Sarajevo Open Centre and CURE Foundation on behalf of Women's Network BiH.
More...Keywords: Human rights; LGBT people; protection of LGBT rights; Western Balkans; gender studies; LGBT conference; NGO;
Sarajevo Open Centre and Open Society Fund BiH hosted a conference on December 16th, 2013 with the aim of sharing best practices for improving LGBT human rights in the Western Balkan region. Representatives from LGBT organizations and ombudsperson offices in BiH, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia were present, as well as those from international organizations, such as the OSCE Mission to BiH, the United Nations office in BiH, and some representatives of foreign embassies. We also invited all relevant BiH institutions such as Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the three members of the Presidency, human rights committees from multiple levels of parliaments, and the gender agency and entity gender centers. However, we received few responses and no one attended. We present a summary of lessons learned as a first step to transferring this experience to the local context, recognizing the fact that utilizing European Union integration processes is key for accomplishing all of the following recommendations.
More...Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; political system; electoral systems; European Court for Human Rights; case “Sejdić-Finci”; discrimination; constitution;
Donoseći odluku u decembru 2009. godine u slučaju Sejdić i Finci protiv BiH, Evropski sud za ljudska prava u Strazburu postavio je jasan zadatak pred bh. institucije i političke elite: politički sistem BiH se mora na taj način preustrojiti, tako da se svakom/oj građaninu/ki omogući da se može kandidovati i može biti izabran u Predsjedništvo BiH i Domu naroda Parlamentarne skupštine BiH, neovisno od njihovog etničkog porijekla. Političke posljedice presude idu još dalje i impliciraju ukidanje ustavne diskriminacije u svim institucijama, na svim nivoima unutar bh. državne strukture. Od 2010. godine do danas vođeni su različiti razgovori oko provedbe presude. Političke elite nisu bile u stanju da pronađu zadovoljavajuće rješenje za sve građane/ke. Pregovori su vođeni u zatvorenim krugovima, izvan predviđenih parlamentarnih struktura. Od strane organizacija civilnog društva do sada su predstavljeni različiti modeli provedbe. Predstavljanjem ovog modela želimo dati još jedan doprinos diskusiji „ustavnih reformi”.
More...Keywords: Human rights; Bosnia and Herzegovina; women’s rights; gender studies; gender equality; implementation of CEDAW; women’s human rights; law; politics; discrimination;
BiH is still burdened by ethnic and national divisions, which hinder the social, economic and political development, and dominate the public discourse. Thus the issues of gender equality, realization of women’s human rights in public and private spheres, and the application of domestic laws and international obligations, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) have been pushed into the background. Despite the progress that has been realized in regards to development of the formal and legal framework and public policies in the field of promoting and protecting women’s human rights, women in BiH do not have equal opportunities to participate and are underrepresented in political decision-making within the legislative, executive and judicial authorities at all levels. The State has failed to ensure the harmonization of the BiH Election Law with the Law on Gender Equality in BiH. Women have been excluded from the processes of negotiations, peace processes, post-war reconstruction and the European integration process, which remain exclusively reserved for men. Discrimination against women continues to be deepened and maintained by appointing men to managing positions in public companies and steering boards, as well as executive bodies in the economic sector. Institutional mechanisms for gender equality in BiH remain largely isolated within the institutions of the system due to a lack of understanding of their role and resistance to issues of gender equality and women’s human rights. BiH has not invested real efforts to ensure the positioning of the Gender Equality Agency of BiH as the institution that would be directly responsible to the Council of Ministers. Additionally, there are no tangible results in practice regarding raising awareness and building capacity of government bodies at all levels on implementation of CEDAW.
More...Keywords: Human rights; Bosnia and Herzegovina; women’s rights; gender studies; gender equality; implementation of CEDAW; women’s human rights; law; politics; discrimination;
Dodatak trećem alternativnom izvještaju je nastao kao rezultat zajedničkih napora grupe aktivistkinja i aktivista iz nevladinih organizacija u Bosni i Hercegovini sa dugogodišnjim iskustvom u direktnom radu sa ženama čija su prava ugrožena ili direktno povrijeđena, kao i aktivnostima zalaganja za usvajanje rodno osjetljivih i odgovornih zakona i javnih politika u oblasti zaštite ženskih ljudskih prava i ravnopravnosti polova. Dodatak ima za cilj usmjeravanje pažnje na promjene u ključnim oblastima koje su predmet trećeg alternativnog izvještaja, a koje su se desile nakon 2010. godine, te na nezavisnu analizu i nove podatke koji nisu bili uključeni u treći alternativni izvještaj, a odnose se na stanje zaštite i ostvarivanja prava naročito višestruko marginalizovanih kategorija žena u Bosni i Hercegovini. [...]
More...Keywords: gender; LGBTIQ; religion; communities; dialogue; religious practices; human rights;
U srcu Balkana, unutar Bosne i Hercegovine, susretanje vjere, organizovane religije i seksualnosti odavno je tema prekrivena tišinom i osuđivanjem. To je mjesto gdje se duboko ukorijenjena tradicija i vjera susreću sa sve promjenjivijim razumijevanjem ljudskih prava, posebno onih LGBTIQ+ osoba. Ovaj zbornik tekstova, kolekcija glasova različitih autorica i autora, vodi čitateljstvo na putovanje kako bi se otkrile skrivene priče i prihvatila prisutnost LGBTIQ+ vjernika/ca u društvima Zapadnog Balkana, a sjene stigme bacile daleko, kao i kako bi se istražili načini na koje unutar organiziranih religijskih zajednica možemo kreirati prostore prihvatanja, razumijevanja i sigurnosti za LGBTIQ+ zajednicu i vjernike/ce unutar nje. Da bismo se pozabavili ovom tišinom, nužno je angažirati se u otvorenom dijalogu, slobodnom od predrasuda i unaprijed oblikovanih mišljenja i dogmi. Naša kolekcija tekstova služi kao katalizator za ovaj dijalog, osvjetljujući iskustva, borbe i nade LGBTIQ+ osoba koje zadržavaju svoju vjeru i duhovnost u bosanskohercegovačkom kontekstu. Ona baca svjetlo na izazove s kojima se suočavaju, kako unutar vjerskih zajednica tako i u širem društvu. Danas svjedočimo razlikama između stavova vjerskih zajednica i ljudskih prava LGBTIQ+ osoba. Štaviše, unutar samih vjerskih zajednica postoje proturječja i kolebanja oko ovih pitanja, pa i u širem kontekstu seksualnosti, koja odzvanjaju i u raznolikosti viđenja povezanosti i odnosa religije, vjerovanja, seksualnosti i roda unutar same LGBTIQ+ zajednice. Utjecaj vjerskih institucija u oblikovanju diskursa i javnog mnijenja u Bosni i Hercegovini i regiji Zapadnog Balkana je neosporan, što suočavanje s postojećim predrasudama i zabludama čini još važnijim. Raznoliki glasovi zastupljeni u ovom zborniku udružuju se kako bi pozvali na otvoren, empatičan i inkluzivan razgovor o postojanju i prihvaćanju LGBTIQ+ vjernika/ca. Ovaj zbornik nije samo kolekcija tekstova; on je poziv na akciju. Poziva čitateljstvo da istraži križišta vjere, ljubavi i identiteta te potiče razumijevanje i suosjećanje kako bismo zajedno radili na destigmatizaciji iskustava LGBTIQ+ vjernica/ka u Bosni i Hercegovini i šire. Naša iskrena želja je da ovaj zbornik posluži kao temelj promjene, te da otvori vrata prema inkluzivnijem i suosjećajnijem društvu na Balkanu i šire. Pozivamo vas da krenete na ovo putovanje s nama, da prihvatite bogatstvo različitih iskustava i perspektiva koje čine naše društvo, te da zajedno radimo na stvaranju pravednije i inkluzivnije budućnosti.
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