Gender-responsive budgets as part of reform changes on the road to European integration and the basis for improving the recognit
For the purpose of reinforcing the role of the civil society in the promotion of human rights and democratic reforms in BIH in accordance with the regulations of the European integration process, Association Vesta from Tuzla, in partnership with Udružene žene from Banja Luka, is realizing the project “Gender-responsive budgets as part of reform changes on the road to European integration and the basis for improving the recognition of women’s rights in BIH.”
The project will be realized on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2010 and 2011. The project realization is supported by the European Union through the EIDHR programme. The project is specifically directed towards improving the situation of women by ensuring the human right of newly delivered mothers in BIH through CSOs’ involvement and coordinated action in the advocacy process for gender-responsive budgets at entity and cantonal levels.
At the end of project realization we anticipate:
- Adoption of a joint Action plan for improving the status of newly-delivered mothers in BIH through using the process of gender sensitization of entity and cantonal budgets.
- Initiation of Parliamentary procedures at entity and cantonal levels for the amendment of the existing legislation and its consistent implementation for the purpose of creating gender-responsive budgets regarding the right of newly-delivered mothers to benefits during maternity leave.
- Strengthened capacities of the KRIK network of civil society organizations and socially responsible media, which is dedicated to improving the recognition of women’s and children’s rights in BIH.
For the purpose of improving the condition of the final beneficiaries, newly-delivered mothers in BIH, the target group will consist of the representatives of other non-governmental organizations, government officials from financial departments, members of commissions for gender equality at entity and cantonal levels and representatives of the media. In order to achieve the specified goals and expected results during project implementation, we will realize the following activities:
- Improving the general understanding of the importance of gender-responsive budgets during the process of European integration.
- Training for the representatives of non-governmental organizations, government officials from financial departments and members of commissions for gender equality about gender-responsive budgets.
- Application of the acquired knowledge through an analysis of entity and cantonal budgets from the aspect of allocations for maternity benefits.
- Implementation of Parliamentary meetings for the purpose of launching parliamentary procedures towards advocating gender-responsive budgets and improving the situation of newly-delivered mothers.
- Monitoring of the conclusions from the parliamentary sessions and harmonized action plans and permanent dissemination of information about the progress in the public.
- Capacity and cohesion building within the KRIK network.
The evident gender unresponsiveness of budgets further reinforces gender discrimination, and the women in BIH suffer from it the most during this vulnerable period of their lives. In order to ensure quality dialogue which will result in some concrete steps towards improving their condition, understanding and cooperation among the representatives of governmental institutions and the civil society, and their active participation in the planned project activities which will take place at entity and cantonal levels will be necessary.
