Public consultations held in Sarajevo on the rights of newly delivered mothers in BiH

With a view to initiate a dialogue, aimed at improving the position of newly delivered mothers in BiH, VESTA Association from Tuzla organised public consultations in Sarajevo on the theme ''Exercising of rights by newly delivered mothers in BiH''. All the participants of public consultations in Sarajevo agreed that it is necessary to make concrete steps toward improvement of the position of newly delivered mothers in BiH, i.e. toward regulation of the entire field of protecting families with children, as a field of special social interest.

This activity is part of the project Gender responsible budgeting within the reform changes on the path toward EU integrations and the basis for improvement of women's rights in BiH. Vesta Association from Tuzla is implementing this project in partnership with United Women from Banja Luka. Project implementation is financially supported by the European Union.

The project addressess an evident need for introduction of gender sensitivity in the budgeting processes at all levels of government in BiH, this being one of our country's responsibilities in the process of European integrations. On the other hand, the project is specifically designed to contribute to th exercising of rights by newly delivered mothers in BiH, a very vulnerable group of beneficiaries, whose status is directly affected by the inadequate allocation of budgetary funds.

During the public consultations, which will be held throughout BiH, interested representatives of interest groups (newly delivered mothers, pregnant women, families, parliamentarians, ministries, social welfare centres, ngos, media) will have the opportunity to analyse the situation when it comes to exercising of rights by newly delivered mothers in BiH and to define recommendations for improvement of their position. Positions and opinions of participants of these public consultations will be included in the Analytical basis, which will be submitted to the BiH Gender Equality Agency, with a view to initiate drafting of an Action Plan for improvement of the position of newly delivered mothers in BiH.