Presentation and a panel discussion on European initiatives for development of rural communities took place in Živinice municipality on 22 March 2012. It was organised by Vesta Association. Its objective was to contribute to a better understanding of the EU, its policies and programs of rural development, as well as benefits from those programs for the candidate and potential candidate countries of the EU. Also discussion was the information on the possibilities to prepare for the LEADER program, and possibilities to establish a mechanism for continued exchange of information and a dialogue on the possibilities for application of such as approacj in BiH.

The document will soon be presented to the the BiH Council of Ministers

Public debate on the Code of ethical research with children in BiH was held at the start of the week in Sarajevo. The debate was organised by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in BiH, and Vesta Association, with the EU funding, within the project „Strengthening the role of CSOs in the monitoring of State Strategy for combating of violence against children in BiH 2011-2014“.

Ther publication ''LEADER program of the European Union and its function in the rural development“ presents the EU LEADER program and explains how LEADER can support development of rural communities. The publication is intended for all acters who want to take part in the local rural development initiatives. This publication was created within the project „Panel discussions on European initiatives for development of rural communities“.

Author: HoD/EUSR Peter Sørensen

The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been marking the International Women’s Day for decades. Although having borne certain ideological connotations for a while, the very essence of March 8 is not ideological but quite noble – equality between men and women. That equality may seem a given today to some, but merely one hundred years ago, which is not a long time when put in the context of human history, women were without the right to vote, a few had higher education, they had no access to great many a jobs and were paid less. To a large degree this injustice has been rectified but more work is required in a number of areas before full equality of persons of different genders attained.

Presentation and panel discussions on European initiatives for development of rural communities was held yesterday in Lukavac Municipality, with aim to contribute to better knowledge and understanding of the EU, its policies and programs of rural development, as well as the benefits that are given to candidates or potential country candidate and Member States of the European Union. The purpose of this presentation was to inform the participants about the LEADER program, and the establishment of mechanisms for continuous dialogue and exchange of information in BiH.

OSCE mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina is organising presentation of the film ''No Woman No Cry'' on Tuesday 13 March at 16:00 hours, at the Kriterion Cinema in Sarajevo. Folloowing the film, a discussion will take place on the challenges that women are facing in the system of social and health care in BiH. In addition to representatives of the OSCE Mission in BiH, the representatives of BiH Ombudsmen for Human Rights, Commission for Gender Equality of the BiH Partliamentary Assembly and Vesta Association from Tuzla will also take part in the discussion.

Municipality of Gracanica yesterday hosted first presentation and Panel discussion on European initiatives for development of rural communities. Its aim was to contribute to better knowledge and understanding of the EU, its policies and programmes for rural development, as well as the benefits for candidate and potential candidate countries as well as EU Member States. The aim was also to provide and present information on the possibilities of preparing for the LEADER programme, and to establish mechanisms for continuous exchange of information and dialogue for applying this approach in BiH.