The introduction of the gender concept into institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina started in 1999 through specific activities, the key ones being the establishing of Gender centres with the Entity governments and creating conditions to start the process of building institutional and legal frameworks for gender mainstreaming in BiH.
The Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina passed the Law on Gender Equality in March 2003 with the aim to fully integrate the gender concept into institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Institutional gender mechanisms have been developed and built on the State, Entity, cantonal and municipal levels, creating conditions for the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

State level

The commission for Gender Equality has been formed wirhin the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Agency for Gender Equality was formed by a Council of Ministers’ Act in 2004 and it started its operation in January 2005 as a part of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.

Entity level

Commissions for Gender Equality have been formed in both, the House of Representatives and the House of peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, whereas in the RS National Assembly, it is the Board for equal opportunities that has been formed. In both, the Government of Federation BiH and the Government of Republika Srpska, there are persons appointed to deal with gender issues in every ministry.
Gender Centres of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska operate as expert bodies of entity governments.

Cantonal level (Federation BiH)

Commissions on Gender Issues have been formed in cantonal assemblies, whereas Coordination Boards for gender issues have been formed in cantonal governments.

Municipal level

In most municipal councils/assemblies, as well as in municipal mayors' cabinets, Boards/Commissions on gender issues have been formed.