AGENCY FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN BIH

Agency for Gender Equality in Bosnia-Herzegovina was established on February 19, 2004, in a decision by the Council of Ministers. Besides the supervision of the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality in BiH, the Agency performs the following functions:

a) Present and analyse status of gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina on basis of reports developed by the Agency and reports from entities’ gender centres and produces annual report for the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On grounds of results from analysis and monitoring, the Agency shall produce special reports, opinions, suggestions and recommendations to be delivered to competent bodies at the state level.

b) Determine methodology for developing report on gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

c) Initiate and coordinate development of the Gender Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with entities’ gender centres, which is adopted by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

d) Monitor application and coordinate activities with all relevant subjects in the Gender Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina implementation process from Article 21, paragraph 3 of this Law;

e) Cooperate with institutional mechanisms for gender equality in institutions at the state level;

f) While preparing drafts and proposals of laws, by laws and other norms, strategies, plans and programs, and before these are delivered to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provide opinion on compliance of these acts with the Law and international standards on gender equality;

g) Provide initiative and participate in preparation of laws, by laws and other acts, strategies, plans and programs, that are adopted at the state level, in order to determine measures for achieving gender equality in all spheres of social life;

h) Give initiative to initiate procedure to change and amend regulations in case of incompliance with provisions of this Law, domestic and international standards in gender equality;

i) Consider depositions and complaints of citizens that point to violation of a certain right from this Law;

j) The Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall adopt Unified Rules for Consideration of Depositions and Complaints of Citizens from paragraph 9 of this Article;

k) Present and coordinate activities, within its jurisdiction, at international and regional level;

l) Monitor implementation of this Law, and together with the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Centre of the Republika Srpska shall prepare reports on fulfilment of international obligations in gender equality sphere;

m) Cooperate within its jurisdiction with non-governmental organizations that deal with protection of human rights and freedoms;

n) Perform activities in order to promote gender equality;

o) Perform all other duties in order to implement this Law.

GENDER CENTRE OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

http://www.fgenderc.com.ba

The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in its decision of December 7, 2000, has established the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Ministry for social issues, displaced persons and refugees, and promoted the Centre to the level of the governmental expert body in January 2001. The Gender Centre is a co-ordination body of the FBiH.

GENDER CENTRE OF REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

http://www.gc.vladars.net

Center for Gender Equity and Equality (Gender Center) was founded by the Decision of the RS Government in the end of year 2001. Establishment of such body at the entity level was one of conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s admission to Council of Europe.

 

The Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Centre of the Republika Srpska shall monitor application of the Law at entities’ level and perform following tasks for that purpose:

a) Monitor compliance of laws and other acts, policies, strategies, plans and programs adopted at entity level, with domestic and international standards for gender equality;

b) Provide opinion on compliance of laws and other acts, policies, strategies, plans and programs that are adopted at entity level with provisions of this Law and other domestic and international standards for gender equality and initiate harmonisation;

c) Monitor and analyse status of gender equality in entities;

d) Prepare and develop regular and special reports on gender equality, prepare and develop information, opinions and recommendations to be delivered to entities’ governments and other competent bodies;

e) Receive and process requests, complaints and depositions of persons and groups of persons in which they point out violations of a certain right from this Law in compliance with unified rules from Article 23, paragraph 1, subparagraph 10 of this Law;

f) Cooperate with institutional mechanisms form Article 21, paragraph 3 of this Law;

g) Present and coordinate activities, within their jurisdiction, at regional level;

h) Cooperate with non-governmental organizations that deal with protection of human rights and freedoms;

i) Provide expertise and advisory support and assistance to all institutions in the system and other partners.

The Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Centre of the Republika Srpska shall perform other duties in relation to improvement and promotion of gender equality in entities.