International and national legal framework of BiH concerning gender equality 

(at constitutional and legislative level)

Within the international legal framework for gender mainstreaming we have:

• Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) with the ratified the Optional Protocol
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
• CoE Recommendation
• EU Community Framework Strategy on Gender Equality

The national legal framework for gender mainstreaming includes:

• Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Entities Constitutions
• Gender Equality Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Criminal Codes – state and entity
• Family Law - entity
• Law on protection against domestic violence - entity

It is important to emphasize that the Gender Equality Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (GEL) contain all international standards; defines both direct and indirect discrimination, gender based violence, harassment and sexual harassment and introduces sanctions against offenders. The areas covered by the Law are: education, Employment, work, and access to all forms of resources, Social protection, Health care, Sport and culture, Public life, Media, Prohibition of violence. The Law sets forth obligations of competent authorities to adopt programmes and measures for achievement of gender equality in all areas in compliance with the Gender Equality Law provisions.

The Gender Equality Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed in October 2005 Declaration on Cooperation between Gender Mainstreaming Institutional Mechanisms in the West Balkan Countries.