The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW )

The CEDAW was ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993 and is annexed to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina and subsequently part of the national legislation. The Optional Protocol to the CEDAW was ratified in 2002. The CEDAW convention obligates BiH to eliminate discrimination in legal, political, social, economic and cultural fields. CEDAW recognizes that discrimination is an everyday reality for women and that this reality violates the principles of equality of rights and the respect for human dignity. It defines equality, and indicates how to achieve it.

Optional Protocol to the CEDAW

The Optional Protocol (Art. 1-7) introduces the possibility of individual compensation claims for persons or groups of persons under the jurisdiction of a State who allege to be victims of a violation of any of the rights enunciated in CEDAW.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

Bosnia and Herzegovina is, also, politically obligated to apply with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (from 1995) and the Cairo declaration (CIPD) from 1994. None of these declarations have legal status, but each member state (signatory of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action) has obligated itself to prepare a National Action Plan for Advancement of Status of Women. This National Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina has been important in the elaboration of the GAP.

UN SCR Resolution 1325

Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was adopted by the Security Council on 31 October 2000. The resolution, is legally binding for all member states. It adopts an inclusive concept of security by calling on member states to ensure the full and equal participation of women in all peace and security matters. Specifically, the resolution urges all member states to strengthen gender equality “at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict.”

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In 2000, the Summit of the Millennium was held, at which the main challenges facing the world were identified. Agreements were obtained on several topics of world interest and commitments made by the United Nations member States were consolidated, particularly the commitments made during the preceding decade.

Council of Europe (CoE)

The CoE has in addition issued a set of recommendations. Although not a legal obligation for BiH these have been of importance for developing the GEL and, in consequence the GAP.