The project aimed to support key stakeholders to increase the quality of the administrative data collection system, and the level of trained professionals to deal with cases of violence against women and domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Violence against women and girls is a serious violation of fundamental human rights and a widespread social problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The entry into force of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) in August 2014 marked an important milestone in BiH efforts to curb violence against women and girls. While the legal framework in BiH is in place, institutional capacity building and provision of assistance to victims of domestic violence remain a need in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project Raising BIH Institutional Capacity to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Domestic Violence strengthened BiH institutional capacity to counter violence against women and domestic violence, by contributing to an increase in the quality of data collection and the level of trained legal professionals to deal with cases of violence against women and domestic violence.

Expected results:

• The HELP course on violence against women and domestic violence was adapted to the national legal and policy framework of BiH and launched for legal professionals. Legal professionals will more responsive to victims of violence against women and domestic violence, due to their enhanced professional knowledge and skills;
• A report supporting the establishment of the functional system of data collection and analysis of genderbased violence and femicide cases was developed, with recommendations on data collection. Promising practices and recommendations on data collection were shared with relevant BiH authorities in line with the standards of the Istanbul Convention. The BiH authorities, including the Agency for Gender Equality and other relevant BiH agencies, are able to advance in implementing a comprehensive system of data collection of cases of violence against women and domestic violence.

Gender Equality Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gender Centres of FBiH and Republika Srpska

Bar Association of FBiH and Republika Srpska

Centres for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of FBiH and Republika Srpska

The Federal Foreign Office of Germany

The project was implemented by

the Capacity Building and Co-operation Projects Unit at the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Division, Directorate General of Democracy (DGII)

Jenna SHEARER-DEMIR, Programme Adviser

together with

HELP Unit, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law  (DGI)

Valentina  BOZ

and

the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo

Viktorija RUZICIC-TOKIC, Senior Project Officer