Combating digital and sexual violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina II
At a glance
The project aims to ensure that victims of digital and sexual violence enjoy their rights in law and practice in line with Council of Europe standards and with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).
Building on the results of phase I, the project will continue to support authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to reform the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for combatting digital violence and sexual violence in relation to the consent-based definition of sexual violence.
Funding
This project is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 and funded through voluntary contributions.
Duration
01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
What are the goals and objectives of the action?
The project will continue to anchor its support to effectively implement the recommendations stemming from the Istanbul Convention monitoring process. This will be done through:
- supporting the development and holistic implementation of evidence-based policies for combating digital violence and introducing a definition of sexual violence based on the lack of consent of the victim,
- expanding targeted training and capacity building to prevent and combat digital violence to legal professionals and front-line victim support providers.
Who benefits from the action?
The primary beneficiaries of these activities are women victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence.
The project activities, implemented with institutional partners (BiH Gender Equality Agency and Entity Gender Centres, BiH and entity justice ministries, entity interior ministries, and the Government of Brčko District), will target authorities at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina, first-line professionals (law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges), and women’s rights organisations.
How does the action work?
This project will continue the work started in the first phase which was implemented from 1 June 2023 to 30 November 2024. In this period, the project succeeded in closing the gaps in policymakers’ understanding of the legal, policy and institutional implications of digital violence and sexual violence in relation to the consent-based definition of sexual violence.
The second phase of the project shall involve:
- targeted awareness-raising initiatives on how to prevent and combat digital and sexual violence against women in line with the Istanbul Convention and Council of Europe practices.
- capacity-building events targeting relevant national authorities on digital violence and the consent-based definition of sexual violence against women.
What do we expect to achieve?
Upon the completion of this action, we wish to see:
- increased awareness and understanding among relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on digital and sexual violence as specific forms of violence against women,
- further developed capacity among relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to address sexual and digital violence and to protect victims.
What is the budget of the action?
The total budget of the action is 420 000 EUR.
Reference documents:
General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women
- Good practice Guidelines for the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence offences based on the lack of consent of the victim
- Emerging practices in the investigation and prosecution of digital violence against women
- Approaches taken in states parties to the Istanbul Convention on the criminalization and prosecution of sexual violence, including rape (Focus section from the 4th General Report on GREVIO activities)
- Promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence and stereotypes as means of combating trafficking in human beings
- GREVIO General Recommendation No. 1 on the digital dimension of violence against women
The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)
Istanbul Convention page
Text of the Convention
Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)
About GREVIO
General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women
Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo
Maja GRUJIĆ
Senior Project Officer
Vildana SARAČEVIĆ
Project Assistant
Council of Europe
Gender Equality Division