Seminar: Steps Toward Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina

SARAJEVO, 6 April 2001 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today opened a seminar on Partnership in Parliament: Strategic Steps Towards Gender Equality.

Former and current women parliamentarians from State and entity parliaments participated, together with members of the BiH Parliament and RS National Assembly (RSNA) Equality Committees.

"The establishment of the Committees to Establish Gender Equality in the BiH Parliament and the RSNA signals that BiH legislative bodies are serious about putting women's issues on the agenda," said Sverre Johan Kvale, Director of the OSCE Democratization Department. "We look forward to the Federation's House of Representatives' establishment of a similar committee."

The seminar will focus on the committees' formation, operations and future work. It will discuss challenges faced by women MPs and identify constructive ways to address these challenges. Emphasis also will be placed on citizen involvement in the committee process.

The seminar is being held at the Hotel Terme, Ilidza. Media representatives are invited to attend.

The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.

For further information please contact Sanela Tunovic, Deputy Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (++387/33) 292-338 or (++387/66) 134-758.