Population Size:
3,301,100, 49.98% male and 51.02% female.[1]
Number of People Experiencing Domestic Abuse Each Year:
11% of women reported having experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, while 34% reported having experienced such in the last 12 months.[2]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of Domestic Abuse to the Economy Each Year:
No research.
Estimated % Change due to COVID-19:
Likely in line with UNFPA projections.[3]
Current Law and Policy:
Bosnia and Herzegovina has made various commitments.[4] The country has committed itself to implementing the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and the UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325 on Women, Peace Security.
In order to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach with regard to the implementation of the abovementioned Convention and the substantive issues therein, Bosnia and Herzegovina is developing a multi-layered strategy. It will set out the country’s strategic objectives with regard to violence against women, establish specific programmes by which to address this issue as well as mechanisms by which to monitor such, prohibit discrimination against women, set out legislative and other measures that the country will take to prevent violence against women and domestic violence and to protect and support victims.
In relation to the abovementioned UN Resolution, Bosnia and Herzegovina is seeking to implement such through its Action Plan. The Plan focuses on increasing the participation and number of women in decision-making position at all levels of the government, military, police forces and peacekeeping operations. It also includes training peacekeepers on the issue of gender.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to improving its support and assistance networks for women and girls victims fighting against human trafficking.
Public spending – The total annual cost of the existing multisectoral response to domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina amounts to BAM 2,175,000.[5]
Frontline Services:
Women for Women - https://www.womenforwomen.org/where-we-work/bosnia-and-herzegovina - general@womenforwomen.org
Sources
[1] World Bank.
[2] UN Women, “Global Database on Violence Against Women – Bosnia and Herzegovina”, (evaw-global-database.unwomen.org).
[3] OSCE, “Domestic Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Time of COVID-19”, (osce.org, 27 April 2020).
[4] UN Women, (3).
[5] UN Women, “Analysis of the Cost of Domestic Violence: Estimating the Cost of Multisectoral Response at the Local Level in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, (2019), Report, 43.
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