Table: Children victims (girls and boys)

Year	Total	Female	Male
2010	63	51%	49%
2011	53	55%	45%

Table: Perpetrators of domestic violence

Year	Total	Female	Male
2010	325	3%	97%
2011	424	4%	96%

Table: Convictions under Article 222 of the Federation of BiH (in %)

Year	Total number of convictions	Prison sentence	Fine	Suspended sentence	Other
2010	337 (100%)	11%	12%	74%	3%
2011	343 (100%)	16%	6%	75%	3%

Tabular presentation of statistics in percentages of victims of domestic violence and perpetrators of domestic violence and the number of convictions in pursuance of Article 222 of the Federation CC sorted by type of sentences in 2010 and 2011.

The 2011 Republika Srpska available data provided by the police, basic and district courts and district prosecutor’s offices shows that the number of charges and the number of prosecuted cases involving criminal offences under Art. 208 of the RS Criminal Code and criminal offences under Article 6 of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence were relatively the same as compared to the same period of monitoring in 2010.

Based on an analysis of data from verdicts rendered in criminal proceedings relating to the offence under Article 208 of the RS CC (Domestic Violence) in 2010, we can see that the following sentences were handed down:

•15 prison sentences

•14 fines

•58 suspended sentences

•1 judicial caution

•7 protective measures

Table: Judicial data on the offence under Article 208 of the RS Criminal Code

No.	Authority	2010	2011	Total
1.	Basic courts	190	170	899
2.	District prosecutors	268	219	1 305
3.	District courts	1	1	3

Table: Judicial data on offence under Article 6 of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence

No.	Authority	2010	2011	Total
1.	Basic courts	536	546	2 744
2 .	District courts	0		28

Table: Data provided by the Ministry of the Interior

No.	Offence	2010	2011	Ukupno
1.	Article 208 of CC	254	255	2 129
2.	Petty offence — Article 6 of LoPfDV	987	1 190	4 054

The regular programmes of the Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centres of both entities included training for judges and prosecutors in the application of national and international standards on gender equality and preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

With a view to continuing training of all professional staff, manuals for training of professionals in the health, safety, education and social protection have been prepared or are in the process of preparation. Apart from the manuals, programmes for continuous professional development of all protection entities in preventing and combating domestic violence have been prepared and training of these groups have started.

Trafficking in human beings and exploitation for prostitution

12. Please indicate the steps taken by the State party to harmonize the crimina l codes of both entities and of Brčko District with the amended provisions of the State Criminal Code, including the new definition of trafficking given in article 186 (paras. 118-119). Please provide data, at the State and entity levels, on the number of victims of trafficking identified since 2009, the number of investigations and prosecutions carried out and the sentences imposed on perpetrators. Please provide statistics, if available, on the number of women and young girls, including Roma, who are victims of exploitation of prostitution, in particular in urban areas. Please indicate the number of shelter facilities providing assistance and protection to victims of trafficking and exploitation of prostitution. Please also inform the Committee about the measures taken to tackle the main causes of trafficking and prostitution (para. 133).

The working group made up of prosecutors from among all prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina made a proposal of possible amendments to criminal codes that would harmonize criminal codes in this area with each other and with international standards, in particular with the United Nations Protocol to Prevent and Punish Trafficking, Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as the European Union Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings. The overall activity was conducted in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The text of the amendments to these laws was agreed and sent to state and entity parliaments for passage, as well as to the Judicial Commission of Brčko District.

Data on possible victims of trafficking in human beings are collected by prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations. The data in the tables below are data collected in the period 2009-2011.

Table: Data on possible victims of trafficking in human beings

Possible victims of trafficking in human beings	2009	2010	2011
Male	Juveniles	4	2	7
	Adults	1	2	0
	Total	5	4	7
Female	Juveniles	23	3	12
	Adults	41	18	16
	Total	58	21	28
Total	69	25	35

In the total number of possible victims of trafficking there were 11 (2009), 4 (2010) and 8 (2011) or a total of 23 foreigners. The countries of origin of these victims were: Serbia, Croatia, Moldova (1), Romania, Germany, United States of America, Kosovo (Serbia) and Bulgaria.

Data on possible victims of trafficking in human beings are collected by the Strike Group of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH. The table below shows statistics collected in the period 2009-2011.

Table: Statistics on prosecution of trafficking cases

Prosecution	2009	2010	2011
Charges	23	22	19 with 38 persons
Investigations	20	15	10 with 9 persons
Indictments	10 with 20 persons	16	6 with 9 persons
Convictions	10 persons	19 persons	4 with 7 persons
Acquittals	5 persons	4 persons	1 person
Outstanding indictments	12	9	13 with 36 persons

The Ministry of Security of BiH has designed a new Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Action Plan which accompanies the implementation of the Strategy with clearly defined deadlines for the objectives envisaged by the Strategy. After taking all the necessary actions that were necessary to produce these documents (opinions given by all relevant institutions dealing with trafficking in BiH on the draft Strategy and draft Action Plan and public consultations) the document was finalized and submitted to the Legislative Office of the Council Ministers for consideration, after which it should be forwarded to the Council of Ministers for adoption. The new Strategy and Action Plan provides for the activities planned in these documents to be brought in line with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Ministry of Security has signed a protocol with two non-governmental organizations that provide assistance and accommodation to foreign victims of human trafficking, while the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees has signed a protocol with three non-governmental organizations that provide support and accommodation to domestic victims of human trafficking.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a few shelters and safe houses. The Republika Srpska has a shelter for victims of human trafficking, operated by “Lara” WO of Bijeljina. In the territory of the Federation of BiH there are six safe houses operated by non-governmental organisations (Foundation for Local Democracy-Sarajevo, Vive Žene-Tuzla, Medica-Zenica, Žena BiH, Mirjam Caritas-Mostar and Žene sa Une-Bihać) that primarily take care of women and children victims of domestic violence and, if necessary, provide shelter to victims of trafficking and prostitution. FIGAP supports special projects of the “Derventa” Women’s Association, which specifically aim at removing the causes of trafficking and at prevention programs in the areas of the municipality where cases of human trafficking are found.

Participation in political and public life and decision-making

13. In the report, it is indicated that initiatives to amend the Election Law to bring it in line with the Law on Gender Equality have been rejected (para. 151), while research conducted in 2009 has shown that the existing open electoral list system, combined with quotas for such lists, is not satisfactory in terms of increasing women representation in political and public life (para. 162). In the light of the upcoming general elections in 2014, please indicate whether the State party envisages adopting the temporary special measures necessary to implement article 20 of the Law on Gender Equality in order to achieve substantive equality between men and women. Please provide updated data on the number of women in decision-making positions and international service, the number of female candidates in the recent municipal elections and the number of women elected as municipal counsellors and mayors.

The Amendments to the Election Law, which was adopted during second reading in the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, provides for an increase of mandatory quotas for candidate lists at 40 per cent. This Election Law is brought in line with Article 20 of the Law on Gender Equality, which regulates the matter of equal representation of men and women on the candidate lists.

The new parliamentary coalition announced amendments to the Election Law of BiH that will provide for closed lists, which was one of the goals of amendments that were proposed in 2009. An analysis of this model indicates a possible increase in the number of women elected by 5-15 per cent, which would make a significant step forward.

Awareness-raising campaigns are conducted continuously, usually on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. Activities aimed at promoting gender equality are general or in particular areas. Every year the Gender Centre promotes standards of gender equality through public media campaigns and regular relationships with different target groups and the media. Depending on the election cycle for local and general elections, awareness about the need and importance of greater representation of women in public and political life is raised through campaigns and promotional events.

As for the local 2012 elections, in the process of checking and verifying candidates’ list of candidates who stood for local elections scheduled for 10 July 2012, the Central Election Commission certified a total of 2251 candidates’ lists. A total of 30,352 candidates were certified, of which 29,801 female candidates stood for councillors and 551 for mayors. The candidates’ lists in the 2012 local elections included 35.5 per cent or 10,759 female and 64.5 per cent or 19,593 male standing for councillors, while only 7.2 per cent of candidates were women standing for election as mayors.

An analysis was made on the basis of results of 2012 local elections published by the Central Election Commission. The results of 2012 local elections are indicative of the fact that women are still less represented gender in most of the local legislative body. The analysis shows that 507 women were elected and, compared to the 2008 local elections when 15 per cent of women were elected on average in municipal councils, it was an increase of 1.5-2 per cent. According to data by municipalities it can be seen that there were variations in relation to the representation of women compared to the 2008 elections.

Women were generally less represented gender on the lists and in that sense most of the political parties were obliged to respect Article 4.19 of the Election Law of BiH. Therefore, the female candidates were on the every fifth, eighth, eleventh and so on place on the lists of candidates. In addition, voters effected with their votes the order of all candidates. However, as a rule, in accordance with the votes male candidates moved to the top of the lists leaving the female candidates behind and because of this there was a difference between the number of female candidates and the number of elected women.

Courts and Prosecutor’s Offices

An analysis of the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette” No. 25/04, 32/07, 48/07, 15/08) found that the Law contains provisions prohibiting gender-based discrimination and requiring striking a gender balance in the appointment to any judicial office at all levels of judiciary. In addition to the statutory criteria, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council appointments to judicial positions also take into account gender equality, as can be seen from the statistics below.

The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council consists of five or 45.45 per cent women and six men. Data from the July 2011 Annual Report of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council shows that the number of women and men sitting on prosecutor’s offices and courts is in line with the standards defined by the Law on Gender Equality. HJPC’s appointments to judicial positions take into account equal representation of the sexes, as can be seen from the statistics below.

The overall percentage of female judges in BiH is 56.25 per cent and the percentage at the levels of governance is as follows:

•Court of BiH: 44 per cent,

•FBiH courts: 66 per cent,

•RS courts: 61 per cent,

•BD courts: 56 per cent.

The overall percentage of female prosecutors in BiH is 48.5 per cent and the percentage at the levels of governance is as follows:

•Prosecutor’s Office of BiH: 52 per cent,

•FBiH prosecutor’s offices: 47 per cent,

•RS prosecutor’s offices: 45 per cent,

•BD Prosecutor’s Office: 50 per cent.

Data on gender representation in senior positions, i.e. presidents and chief prosecutors, shows smaller percentage of women (35 per cent) than the overall percentage of women. The president of the Court of BiH is a woman. Women, as presidents, were dominant in the cantonal courts (80 per cent). Only two women have been appointed as chief prosecutor at the entity level: one in the cantonal prosecutor’s office (of 9 appointed) in the Federation of BiH and one in the District and Special Prosecutor’s Office of Banja Luka (of 6 appointed) in the Republika Srpska.

Table: Number of female and male court presidents in BiH

	President
Court	M	F	Total	%
Court of BIH	0	1	1	100
Supreme courts	2	0	2	0.00
Cantonal courts	2	8	10	80.00
District courts	4	1	5	20.00
Appellate Court of Brčko District	1	0	1	0.00
Municipal courts	15	13	28	46.43
Basic courts	13	5	18	27.78
Basic courts of Brčko District	1	0	1	0.00
Total	38	28	66	42.42

Table: Number of female and male chief prosecutors in BiH

	President
Court	M	F	Total	%
Court of BIH	1	0	1	0.00
Prosecutor ’ s Office of BIH	1	0	1	0.00
Prosecutor ’ s Office of FBIH	1	0	1	0.00
Prosecutor ’ s Office of RS	8	1	9	11.11
Cantonal prosecutor ’ s offices	5	1	6	16.67
District and Special Prosecutor ’ s Office of RS	1	0	1	0.00
Prosecutor ’ s Office of Brčko District	1	0	1	0.00
Total	17	2	19	10.53

Representation of women in diplomacy and peacekeeping missions

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic and consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (DCM) currently have 78 women and 73 men, which indicates that the representation of women is higher by 20 per cent compared to 2009 statistics, when there were 56 women and 122 men. Currently there are 6 female ambassadors and one consul general. BiH female experts participate in all activities at the international level, including participation in international meetings at all levels and of all types. Female members of the Armed Forces and police were engaged in peace-keeping missions in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Iraq, Liberia, East Timor and Cyprus.

Education

14. Referring to the analysis conducted to facilitate the harmonization of textbooks and teaching practices (para. 195), please indicate whether stereotypical content on the roles of men and women has been removed from teaching materials and practices. Please indicate whether efforts have been made to reform the existing system of mono-ethnic schools with a view to eliminating discrimination against girls in the education system on the basis of their ethnicity. In the report, it is stated that the Action Plan on Educational Needs of Roma and Other Minorities adopted in 2004 yielded limited results in practice owing to the lack of mechanisms for implementation and monitoring (para. 203). Please indicate what measures have since been taken to increase the inclusion of Roma girls in the educational process. Please also provide detailed data on the enrolment and dropout rates for Roma girls at the primary and secondary levels of education and on the participation of Roma women and girls in higher education.

Although the Law on Gender Equality in BiH requires alignment of curricula and syllabi at all levels of education and the elimination of discriminatory and stereotypical content of the roles of women and men, as well as promotion of gender equality at all levels of education, it must be noted that this process has not progressed much, and that in this area, although it is important to raise awareness of gender equality, positive changes in this respect are very slow and hard to take effect. This is partly because this area is very complex, involves many levels of education, including lifelong learning, vocational training and retraining. In this area it is necessary to raise awareness and increase knowledge of teaching staff and primary and secondary school students and university students in the field of gender equality and to create sustainable mechanisms for constant action of this kind.

When approving textbooks for elementary and secondary school, any gender sensitive content is particularly taken in account, which is confirmed in the Instructions for expert review of textbooks, which inter alia prescribes that it should be evaluated whether the textbook supports gender equality in an appropriate manner using nouns of both genders, especially in reference to professions and occupations.

The Federation Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Coordination of Education Ministers in the Federation, has developed recommendations for the elimination of segregating and separation of structures in educational institutions in FBiH with necessary steps to be taken in this regard. These are the steps that the competent educational authorities in the cantons should begin simultaneously with the beginning of the school year and implement them in the next two years at the latest which will depend solely on their willingness to accept and implement them.

The steps to eliminate segregating and separated structures in educational institutions in the Federation include administrative and legal unification of the divided educational institutions, a unique approach to education and equal requirements for all students and full integration of segregated schools, i.e. the establishment of multi-ethnic classes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Decade of Roma Inclusion in September 2008. As part of efforts made in the Decade of Roma Inclusion, in 2004 “Action Plan on the Educational Needs of Roma and Members of Other National Minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was adopted, which serves as a national action plan for education. Since the official information is not available, popular opinion is that a large number of Roma children drop out of primary school. A percentage as high as 46.2 per cent of Roma children drop out of school, which was obtained in this study, confirms this fact. Since the education of Roma has been identified as one of prerequisites for the successful resolution of problems of this ethnic group, it is necessary to work to resolve the problem of integration of Roma children into mainstream schools, not making discrimination whether they are domicile or displaced Roma. Roma education, encouraging public opinion to respect diversity, providing support to these communities and the like should be guidelines for activities to be taken by our society.

In order to improve the access and increase the number of Roma in mainstream education system the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted the Revised Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RAP) on the educational needs of Roma in 2010. An Expert monitoring team was formed to monitor the implementation of the RAP. Revised Action Plan has defined four goals and forty-seven measures to ensure that Roma children have equal rights in terms of access to quality education and to be able to acquire the necessary skills for later better integration into society.

The Report on the Implementation of the Revised Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the educational needs of Roma in 2011, was adopted by the Council of Ministers in August 2012, and has showed some progress.

In 2011/2012, compared to the previous school year, an increase of participation of Roma children in mainstream education was reported (6.41 per cent). This is a result of project activities of the Ministry of Human Rights through the realization of short daily programs for Roma children before going to school, which has increased the enrolment in the first grade, as well as the activities conducted by schools with the aim to prevent children from leaving primary education. The drop-out of primary education for Roma children in 2011/2012 is 49 children which is 1.6 per cent and presents an improvement compared to previous years.

In order to prevent dropout of Roma children, some schools have developed customized curriculum for children who have had a long break in attendance. However, most schools implement only the regular curriculum. Only through project activities of some NGOs remedial classes to help children in learning were organized (e.g. Caritas Switzerland in the Canton Sarajevo, Association “Otaharin” in Bijeljina and Tuzla Canton). Through these projects Roma children are provided with teaching assistants who help children in learning and visit their families.

No progress was made on a continuous increase in the number of Roma children enrolled in preschool, or in the inclusion of Roma children in compulsory pre-school education. Cooperation between centres for social welfare and the Roma associations with schools is unsatisfactory because it does not provide data to schools for children who need to be included in the preschool programs.

According to the Report, the total number of Roma children enrolled in regular primary school education in 2011/2012 the year was 3024. The actual number of Roma living in BiH, and consequently, the number of Roma children is not known, since the last census in Bosnia and Herzegovina was conducted in 1991. Estimates of local and foreign NGOs differ in many tens of thousands of Roma. According to the Analysis of the need of Roma conducted by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees in 2009 and 2010 the number of Roma children is 7.077 out of which 3.963 are children of the age for primary education. Compared to the number of children enrolled in 2011/2012 the percentage of Roma children included in the primary education is 76,30 per cent.

In the 2011/2012 school year, the total number of Roma students in secondary education was 243. The total number of students who left secondary school education in 2011/2012 was 43 of which 34 dropped out in the first year of secondary school (or 28 per cent of all enrolled in the first class of secondary education).

The total number of Roma students is 17 and 6 students received additional points in their applications to the universities (as foreseen by RAP) to ensure the enrolment of Roma students and to fulfil the quotas for Roma students in higher education institutions. 6 scholarships were awarded for Roma students (4 scholarships awarded by the City of Banja Luka and 2 scholarships for students of the Faculty of Education through the Ministry of Human Rights and UNICEF project for one male and one female student). This report could not ensure data desegregated by sex, as required by the methodology, because ministries from other levels of government didn’t provide full data.

However, the data collected has showed that there are equal numbers of Roma boys and girls involved in the regular primary and secondary education. When it comes to the drop-out reasons of primary education it can be concluded that girls leave primary education in one of the last grades and boys are leaving secondary education more frequently.

Employment

15. Please inform the Committee about the inclusion of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in the legislation of the entities and of Brčko District, in line with International Labour Organization standards, and about the progress made by the State party in adopting the new Labour Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (para. 237). Please provide information on steps taken to narrow the gender pay gap and address occupational segregation in the State party. Referring to paragraph 239 of the report, please describe the measures taken to strengthen the existing regulatory and inspection framework, including in the informal labour market, so as to ensure the adequate protection of domestic workers and women working in trade and agriculture.

The laws concerning labour and employment prohibit discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of sex. The Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina defines denial of equal pay and other benefits for the same work or work of equal value as a form of discrimination.

The laws concerning labour and employment clarify the forms of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and gender-based harassment. The Labour Laws (of FBiH, RS and BD) provides for fines to be imposed on the employer if it puts a person seeking employment or an employee at a disadvantage. It is very important that these laws have introduced provisions relating to violations of gender equality as these laws provide a framework for the competent inspectors’ acting.

The FBiH Gender Centre has proposed new amendments to the Labour Law of the Federation, which include the prohibition of direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment and other provisions ensuring equal rights and equal representation in labour and employment. These proposals have been integrated into the Draft Amendments to the Labour Law of the Federation, which will be sent to the Federation Government for approval.

A significant progress in the protection of rights in the field of non‑discrimination on grounds of sex is made by amending the Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which determines that rights can be protected through the application of the Anti-Discrimination Law. The Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Anti-Discrimination Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina are mutually consistent in the part where victims of discrimination are accorded the possibility of recourse to legal mechanisms for the protection of the rights provided for in that legislation (types of lawsuits, jurisdiction, deadlines, the burden of proof, victimization and others). This ensured a legal protection mechanism that provides protection against gender-based discrimination.

The “Centre for Legal Assistance to Women” Association of Zenica has developed “Legal Guide for Every Woman” which provides practical examples of how it is possible to protect against rights violations and the “Labour and Social Law” Association has developed a series of practical guides for the exercise of rights under labour and social law.

16. Please provide updated information on the status of the amendments to the Law on Salaries and Allowances in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina proposed by the Gender Equality Agency in order to ensure the equal provision of maternity leave benefits in the State party, irrespective of the place of residence, especially in the light of the judgement issued by the Constitutional Court in this regard in September 2010.

At the 136th meeting held on 2 November 2010, after the Constitutional Court’s Decision, the Council of Ministers issued the Decision on the Manner and Procedure of Exercising the Right to Maternity Leave in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“Official Gazette” No. 95/10). That decision determines that employees in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina on maternity leave are entitled to a monthly benefit equal to the average net salary earned in the three months preceding the commencement of maternity leave. This decision equalised the right to salary compensation for the period of maternity leave for all employees in the institutions of BiH and took effect as of 29 September 2010.

According to this decision all employees who have been on maternity leave since 29 September 2010 exercise their rights in accordance with this decision, which means that they are entitled to monthly salary compensation in the amount of average salary. Data for employees with employment contracts under laws of the Federation and the Republika Srpska remained unchanged, as shown in the 4th and 5th periodic report.

Health

17. Please indicate the steps taken by the State party to ensure women ’ s equal access to health-care services, considering the variations between urban and rural areas (para. 329). Please also inform the Committee about the status of the drafting of the strategy on sexual and reproductive health in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (para. 314) and indicate whether the development of such strategies is foreseen in Republika Srpska and Br č ko District. Noting the adoption of harmonized legislation on reproductive and sexual health and rights, please provide information on awareness-raising programmes conducted in this regard and on the availability and accessibility of modern contraceptive methods and family planning services. Please indicate whether the State party envisages including education on reproductive and sexual health and rights in school curricula.

In response to the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS and in accordance with the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and other international documents, in 2002 the Council of Ministers established the Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS for BiH. The First Strategy for Prevention and Fight against HIV/AIDS in BiH, 2004-2009 (Council of Ministers, February 2004) allowed the government and civil society at all levels to plan and implement programs derived from objectives set forth in the document. Since 2006 BiH has been able to use funds of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and, thanks to grants approved under Round 5 and Round 9, a significant progress in all aspects of the fight against HIV/AIDS has been made in BiH. In September 2011 the Council of Ministers adopted the strategy for responding to HIV and AIDS in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2011-2016. The Strategy’s key vision is that the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a country that will gradually reduce the number of people newly infected with HIV and create an environment to enable all people living with HIV long and productive life. Currently, the adoption of the Action Plan for the Implementation of Strategy for Prevention and Fight against HIV/AIDS in BiH, 2011-2016, is in progress.

Achievement of the goals will be greatly facilitated by the implementation of “Enhancing universal access by the most vulnerable groups of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina” project, funded by the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the implementation of which is in charge of the BiH UNDP.

The Young People’s Health Policy of Republika Srpska, 2008-2012, contains inter alia objectives and measures related to sexual and reproductive health and an obligation of all programs to take particular account of gender equality. Further, in 2012 the RS Government adopted the Policy for the Promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Republika Srpska (2012-2017), which provides comprehensive improvements in the area of sexual and reproductive health in line with goals defined in the Programme of Health Policy and Strategy of Republika Srpska until 2010 (“Official Gazette of Republika Srpska” No. 56/02), adopted by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska. The goals are:

•Goal 1: A healthy start in life, which relates to the improvement of health care for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children and

•Goal 2: Healthy young people, which relates to the improvement of health of young people 16 to 30 years old.

The policy covers the following fields of activity: sexual and reproductive rights, sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, sexual and reproductive health of the general population, wanted and safe motherhood, the control of malignant disease, research, monitoring and evaluation. The policy was developed in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organization and all goals include specific measures aimed at women and girls as a target group.

The Republika Srpska has national coordinators for health, including the national coordinator for reproductive health, who led the “Reproductive Health in Republika Srpska” Project. A survey of knowledge, behaviour and habits of adolescents at the beginning of reproductive life was carried out in the Republika Srpska, “The Labyrinth of Puberty 1”, “The Labyrinth of Puberty 2” and “How to deliver a healthy baby” guides were produced and disseminated to the target groups and courses of training were held in schools in the Republika Srpska. The project was promoted in the media and regionally.

When it comes to rural women and girls, the Action Plan for Improving the Status of Rural Women in Republika Srpska until 2015 (adopted in December 2010) under objective 3: “Improved access to public services by rural women” provides specific measures for the construction of new and rehabilitation of existing clinics and measures to improve reproductive health in rural areas. Relevant competent national and local institutions are responsible for these measures.

The Strategy for Improvement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Federation of BiH (which the Government of the Federation adopted by issuing the Decision on Approval at the 157 meeting held on 21 September 2010) is based on the following priorities in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights: (1) prenatal, birth-giving and postpartum care; (2) family planning, including infertility services; (3) abortions; (4) preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; (5) malignant diseases of the reproductive organs; (6) promoting sexual health and rights; (7) promotion of reproductive rights; (8) continuing education; and (9) the role of NGOs.

According to the Strategy, programs to raise awareness about reproductive and sexual health include regular and continuous activities of the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Public Health, health care institutions, chambers and associations of health workers. The Strategy recognizes in this segment an important role of the media and NGOs.

One of the key indicators related to women’s reproductive health is the use and type of contraceptives. According to data of public health institutions, the percentage of women of childbearing age who were using contraceptives was very low and amounted to only 1 per cent. According to research on women and children in the Federation of BiH (MICS 3), one in three women aged 15-49 said they used a method of contraception (33.6 per cent). However, a concerning fact is that young women use contraception far less frequently than older ones. The most commonly used method is the withdrawal, which is used by 19 per cent of married women/women living with a man, then the use of condoms followed, while only 4 per cent of women use oral contraceptives (12).

Without any intention or tendency to introduce a new subject in primary and secondary schools because the existing curricula are too large, the multi-sectoral working group consisting of representatives of health and educational institutions designed a curriculum titled “Healthy Lifestyles”.

Disadvantaged groups of women

18. It is stated in the report that more than half of the households in the State party (58.5 per cent) are in rural areas (para. 382) and that women in rural areas are more exposed to poverty and economic hardship (para. 366). Please provide information on programmes carried out by the State party to improve the economic empowerment of rural women, in particular female heads of household, and their access to land and credit. In this regard, please also provide information on specific steps taken to implement the Action Plan for the Advancement of the Position of Rural Women in Republika Srpska (2009-2015) and the basic strategies for rural development adopted by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Three competent institutions and two NGOs, supported by the Gender Centre of RS developed and implemented FIGAP-funded programmes for economic empowerment of rural women by strengthening their capacity for employment and self-employment. This can be seen as progress, because in the past there were no special programs for agriculture and rural development specifically tailored and targeted at women.

Capacities for project writing and management of women’s associations in the countryside were built with the aim of opening up opportunities, motivation and interconnection of rural women in order to use various incentives and other types of support from different funds. Twenty-three projects were implemented by women’s associations, which was an improvement compared to 2010, when 10 project proposals were received and 7 projects were completed.

In 2011 two competent institutions developed a programme to improve the mobility of rural women (Ministry of Transport and Communications) and a programme for mapping the needs of young people living in rural areas (Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports), with respect to key factors that would influence them to stay in the countryside. These programs were supported with BiH FIGAP funds. The Ministry of Transport and Communications made the First Analysis of the Needs of Women In Rural Areas of the Republika Srpska in terms of traffic and transport infrastructure. The Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports carried out a study on the status and needs of young people in rural areas of the Republika Srpska.

As a result of the support by Gender Centres and UN WOMEN, a network of associations of rural women in Republika Srpska was established. It is in the process of enacting by-laws and will be coordinated on the annual rotation principle.

A great number of activities has been carried out by municipalities and municipal gender commissions in the Republika Srpska and non-governmental organizations, which contribute to the implementation of the “EQUAL women in the countryside! 2011” campaign and marking of 15 October — the World Day of Rural Women.

FBiH Rural Development Strategy

The competent Federation Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has made a gender-based analysis of the Mid-Term Development Strategy for the Agricultural Sector in the Federation of BiH and the Action Plan of the Mid-Term Development Strategy of the Agricultural Sector in the Federation of BiH that were made for the period 2006-2010. Their shortcomings in terms of non-compliance with provisions of the Law on Gender Equality in BiH were clearly identified and they still bring about the retention and deepening of existing gender inequalities in this area. The Decision of the Federation Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry No. 01-02/1-1718/12 dated 28 August 2012 appointed a Working Group for Mid-Term Development Strategy for the Agricultural Sector, 2014-2018, mandated: to prepare the terms of reference, to monitor the process of strategy designing, to report to the Minister on activities, to ensure the dialogue with stakeholders, to assess the course of process, to provide feedback and recommendations of the Expert Committee.

19. In the report, it is said that women returnees and internally displaced women face numerous obstacles in ensuring sustainable return (paras. 351-354). Please provide information on specific measures taken by the State party to facilitate the lasting socioeconomic integration of women returnees and internally displaced women, including through access to adequate housing.

The Law on Displaced Persons, Returnees and Refugees of Republika Srpska (“Official Gazette of Republika Srpska” No. 42/05) contains the general principles of non-discrimination, but there are no provisions for temporary special measures to promote gender equality. The Law governs rights of displaced persons, refugees and returnees in the Republika Srpska, refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, determination and termination of the status of displaced persons and returnees, social rehabilitation and the return of those persons, agencies and organizations of law enforcement, funding and provision of funds for the implementation of these rights and other issues of importance for the protection of these persons in the Republika Srpska. Displaced persons and returnees are entitled to freedom of movement and freedom to choose residence. All displaced persons and returnees have the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to basic temporary shelter, health care, social care, education and vocational training, freedom of religious expression and political activity. Apart from the rights mentioned in the preceding paragraph, displaced persons and returnees are entitled to: help with necessary reconstruction of their houses and apartments, loans to start businesses in order to generate income for themselves and their families, adequate cash assistance, basic health care, primary education and social security benefits, provided they are not employed.

Any person who had permanent residence registered in any municipality prior to the conflict is entitled to re-settle in their place of residence in the municipality and get all the necessary documents. In 2012 the FBiH Gender Centre was financially supported by the Red Cross of Tuzla Canton with a view to implementing the program of measures for women living in collective centres. The target groups were unemployed woman placed in 4 collective centres in Tuzla and unemployed women registered with the Tuzla Canton Employment Office. In addition to economic empowerment by finding a job, unemployed women will undergo a two-and-half-month course of training and two-month practice where they will have an opportunity to socialize with other women, to make statements to the media and to communicate with women working in the Retirement Home of Tuzla, which will empower them mentally. All this will contribute to reducing the risk of feeling inferior and of domestic violence.

20. It is stated in the report that, while Roma constitute the largest minority in the State party, about 90 per cent of Roma women have no access to health care, social welfare or employment (paras. 346-347). Following the adoption in 2008 of an action plan to implement the Decade of Roma Inclusion (para. 346), please provide detailed information on measures, including temporary special measures, taken to eliminate multiple forms of discrimination against Roma women and girls, in particular in the areas of education, employment and health, and to prevent early marriages and ensure access to birth registration.

By adoption of Action Plans for Roma in the areas of employment, housing and health care, and by previously adopted Plan of Action of the educational needs of Roma, as well as joining the Decade of Roma Social Inclusion 2005-2015, Bosnia and Herzegovina has committed itself to work on the problems of the Roma population, which is the largest and, by all parameters, poorest and most vulnerable minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

When it comes to protecting the rights in a form of an institutional framework, Roma women actively participate as members in the work of the Roma Committee of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Committee is an advisory body of the Council of Ministers and is mandated to consider the most important issues to resolve the status of Roma in BiH. Particularly distinctive was the involvement of Roma women in the design and implementation of the Action plan for health care for Roma as well as preparing the revised Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the educational needs of Roma.

Education, as the key to overcoming Roma poverty, is necessary to ensure the social inclusion of Roma and is closely linked with employment, health care and housing of the Roma population. In the revised Action plan, the role of Roma mothers is specifically emphasized in the preparation for the inclusion of Roma children in the education system.

In previous years the Action plan for employment of Roma was implemented, and the funds were provided in the budget of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The competent employment services and employment agencies have implemented programs such as: co-financing of employment and self-employment of Roma which has lead to 212 Roma employed, out of which a significant number of Roma women were employed.

There are three strategic objectives in the framework of the implementation of the Action Plan for health care:

•Ensuring the right to health of the Roma population

•Raising awareness of health-related services

•Implementation of preventive measures to improve the health status of Roma

A concrete result of this activity, when it comes to Roma women, was the adoption of the Decision on the basic package of health care that regulates health care during pregnancy and childbirth complications during a period of 6 months. Part of budget funds intended for the implementation of the Action plan for health care of Roma will be used for the realization of priority programs of preventive health care in the field of reproductive health and maternity of young Roma women and girls who are not insured on another basis.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has done a major positive step forward in the implementation of the Action Plan for Roma housing. Budgetary funds and fund provided by the Swedish development organization SIDA has led to the construction or reconstruction of 364 housing units and 210 Roma families are beneficiaries of the projects of infrastructure and improvement of living conditions in BiH. When scoring the application for these funds the responsible committees have established special criteria for Roma women, single mothers, which have a priority in solving their housing problem, which an assumption that kids are involved and integrated into an overall socio-economic system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.