Human rights expert tells N1: Patriarchy harms everyone, ‘gender ideology’ is a political invention

Kadribasic, who has worked on gender equality issues for 17 years, says he is still often asked why a man engages in this field - a question he sees as a reflection of deep-rooted stereotypes.

“I get that question quite often. In the beginning the reactions surprised me, but over time I learned how to talk to people about what I do. Today I openly say that I am both a gender equality lawyer and a feminist”, he said.

Speaking about patriarchy, Kadribasic stressed that it does not only grant privileges, but also imposes restrictive roles on everyone.

“Research shows that men visit doctors less frequently and die more often from easily treatable illnesses. These are clear examples of how patriarchal patterns shape our lives”, he noted, adding that despite outperforming men in education, women remain underrepresented in the labour market.

Kadribasic warned against the growing politicization of the term gender, which he describes as a fabricated construct used for manipulation.

“We are victims of disinformation that uses the term ‘gender ideology,’ which in fact does not exist. The term ‘gender’ is being misused to fuel anti-democratic and anti-European sentiment”, he said, pointing out that the same rhetoric was visible in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s recent election campaigns.

He also cited the instrumentalization of religious institutions and increasing pressure on reproductive rights.

“We are seeing initiatives that oppose medically safe access to abortion, and these narratives are already affecting the practices of medical professionals. That is absolutely unacceptable”, he stated.

Kadribasic concluded that no country in the world has yet achieved full gender equality, but that the fight for it remains essential.

“There is no magic wand, but equality is a goal we have set as a society—and one we cannot afford to abandon”, he said.