UN Women Representative in Bosnia, David Saunders, urged the government of Bosnia’s Federation (FBiH) entity to adopt changes to its legislation in order to ensure that all women have equal access to protection from and prevention of domestic violence.

He noted that half of all women and girls over the age of 15 have experienced serious violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, often at home, “and the perpetrator is nearly always male.”

“Women have raised their voice against this violence,” he said, referring to the ‘Nisam Trazila’ movement – a campaign to raise awareness abut sexual violence in BiH.

“Security and safety is the first duty of government,” Saunders said, noting that BiH has ratified international conventions to protect women and girls, such as the Istanbul Convention.

This means the country has obligated itself to protect survivors of violence and provide assistance in line with global standards,” he stressed.

“Civil society and Safe Network are calling on governments to step up, take violence seriously, to take real action to ensure protection services are available and accessible to all survivors of domestic violence,” Saunders said.

The UN Women Representative noted that women and girls affected by violence do not have equal protection across the country as “it depends on where they live.”

The laws in Bosnia’s two semi-autonomous entities vary on the issue and are not harmonised with the Istanbul Convention, he explained.

Other than this, “most forms of sexual violence are not criminal in the eyes of the law.”

“That means they are not captured in the criminal code in either entity nor Brcko District. The cases of sexual violence raised by ‘Nisam Trazila’, therefore, are not investigated, nor prosecuted,” he said, adding that “perpetrators will go unpunished.”

“This sends the wrong message, that violence is acceptable. And this really must stop!” Saunders stressed.

“UN Women urges the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take action – make the necessary changes in criminal legislation and legislation on protection from domestic violence so that all women and girls can have equal access to protection, prevention and justice,” he said.

“Violence is never acceptable. Violence is not a private matter. Violence is a public issue,” Saunders concluded.