Bosnia and Herzegovina, like the rest of the world, has been celebrating every 25th day of the month as Orange Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness, preventing violence against women and girls and sending messages of support to victims. For over a decade, the Institute for Youth Development KULT has been contributing to the fight against violence and sending messages of support to victims.
The #WomenMakingDifference campaign was started by the Institute in January 2022 to promote the stories of successful women from the region. The campaign continued into late 2023 and early 2024, shining a spotlight on women from BiH who work in safe houses, providing vital support to women, girls, and the wider community through their dedicated efforts.
The Institute’s goal with this campaign was to encourage youth to follow the lead of others and find the motivation to take part in ending violence against women and girls. The campaign also emphasized the importance of fighting for gender equality.
We highlighted five courageous women who dedicated their lives to advocating for gender equality and supporting women who are victims of violence.
Jasmina Mujezinović is a lawyer and executive director of the Foundation for Local Democracy (FLD), as well as an activist, human rights fighter and the founder of the safe house in Sarajevo. Since its establishment, the Foundation for Local Democracy has been committed to fostering a society of equal opportunities by promoting and advancing human rights, with a particular emphasis on promoting gender equality, empowering women in society, and eliminating gender-based violence.
Aida Behrem is the director of the “Women from Una” Association, which is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization founded with the goal of contributing to the creation of a society of equal opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sabiha Husić is the director of Medica Zenica, a specialized women’s non-governmental organization that has been dedicated to advocating for a life without violence and discrimination in the community and family for over 30 years. Over the years, thanks to various international and domestic projects, this organization has provided over a million services for women and children, including survivors of sexual violence and rape during war, domestic and community violence, and victims of human trafficking.
Gorica Ivić is the executive director of the Foundation United Women from Banja Luka. It is a non-governmental organization founded to improve the quality of life and the position of women in the family and society. Initially focused on helping women and engaging in humanitarian activities, the Foundation has now evolved into a professional association implementing various programs.
Jasna Zečević is the director of the Citizens’ Association “Vive Žene” in Tuzla, which offers free psychological and legal assistance to women victims of violence and operates the only safe house for victims of violence in the Tuzla Canton.
Through their work, social engagement, and the impact they aim to make, these women raise awareness about gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They emphasize the need to invest time, work, and effort to achieve the desired results in this area. They advocate for raising awareness in society every day because it’s crucial to consistently discuss and educate young people on this topic. Their goal is to ensure everyone has equal opportunities and the freedom to make decisions without stereotypes or prejudices. They recognize that celebrating small victories and every step forward is crucial, as these steps pave the way for the aspirations voiced in the #WomenMakingDifference campaign to become an everyday reality.
Respecting women’s rights will not take away from anyone else’s rights. The pursuit of equality benefits not only women but the entire society and begins with each of us individually. Equality builds a strong and successful society in all aspects, which is why it is essential to get involved and contribute to this fight. The fight is difficult, but women like these will truly make a difference and emerge as winners.
Find out more about the inspiring stories of these women at: https://mladi.org/kategorija/rad-s-mladima/ljudska-prava/
The Institute will continue celebrating the 25th of every month with various activities and campaigns aimed at raising awareness about gender equality and preventing all forms of violence. These initiatives will inform the public about the prevalence of violence against women and girls, educate young people on how to report and prevent violence, advocate for effective solutions to stop or reduce violence and promote gender equality.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT extends its gratitude to all the women who recognized the importance of this campaign and helped us to continue with these efforts. We look forward to working together to achieve gender equality!
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