OSCE Mission Head highlights role and responsibility of men as gender equality advocates in BiH

Fletcher M. Burton, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking at a conference in Sarajevo on 12 December 2013, said that equality of women and men is vital to peace, democracy and prosperity, and men have a role to play in fostering this principle.

“Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina face many obstacles in enjoying their rights, compared to men. They are underrepresented and do not have a sufficient voice in politics or decision-making. They face obstacles, stereotypes and prejudices precluding them from taking up jobs that can be successfully held by women and men alike,” he said. Despite this harsh reality, women in BiH strive for equality and fight for their rights, Burton said, adding that men should support them in these endeavors.

“It is crucial for men to take into account and value the female perspective of daily work and high-level policy-making that must be their indispensable element. Men need to be equal partners and share the full range of responsibilities, and both men and women must be ready to accept new roles,” Burton concluded.

The event was co-organized by the OSCE Mission, the BiH Agency for Gender Equality, the Gender Equality Committee of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly and the UN Women Project Office for BiH.

At the conference, the publication Mending Inequalities: Men and Gender Equality in the OSCE Region was presented. It was produced by the Gender Section of the OSCE Secretariat and contains a number of real examples of initiatives, policies and projects aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and recognizing the role of men in this process in the OSCE region.

The publication can be accessed at //www.osce.org/gender/80978