OSCE, Gender Centre of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina launch video to promote women’s political participation
SARAJEVO, 30 September 2014 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Centre of the Government of the Federation of BiH launched a short video today to highlight the urgent need for women to have stronger representation in political life.
“Women are severely underrepresented in appointed political positions. Political parties and governments have an obligation to commit to equal opportunities for both men and women in political and public life,” said Ambassador Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “We want to see more active women’s political participation because it contributes to a more stable, secure and democratic society.”
Ana Vukovic, Director of the Gender Centre of the Government of the Federation of BiH , said: “Although the Election Law is fully harmonized with the Law on Gender Equality, our research shows that voters are more likely to vote for a male candidate, perceiving the successful politician as a man. This is a consequence of the absence of female politicians in decision-making roles as well as the broader context and stereotypes about the roles of men and women – a situation we are working to change.”