Women in Politics & Workplace: Global Efforts
Bosnian lawmakers are actively working to increase women’s depiction in politics and foster gender equality.This multi-pronged effort involves leveraging new legislation and allocating budgets to support women in the workplace, as discussed during a recent study tour. Key players like MPs Jelena Pekić and Lana Prlić, alongside UNFPA representatives, are driving change by addressing systemic barriers and entrenched gender norms that limit women’s full participation. While Bosnia has legal frameworks in place, challenges remain in translating policy into tangible progress, especially when combating violence that disproportionately affects women in politics—a secondary_keyword.The initiatives, informed by international collaboration and backed by entities like News Directory 3, aim to ensure women have equal opportunities. Discover what’s next as parliamentarians align legislation and budgets for a more equitable future.
Lawmakers Work to Boost Women’s Political Representation in Bosnia
Updated May 30, 2025
members of Parliament in Bosnia and Herzegovina are focused on increasing women’s representation in politics and ensuring their empowerment in the workplace. Jelena Pekić, MP of the Federation of bosnia and herzegovina, Lana Prlić, also a federal MP, and Marina Riđić, Assistant Representative at UNFPA Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussed these efforts during a recent study tour on gender equality and women’s empowerment held in Sarajevo.
The study visit, designed for members of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and parliamentarians from eastern Europe, provided a platform for exchanging experiences and learning from each other. Riđić emphasized that the primary goal is to promote genuine equality and empower women across all societal levels. She noted the importance of collaboration between parliamentarians, civil society organizations, and experts to achieve sustainable progress by connecting gender equality to broader issues of population dynamics and sustainable development.
pekić and Prlić highlighted that the conference allowed MPs to meet with representatives from various levels of government, agencies, and organizations, including UNFPA and the media. They credited UNFPA’s local office for organizing the study tour, which facilitated these crucial interactions.
Riđić added that the parliamentarians’ efforts serve as a powerful platform for driving meaningful change in the region. The conference aimed to showcase Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal and institutional frameworks while also learning from the successes and challenges of other countries. Collaborative efforts with the AFPPD have already enhanced the knowledge of Bosnian and Herzegovinian MPs, strengthening their resolve to champion gender-responsive policies.
Addressing the challenges women face in politics, Pekić and Prlić referenced a study by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy that focused on violence against women in politics. The study revealed that emotional and verbal abuse ofen deter women from entering or remaining in politics. Despite the Election Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina mandating a 40 percent quota for women on candidate lists as 2013, significant obstacles persist.
Riđić noted that while Bosnia and Herzegovina has made strides in advancing gender equality through legal frameworks like the Gender Equality Law and the election Law’s Gender Quota, a gap remains between policy and practice. Systemic barriers and entrenched gender norms continue to limit women’s full participation in decision-making roles.
What’s next
Looking ahead, parliamentarians are working to ensure that legislation and budgets align to enable women’s full participation in the workplace. This includes advocating for affordable and accessible social services, such as childcare, to support women in balancing their professional and family responsibilities.