OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina completes series of events dedicated to raising awareness about social protection

SARAJEVO, 21 March 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Cantonal Associations of Social Workers today completed a series of events that marked the International Social Work Day.

The events under a slogan “Promoting Dignity and Worth of Peoples” took place in Sarajevo, Tomislavgrad, Vitez and Tuzla and gathered over 120 social work professionals and representatives of ministries in charge of social protection from Federation of BiH.

“We have invested consistent efforts to enhance capacities of social protection professionals, including by supporting associations of social workers to further improve their reach, the effectiveness of their services, and their capacity to advocate for needed legislative and policy changes,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Jonathan Moore. “Today these associations are crucial in helping the citizens in need in eight cantons and both Entities of BiH.”

Assistant Minister of the Sector for Social Welfare and Welfare of Family and Children within the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy Miroslav Juresic said: “Social workers are often faced with the multitude of administrative work and many of them are failing to do what is their actual profession. The centers are understaffed and they are unable to spend enough time in the field which should be the practice.”

Social workers are important in establishing standards of human rights protection. “The fundamental aim of social workers, particularly those employed in the Centers, is to promote human rights, especially the rights and interests of children,” said Director of Social Welfare Center in Tomsilavgrad and President of Association of Social Workers from Canton 10 Ilija Kristo.