Newsroom
Bosnian women politicians establish Organization of Women in Local Governance
Sarajevo 27 June 2000
SARAJEVO, 27 June 2000 - With the aim of institutionalizing the informal network women politicians have developed over the past months, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina began organizing a series of eight regional meetings to establish an Organization of Women in Local Governance (OWLG).
The initial meeting was held in Sarajevo on June 23, where more than 50 women politicians and activists gathered to elect the representatives of their chapter, who will participate in a national convention to further develop OWLG. At the same time the first analysis of an OSCE survey was presented, which had collected the opinions, interests and expectations of the 590 newly elected women councilors for the "Women in Local Governance" database.
"It is very encouraging to see how actively women in Bosnia and Herzegovina work on shaping their future", said Ambassador Robert Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Only little more than a year ago the OSCE began with the support of politically interested women at the grassroots level. Today we witness the emergence of a nationwide organization, across all party and boundary lines."
Another seven regional meetings will be organized in the coming weeks, to constitute one OWLG chapter in each of the BiH Electoral Districts. The meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
June 26 Banja Luka Region: Laktasi, Hotel San
June 28 US Canton and Canton 10: Livno, Hotel Park
June 29 West Herzegovina / Herz-Neretva: Ljubuski, Hotel Bigeste
July 1 Eastern Bosnia / Eastern Herz: Jahorina, Hotel Bistrica
July 3 RS Posavina / Semberija: Doboj, Hotel Bosna
July 4 Central Bosnia / Zenica Doboj: Zenica, Dom Penzionera
July 5 Posavina Canton / Tuzla and Brcko: Tuzla, Hotel Bristol
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the OSCE Mission activities are to promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of Professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
MEDIA CONTACT: For information, contact the Press and Public Information, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (+387-33) 292 172; fax: (+387-33) 292 289; website: www.oscebih.org; e-mail: press.ba@osce.org
The initial meeting was held in Sarajevo on June 23, where more than 50 women politicians and activists gathered to elect the representatives of their chapter, who will participate in a national convention to further develop OWLG. At the same time the first analysis of an OSCE survey was presented, which had collected the opinions, interests and expectations of the 590 newly elected women councilors for the "Women in Local Governance" database.
"It is very encouraging to see how actively women in Bosnia and Herzegovina work on shaping their future", said Ambassador Robert Barry, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Only little more than a year ago the OSCE began with the support of politically interested women at the grassroots level. Today we witness the emergence of a nationwide organization, across all party and boundary lines."
Another seven regional meetings will be organized in the coming weeks, to constitute one OWLG chapter in each of the BiH Electoral Districts. The meetings are scheduled for the following dates:
June 26 Banja Luka Region: Laktasi, Hotel San
June 28 US Canton and Canton 10: Livno, Hotel Park
June 29 West Herzegovina / Herz-Neretva: Ljubuski, Hotel Bigeste
July 1 Eastern Bosnia / Eastern Herz: Jahorina, Hotel Bistrica
July 3 RS Posavina / Semberija: Doboj, Hotel Bosna
July 4 Central Bosnia / Zenica Doboj: Zenica, Dom Penzionera
July 5 Posavina Canton / Tuzla and Brcko: Tuzla, Hotel Bristol
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace, the OSCE Mission activities are to promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of Professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
MEDIA CONTACT: For information, contact the Press and Public Information, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: (+387-33) 292 172; fax: (+387-33) 292 289; website: www.oscebih.org; e-mail: press.ba@osce.org