Sarajevo (Fena) – A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Agency for Gender Equality of BiH, the Association “Women from Una” and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) within the project funded by the European Union named “Providing assistance to vulnerable women and developing an integrated social protection program.”
This project, worth 550,000 euros, is funded through the EU4Inclusion program and aims to strengthen social protection and inclusion of marginalized women in local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Director of the Agency for Gender Equality of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH Samra Hadžiabdić-Filipović said that the project aims to contribute to the implementation of reforms necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union and the development of BiH through the establishment of support for an integrated multi-sectoral system for vulnerable groups of women to protect their human rights and increase gender equality.
– The project contributes to fulfilling BiH’s international obligations arising from binding documents of the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations, as well as fulfilling obligations contained in the domestic legal framework such as the Gender Equality Law in BiH and the Gender Action Plan for the period 2023-2027 – she explained.
The Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina Stefano Ellero expressed satisfaction with the launch of this important initiative which directly addresses the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups of women across the country.
– Women are often the most affected by poverty and social exclusion, and through this initiative, we aim to provide them with the protection, support, and opportunities they need. This is also part of our broader efforts to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in aligning with the social standards of the European Union, with a strong focus on human rights and gender equality – highlighted Ellero.
The Regional Director of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund for Southeast Europe Elmir Bojadžić said that this European Union project, through joint efforts of the civil and public sectors with the activation of the private sector, directly focuses on strengthening the capacities of the civil and public sector for sustainable improvement of the social inclusion of women from vulnerable social groups, all through designed local initiatives supported through a grant scheme within the project. (30.9.)