Gender Equality in Post-Disaster Needs Assessment
in Bosnia-Herzegovina
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 2
Key Recommendations of this report ................................................................................... 2
Top Funding Priorities ........................................................................................................... 3
Methodology......................................................................................................................... 3
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................... 4
1.
General .......................................................................................................................... 4
2.
Agriculture, Land Ownership and Housing ................................................................... 5
3.
Employment and Livelihoods ........................................................................................ 6
4.
Other Sectors ................................................................................................................ 8
CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 10
Informants........................................................................................................................... 11
Appendix 1: Estimated costs and time frame for gender-related recovery needs ........... 12
Appendix 2: Gender Equality Statistics .............................................................................. 13
1
“Because of the strong stereotypes here, especially in rural areas, women’s roles
and needs in recovery are very different from those of men.”
*
“Everything is destroyed and it is really hard to say at this point, where to start.”
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
During the third week of May heavy rains fell in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) causing sudden and
extreme flooding and landslides over one third of the country. Urban, industrial, rural areas and
roads were completely submerged; thousands were displaced and isolated without electricity or
communications. Many houses and businesses were destroyed or damaged, and the effect on
agriculture and productive services is severe. More than one million people have been affected.
A government-led Post-Disaster Needs Assessment was conducted by the World Bank, E.U. and UN,
to identify damages, losses and needs, and to provide an estimate of national recovery costs. UN
Women responded to the emergency by contributing a humanitarian gender expert to the PNDA
team, to support analysis of gender issues and to ensure these will be addressed in response and
recovery planning. The PDNA estimates not only the replacement cost of damaged assets, but also
the cost to “build back better”, to increase resilience and mitigate the effects of future catastrophic
events.
Gender inequality in Bosnia-Herzegovina has significant implications for disaster recovery. While
the country is one of the most advanced in terms of legislation and policy on gender equality, there
is little political will for its implementation. Women are largely excluded from political and decisionmaking processes; they have disproportionately limited access to employment and income, and
many are subject to violence. There is particular concern with respect to Roma women in BiH, who
are even more severely disadvantaged and marginalized.
Resilience-building against future shocks will require attention and funding directed toward
reducing the severe economic and decision-making disparities between women and men.
Key Recommendations of this report
1. Equal and meaningful participation of women from all groups in all recovery decisionmaking forums
2. Equitable and transparent land, housing and property restitution for men and women, with
well-publicized criteria and procedures
3. Default joint titling/ joint registration of recovery-assisted land and housing for couples
4. Strengthened economic empowerment programs for women as part of Disaster Risk
Reduction
5. Gender-sensitive disaster preparedness, response and recovery planning
2
Top Funding Priorities
1. Financial compensation for a portion of women’s unpaid labour, to recognize the
extraordinary burden created by floods on an already disproportionate workload
2. Cash compensation for home garden losses & household equipment paid to women
3. Grant fund to re-start women's uninsured small and home-based businesses
4. Housing Land & Property rights campaign
5. Expanded SOS telephone help lines
6. Gender & disasters training for police, civil defense, women’s CSOs, municipal governments
This paper provides an overview of the different flood impacts on women and men, their
implications for recovery, and recommendations to address disaster-related needs caused or
worsened by discrimination against women. An estimate provides suggested program activities
and costs to redress inequalities and strengthen future resilience (Appendix 1). Statistics and
information documenting the status of and discrimination against women in BiH are contained in
Appendix 2.
The views expressed in this report are those of the author, based on research and consultations,
and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women.
Methodology
Sex-disaggregated data comparing conditions for men and women in BiH were compiled and shared
with sectoral teams for consideration as baseline information, along with guidance for investigating
gender issues relevant to their sectors. Names of national gender activists and consultants were
provided for sectoral teams to consult with and interview in the field. Some sectors, notably
livelihoods, agriculture and housing, were keen to engage in gender analysis of their information
and findings but were limited by the lack of sex-disaggregated data available.
Immediately following the floods, differentiated information about damages and losses for men and
for women was not available. Some sex-disaggregated impact information could be inferred by
comparing baseline averages with overall damage and loss data, but this is not representative or
reliable, nor can it reflect losses not normally included in standard accounting systems.1 Where sexdisaggregated information does not exist under normal conditions, it is not possible to rapidly
develop it post-disaster in order to analyze different impacts.
The time frame of the PDNA -- less than two weeks for information gathering, field assessments,
analysis and reporting for all flood-affected districts -- severely limited teams in the analysis of their
own sectoral data, much less their ability to consider the intersection and relevance of cross-cutting
issues like gender.
In spite of the absence of quantitative information about gender-related flood impacts, a great deal
of relevant information was obtained through interviews with flood-affected individuals and
organizations providing services to them. A short questionnaire was developed to investigate
qualitative aspects of loss, damage, and consequent needs. Representatives of women’s civil
society organizations in fifteen flood affected communities and government gender equality bodies
were interviewed about differences in men’s and women’s experiences, needs and flood recovery
priorities. The majority of informants were interviewed in their first language with responses
1
For example, unpaid labour or informal “grey market” activities
3
translated for compilation and analysis; a smaller number of bilingual informants were consulted in
English. A group discussion was also held in local language in Sarajevo with representatives of
women’s community service organizations (CSOs), to further analyze and elaborate information
gathered in interviews. This report presents the findings of these post-flood gender consultations.
FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
General
For half of those interviewed in June, the “emergency phase” was not yet over, although it was also
clear that needs were shifting from food, water, and non-food items to income and housing. The
lack of reliable information and communication with affected women and men emerged as an
important need across several sectors. Concerns range from people worried about disease from
flood-affected food, to those affected by landslides who cannot return home and are desperate to
know what kind of help they can expect and when.
Most commonly cited needs were cleaning supplies and disinfectant, and for houses to be clean and
dry, but food and water remain urgent needs in some areas. Hygiene packages were mentioned
several times as being hugely appreciated by women, even more than bread, as this is still
something local male disaster officials do not address.
All respondents believed that in the immediate rush to help people, there was no difference or
discrimination based on gender. Some responders made efforts to prioritize single mothers, and
others mentioned elderly people. In Bijeljina, the government identified 14 and later 21 families
with disabled children to be prioritized, but because of poor records they could not be located.
In Maglaj, the Social Welfare Centre and Centre for Children with Special Needs were both flooded,
as was the orphanage in Bijeljna; women’s safe houses in Banja Luka and Doboj were both affected.
Two safe houses benefited from their earlier mitigation work, in one case having built an
embankment, and the other having purchased pumps. In at least one location, single women with
children were accommodated in a safe house for domestic violence victims, stretching a limited
resource and creating a possible security risk for women already living there. EURFOR is particularly
monitoring the situation of affected children.
There is no information and have not been any reports of increased violence against women during
the floods, according to CSOs, INGOs, and EUFOR. While two people felt that the sense of solidarity
may have temporarily reduced violence, far more are worried that anger and frustration will soon
trigger many regular offenders. One person reported fights between men at distribution sites.
Concerns identified for monitoring include women’s increased risk of labour exploitation; risk of
trafficking of women and girls due to increased migration; and risk of sexual exploitation to obtain
recovery resources.
Landslides are a more serious issue than floods in some communities. People who lost houses in
Sapna have lost hope and feel everyone has forgotten them; in Bratunac they are waiting for big
machines and not sure if anyone is going to come and help them. There is no communication
about what is happening or what they can expect.
Recommendations (General)

Clear and accessible information about recovery assistance, entitlements and procedures must
be provided through various media to enable women and men of different ages and social
groups to make informed decisions and to benefit equally.
4

An inclusive gender-sensitive needs analysis should be conducted for all affected areas, with
special attention to disabled women, single mothers, Roma women and other potentially
vulnerable individuals, with the purpose of developing comprehensive and inclusive plan to
improve post-disaster conditions for women in all areas.
“The extremely patriarchal views held here will be reinforced if donors make no effort to
bring women into recovery discussions. On the other hand, the floods may succeed in
highlighting the underlying social crisis, and finally getting people to accept the need for
social change and progress on equality. It is an advantage that gender equity is included in
all legislation, particularly regarding human security and disaster strategy. OSCE and donors
should be keen to see that equity provisions are implemented, particularly at local level.”
Adnan Kadribašić, Expert Advisor, Agency for Gender Equality of BiH
2.
Agriculture, Land Ownership and Housing
Theoretically, women and men have equal rights in Bosnia-Herzegovina; legally there is no
discrimination against women with regard to access, ownership or inheritance of land or other
property. Twenty-seven per cent of land and property in the Federation and almost forty per cent
in Republika Srpska (RS) is currently registered in women’s names, but in practice, in rural areas
women often surrender their rights in favour of male relatives.
Traditions that view land and property as a male prerogative remain strong: there is a lack of
awareness among women of their right to own and manage property. Interviews described cases
of manipulation and exploitation by family members over women’s housing, including sexual
exploitation of widows seeking to remain in their marital home, and suggested such cases were not
rare.
The floods were most devastating for smallholder farmers (less than two hectares) for whom
agriculture is the sole source of subsistence and income, as all their crops and fodder have been
destroyed. Statistics are not yet available but this group is known to be large, with a high
percentage of female households. Some argue that the material damage has a proportionally
greater impact on single women, as they have no other income or livelihoods options. As a result
of increasing migration in recent years, overall female-led households now stand at one in four
nationally, with some areas much higher.
More flood-affected women than men, many of them elderly, have been accommodated in
collective centres. Prior to the disaster, twenty-eight collective centres housed primarily wardisplaced female-led families, of whom eighty per cent are war widows. Many have been unable to
return home because they lack basic livelihoods support, or for reasons of personal security. Lack of
privacy especially for breastfeeding mothers has been a major complaint about collective centres.
The BiH military and police have not yet been trained on gender and representation.
Post-war housing constructed for IDPs and refugees, particularly Roma, tended to be unregistered
and of poor quality, much of it on low-lying land and consequently now flooded. Again, in several
areas a higher proportion of the war-displaced families were female-led.
There is a widely held perception that because of prevailing norms and attitudes, flood-affected
women will have greater difficulty than men to obtain house reconstruction assistance. Women
5
rarely participate in decision-making on rural development and will need information, both about
programs and about construction, to be able to make informed decisions and to benefit equally
from repair and other programs.
“We can always assume single mothers face great challenges, but
recovery will have all the usual suspects for social exclusion, and any
response must not see all as equal: clear priorities must be set.”
Recommendations (Agriculture, Land Ownership and Housing)

Equitable and transparent land, housing and property priorities and restitution for men and
women irrespective of marital status must be carried out.

Default joint titling/ joint registration of recovery-assisted land, housing, property and
productive resources must be ensured for married women and unmarried women alike, so
they are able to benefit equally from titling and registration programmes.

Titling and registration programs must be accompanied by awareness-raising initiatives aimed
at educating women and men about women’s right to access use and control land and other
productive resources.
Meaningful participation of women, including marginalized or excluded women, in decisionmaking processes relevant to housing, land, property and agriculture must be assured.
Clear and transparent criteria for reconstruction assistance must be provided; equitable
numbers of women and men trained in safe construction and DRR, with special assistance for
those unable to carry out repair work on their own.



Cash for work assistance to men must be balanced with equal amounts of cash assistance
provided to women.

Replacement costs of household goods and furnishings should be directed to women as these
are linked to women’s work and home-based income.

Cash compensation must be provided to vulnerable individuals who were completely reliant on
small-scale subsistence agriculture.

Improve conditions in collective centres, including private areas for breastfeeding mothers.

S.O.S telephone help lines should be expanded to provide support services for flood affected
women, girls, boys and men.

Housing and compensation for war victims must be urgently addressed.
3.
Employment and Livelihoods
Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are disproportionately unemployed and underpaid compared to
men. Less than one third of women are active in the labour force, and they earn less than half of
what men earn. Disparities and conditions are even more extreme for Roma men and women. One
of the main issues emphasized by the CEDAW Committee in its 2013 report on BiH was the need to
6
achieve equal opportunities for women and men in the labour market, with special attention to
disadvantaged groups of women.
It is not yet known how many jobs will be lost in the formal employment sector. Women are
registered owners of one third of businesses in the flood-affected areas, although some of these
would be owners in name only. Most women interviewed were involved in agriculture and/or
small enterprise before the floods; most felt the damage
to livelihoods – particularly agricultural – would have
much more serious effects than the loss and damage to
houses.
Women will definitely face
greater challenges in
continuing their business or
self-employed initiatives. The
fact is that women are both
running their businesses and
managing their households.
Women will need to get both
remediation of flood effects
in their homes as well as on
their busineses, and it will
take much more time, efforts
and financial sources. It will
affect more women than
men to resolve issues derived
from floods and landslides.
Esmir Spahic, Senior Expert Associate,
Department for Development,
Entrepreneurship and Social Affairs,
Municipality of Tuzla
Recognizing that both men and women contributed to
helping their neighbours and communities immediately
after the flood, most locations also saw much longer
hours of community clean-up work being performed by
women than by men.
Informants felt that statements about women’s greater
workload would “likely be laughed off,” but insisted they
reflect the reality underlying economic and other gaps
between women and men in Bosnia.
Where businesses have been flooded, estimates are that
employees - especially women - may be cleaning at the
workplace for as long as two months, with no guarantee
that their jobs will still exist. Bijeljna municipality
imposed an obligation for all civil servants to work on the
recovery: men were sent to work on the embankments,
while women were required to work in the humanitarian
aid centres at times for 14 hours, regardless of personal
needs and in contravention of a number of equity labour
laws. OSCE is now monitoring the situation. The
increased unpaid work burden on women is of great
concern.
More women than men are employed in agriculture, and seventy per cent of women work as
unpaid family labour. Women’s unpaid labour is a significant contributor to economic wellbeing
rarely factored into accounts. In OECD countries women spend an average of approximately 4.5
hours per day compared to 2.3 hours per day for men on housework and family care; it is
reasonable to assume that this is similar in BiH and that it has increased because of the disaster.
Women’s domestic responsibilities are expected to be a major factor in their slower return to
economic activity.
Generally, respondents believe the same criteria will be applied to male- and female- owned
enterprises seeking support. There is a strong feeling that it will be more difficult for women to get
support to re-establish small home-based enterprises, as the risk is seen to belong to the individual
women, rather than to a family as is the case with men’s businesses. Several women with small
specialized services such as cake making or sewing do not expect to recover for a long time as there
will be little market for luxury items.
Most said that women need equal opportunity to benefit from interest-free loans, favourable terms
with deferred payments, any special start-up initiatives, lower interest rates, and help with re-
7
establishing markets. Two agricultural women expressed reservations about taking loans with no
foreseeable way to repay it. Fruit growers noted that where they still have fruit, the price for it has
dropped to one fifth of the normal price in spite of scarcity, because people are worried about
contamination. Three people mentioned that farmers should be paid the incentives owing to them
for the past two years, and several emphasized the need to engage women’s organizations in
assistance planning and prioritization, in order to prevent the sexual exploitation and abuse of postwar recovery programs.
The concept of “recovery projects” for women was controversial. Training in jam-making and other
home production was advocated, but there is also a view that micro-enterprise can trap women on
the fringes of economic activity. Some argued that women’s projects add to women’s time burden
with little financial gain, deflecting attention and funds away from political empowerment and more
strategic economic equity initiatives.
“Workloads are already a big factor holding women back, and now they are
working even more, so women’s own business recovering will be delayed. Home
life must be restored first, so women will have to do even more reproductive
work than before, for a long time to come.”
Recommendations (Livelihoods and Employment)






4.
Ensure transparency in distribution of recovery funds, especially when distributed as cash;
ensure equitable resources are provided to women and men.
Strengthen economic empowerment programs for women, as part of Disaster Risk Reduction
Compensate women for their additional burden of unpaid labour after the floods. For women
whose homes were damaged/destroyed (approx 43,250), remuneration of two hours per day
at minimum wage for two months.
Establish dedicated funds for rapid re-establishment of women’s small and home-based
enterprises.
Engage young people registered with Employment Bureaus to help others with post-flood
cleaning, to help free women’s time.
Prioritize the recovery of schools, social & children’s services, and safe houses to enable
women to remain in employment.
Other Sectors
Transportation, Energy, and Water & Sanitation sectors were perceived to have less potential for
different impacts on women’s and men’s respective recovery ability. Transport was mentioned
with respect to the importance of repairing foot roads as well as main roads for rural women to be
able to access public transport, and for children to travel safely to school. Similarly, rural micro
hydro projects must be recognized as equally important as large power stations. Recovery priorities
for women in these sectors include provision for mobility, access and communications in areas
lacking public transport; access to water and disinfectants, and access to information about planned
development and changes.
8
ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT INEQUALITY
Three topics were repeatedly raised during discussions that were not part of the six focus sectors
for PDNA damage and loss calculations, and merit inclusion here. These were psycho-social support
needs, coordination and transparency, and disaster preparedness /risk reduction.
“Women I met would change their faces so many times during the conversation, due to the
difficulties of the situation they have to cope with: frustration, anger, lacking power, being
weak, nobody asking her… Women put themselves last all the time and they will suffer.”
Psycho-social needs: The unaddressed traumas and losses afflicted on previously war-affected and
displaced people, both men and women, now compounded by fresh devastation, are clearly
evident. More than half of respondents identified a need for psycho-social support for flood
affected people, especially women. Others disagreed strongly and felt the problems facing women
are social, economic and structural, and should be addressed at this level. When probed for details,
many of those advocating for counselling or psychosocial support services clarified that the need is
not for medical intervention, but rather that women need to be able to take a break from working,
simply to talk with other women about their experiences. Expanded telephone support services
was a repeated recommendation to meet this need.
Coordination: Several people spoke about lack of coordination in the early response, particularly
food distribution, and are concerned about the implications for an organized and fair recovery.
There are no clear criteria for entitlements, and problems have occurred when people receive
different goods or quantities, for no apparent reason.
Problems described in the emergency phase included CSOs being stopped from providing assistance
by the Red Cross when a decision was made by authorities to centralize the provision of all aid.
Bijeljna and Doboj reported that for an extended period very little help was received by anyone.
Equal to the concern for gender equity in recovery planning was the need to prevent misuse of
assistance funds. In the emergency phase, there were reported incidents of exclusion from food
distribution based on political affiliation; two respondents noted that politics are more important
than gender when it comes to determining who gets aid.
Almost all described the need to be very cautious about possible misuse of funds, and the need for
a strong control mechanism to make sure those who need help will it. It seems vital especially
during an election year, to de-politicize recovery planning and aid. At state level, it is felt that a
precondition for fair equitable recovery assistance should be to include gender and/or human rights
expertise in all recovery processes.
Preparedness and Risk Reduction: The need for equal and meaningful involvement of women in
planning to reduce risks and mitigate the impact of future disasters was seen by many as vital.
Gender awareness training for all levels of disaster managers and responders, as well as those
involved in preparedness and risk reduction planning, was recommended.
“In uncoordinated situations, the voices of the loudest will be met first. Demobilized soldiers are
the biggest and most influential interest group in the country; they are always men, and they
always get priority, especially in employment. This has been seen through twenty years of
pensions and other benefits, leaving budgets empty for women victims of war, safe houses and
services for other groups. This aspect must not be allowed to drive recovery, but no institution
has taken the lead to coordinate, so this may be a problem.”
9
Recommendations (other sectors)

Involve equal numbers of men and women, including from marginalized groups, at decisionmaking levels in state bodies and organizations working on reconstruction, recovery, disaster
preparedness and risk reduction

Gender analysis and impact assessment must precede infrastructure reconstruction to ensure
different needs and priorities are being equitably met, and that women and men benefit
equally, from design through construction to delivery. “Beneficiaries” must be disaggregated
by sex, wealth status and household type to validate who benefits from infrastructure projects.

Provide training in gender-sensitive disaster preparedness and response planning, for
municipal governments, police, civil defense, and CSOs, involving women, girls, boys and men.
Prepare gender-responsive disaster plans, including mapping of vulnerable groups.

Ensure compliance with existing requirements for disaggregated statistics at all levels of
government
CONCLUSION
A significant limitation for all sectors was the time frame of the PDNA process. The two weeks
allowed to establish baseline and damage data for all affected municipalities, much less carry out
meaningful consultation and analysis with regard to social impacts and the needs of different
groups, was inadequate for some sectors. A separate UN Women Lessons Learned paper reviews
this and other limitations, as well as the achievements of the Balkan floods PDNA process in
addressing gender differences.
In spite of information and methodological limitations, it is clear that the floods had very different
impacts on women and men, and that recovery needs and priorities are also different. The
reconstruction process cannot ignore the very unequal starting places of women and men in BosniaHerzegovina. Strengthening resilience against future shocks demands that attention be paid now
to reducing and redressing some of the inequalities that create vulnerability. Funding for women’s
economic and political empowerment, and for equal participation in all disaster-related discussions,
is key to building back better to reduce future disaster risks.
10
Informants
Name
Abida Jahić
Organization
Udruženje poljoprivrednih proizvođača, inžinjera i tehničara
Adnan Kadribašić
Expert Advisor, Agency for Gender Equality of BIH
Ajša Babić
Klokotnica-V.Brijesnica
Alma Budaković
„Žene za žene“
Belma Bećirbašić
Women for Women
Biljana Despotović
Secretary of the Assembly of Bijeljina City
Branka Damjanović
President, Gender Equality Commission at the Assembly of Šamac
Daliborka Lukić
President, Gender Equality Commission at the Assembly of Bijeljina
Djenuma Djerašin
UG ‘Snaga žene’,
Emira Arnaut
Ferida Begović
Žene 21.vijeka, Matuzici
Senior Expert Associate, Department for Development,
Entrepreneurship and Social Affairs, Municipality of Tuzla
Udruženje žena Ruka
Gordana Vidović
NGO Budućnost
Jasminka Jukić,
Marceta Nikolina
Udruženje „Ho Horizonti“ Tuzla
Head, Dept for Coordination, Education & Cooperation, Centre for
Gender Equity & Equality of the Government of RS
Senior Bilingual Legal Assistant, Gender Advisor to EUFOR Commander
Meliha Sendić
Centar za pravnu pomoć ženama Zenica
Nada Golubović
United Women Banja Luka
Nuhan Sefka
President, Municipal Gender Equality Commission
Olivera Mastikosa
Association of Persons with Muscular Dystrophy
Radmila Žigić
NGO “Lara“
Ruža Topić
President, Orašje Municipal Gender Equality Commission
Sadmira Kotorić
Gender Centre FBiH
Stanojka Tešić
„Forum žena“, Bratunac
Svetlana Marković
Helšinski parlament gradjana Banja Luka
Zahida Mujkić
Udruženje žena Agrar Vražići
Željana Pjevalica
Udruženje žena ‘Priroda’
Esmir Spahić
Jelena Milinović
11
Appendix 1: Estimated costs and time frame for gender-related recovery needs
Recovery Needs
Item
#
Description / Intervention
Value
(BAM)
Short term
(6-12 months)
Med term
(1-3 years)
Unpaid labour compensation to women whose houses were
damaged/destroyed: 2 hours/day x min.wage (KM1.74) x 2 mos x
~43,249 women (# to be confirmed) (Fed40%-RS58%-BD2%)
9,030,391
250000
8,780,391
2
Cash compensation of home garden losses: most vuln FHH with <2HA
& no other source of income 5000 hh x 500 (Fed49%-RS49%-BD2%)
2,500,000
250000
2250000
3
Improve collective centre accommodation: privacy, facilities &
services (Fed55%-RS43%-BD2%)
Dedicated grant fund to re-start women's uninsured small and homebased enterprises (Fed 40%-RS58%-BD2%)
20,000
20000
5,000,000
50,000
3,000,000
50,000
10,000
40,000
10,000
40000
40,000
20,000
160,000
40,000
100,000
400,000
40,000
790,000
100,000
14,810,391
1
4
5
Gender-sensitive needs analysis for all affected areas with focus on
vulnerable groups (National: no breakdown by entity)
6
Require financial recovery contributions to integrate both
accountability measures and gender equality indicators
Enforce laws with respect to non-discrimination and pay equity in
employment; government collection & use of sex-disaggregated
statistics
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Information campaign on reconstruction programs & entitlements
(National: no breakdown by entity)
Long term
(5+ years)
1950000
no cost
no cost
50,000
Ensure the equitable and full participation of women and gender
experts in all recovery decision-making, implementation and
evaluation processes.
no cost
Training: Gender in Disasters, Response & Recovery for police and
civil defence x 5 (National: no breakdown by entity)
200,000
Expansion of telephone support/SOS lines x 12 months 49-49-2
60,000
Women's Housing Land & Property rights campaign (National: no
breakdown by entity)
500,000
10 x Gender in Preparedness planning and DRR training for
government & CSOs (National: no breakdown by entity)
140,000
TOTAL 17,550,391
1,950,000
12
Appendix 2: Gender Equality Statistics
for Bosnia-Herzegovina 
Overview

BiH ranked 83/157 on the Gender Equity Index (20091), with near parity in literacy and education,
but significant gaps in economic activity and empowerment.

BiH ranks 81 out of 187 countries for Human Development in 2013, lowest of the Balkan countries.
This is a drop from 68th place in 2010.

BiH ranks 24th out of 86 countries on the OECD Social Institutions & Gender Index (SIGI). This
relatively high standing is attributable to legislative and policy progress on gender equality and
women’s empowerment. But it is widely acknowledged that the persistent and widening gender
gap in socio-economic indicators is due to ineffective implementation of these policies.

Provision under Article 18 of the Law on Gender Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates the
obligation to present all statistical data and information gathered, recorded or processed by public
bodies at all levels and in all public services and institutions, public and private companies and other
entities in a gender disaggregated way.

The Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been regularly issuing the publication
“Women and Men in BiH“,2 containing a variety of social statistics disaggregated by gender. The
publication has the following chapters: Population and Vital Statistics, Education, Employment,
Social Protection, Living Conditions, Political Power, Election Results and Judiciary.
EMPLOYMENT – LIVELIHOODS3

Women’s labour participation in BiH is the lowest in South-east Europe. Less than one-third of
women of working age are active in the labour force. This is likely attributable to lower levels of
education, a lack of child-care facilities, cultural factors and unequal labour market access.4

The 2013 unemployment rate was 26.5% for men and 29% for women.

General employment rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 31.9% (men 41.3% and women 23%), while
the unemployment rate in BiH in 2011 was 27.6% (men 26.1%, women 29.9%). women aged 16-64
made only 32.8% of active labor force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011.

A state-wide survey found 82% of Roma women were unemployed, 9% working in the informal
sector, and 7% begging for survival. Only 2-3% of Roma were employed in the public sector.5

The employment rate for Roma men was 6.26%, and less than 1% (0.63) for women.

Statistical sources in BiH are many and often conflicting; this document is intended to provide an an
overview and indication of gender disparities
13

Women are over-represented in the lowest pay grades, and out-numbered 3:1 by men in the
highest. Overall women earn 46% of what men earn.6

A key issue emphasized by the CEDAW committee in 2013 was the need to achieve equal
opportunities for women and men in the labour market, with special attention to disadvantaged
groups of women.7

Unemployment is particularly high among professional women who have university degrees.8
14.3% of unemployed women have a university education, while only 7.2% of university educated
men are unemployed.

Less than 14 percent of top managers are women, which is below the regional average of 20
percent.9

Rural men are more than twice as likely to be employed as rural women.

The largest proportion of the working population in the country has completed secondary
education. Of this group, men outnumber women in the workforce by a ratio of 2:1.

There is approximate gender parity among civil servants in BiH (51% female), but only 35% of senior
positions are held by women.

Single female household incomes are very low. As 70% of female headed households are over 60,
many are likely to be widows. Male headed households tend to have higher incomes than FHH.

In the strategies related to active employment policies (the Strategy of Employment in BiH in the
period 2010-2014, the Strategy of Employment in the Federation of BiH 2009-2013, and the Strategy
of Employment in Republika Srpska in 2010-2014), women and the category of women exposed to
multiple exclusion, are recognized as vulnerable group so that measures are envisaged to increase
the employment rate of these women, to keep gender-disaggregated statistics, to introduce
indicators for the monitoring of effects of implementation of strategic measures on both sexes.
AGRICULTURE, LAND OWNERSHIP

Theoretically, women and men have equal rights in BiH; legally there is no discrimination against
women with regard to access, ownership or inheritance of land or other property. In practice, in
rural areas, women often surrender their rights in favour of male relatives, as a result of customary
practices that see land and property as a male prerogative.10 There is a lack of awareness among
women as to their right to own and manage property.

Very few women are owners of land and, as such, they rarely participate in decision-making on rural
development and diversification of rural activities as sources of income and the income of their
families11

Representation in of women in agriculture is higher than other areas (employing 26% of women and
19% of men), although women rarely own the land, and they frequently provide for extended
families.12

36% of rural households are classified as smallholdings, producing a significant share of their own
food requirements, but little market involvement.

Less than 1% of rural households employ agricultural labour; farming is very much a family business
outside the formal labour market.13

70% of women work in unpaid family labour, on farms or in family establishments.
HOUSING

Estimates of the proportion of female-headed households range from 19% - 25%.14 This figure
increases with male migration for employment, especially in rural areas, and can be expected to rise
further post-disaster.
14

78% of female-headed households lost a husband during the war.

Female-headed households make up almost 1/3 of the total number of IDPs in BiH. Many have been
unable to return because they lack basic livelihoods support, or for reasons of personal security.15

Six per cent of the population in BiH had no water source on the premises. This percentage rises
with the deteriorating wealth status.

Where water was collected it was usually collected by an adult male (62%) or by an adult female
(32%), and less frequently by children.

Solid fuel (usually wood) is used for cooking in 70% of households overall, and 83% in rural areas.

Many of the poorest households are female-headed. Women living in informal settlements without
water, electricity, sewers, roads and other services face even greater burdens.

The Strategy for Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovna described as urgent the need to legalize existing
Roma houses built without permission.
EDUCATION & LITERACY

The level of education of the working age population in BiH is low compared to EU standards, and
the education of women is especially low.16

The overall literacy rate for women and men aged 15-24 is over 99 per cent, lower only amongst
women with primary education (88 per cent).

Literacy rates for Roma men and women aged 15-24 are 90% and 69% respectively.

The overall Gender Parity Index (GPI) in BiH was 0.99 for primary school and 1.02 for secondary
school.

Among Roma the Gender Parity Index (GPI) for primary school was 0.96, (girls slightly less likely to
attend than boys); however, girls were much more disadvantaged compared to boys at secondary
school level (GPI: 0.67).

Sources indicate a majority of Roma children do not attend school,17 and only 15 percent of Roma
children complete grade eight. Another source suggests 50% of Roma children are enrolled in
primary school, with 33% primary completion at the age of 15. Only 2% are enrolled in secondary
schools.18

Nearly 80% of Roma women did not finish primary school, compared to 22% of the majority
population. Secondary school completion was 4.5% for Roma women and 9% for men; none had
completed university.

Education statistics for BiH present disaggregated data in the form of “Total, of which female,”
rather than the neutral format of male:female.
HEALTH19

No gender-disaggregated figures are available regarding early childhood nutrition, or immunisation
rates.

The adolescent birth rate among Roma was 145 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 in the year
period preceding the survey, compared to 8 per 1000 women nationally.

Overall, 84 per cent of women aged 15-49 in BiH received antenatal care four or more times.
However, over 20% of Roma women received no antenatal care

There are similar extreme disparities between Roma women and the general population on health
indicators related to unmet contraception needs, HIV-AIDS awareness and others.

About 90% of Roma women have no access to health care.20
15

There is a lack of data on people with disabilities in BiH, however it is known that almost two thirds
live close to or below the poverty line.
POVERTY

Social welfare beneficiaries in RS are 53% female and 23% are over age 65, with equal proportions of
men and women. More than half of social welfare beneficiaries are defined as “Persons in different
social and protective needs”, and 54% of these are female. 30% of SW beneficiaries do not have
sufficient income to support themselves, 51% female, 49% male. 21
PROTECTION & CIVIL RIGHTS

The primary issue emphasized by the CEDAW committee in 2013 was the failure to adequately
address wartime sexual violence which continues to affect tens of thousands of women.22

The 2010 Alternative CEDAW Report concluded that “public policies adopted by BiH in the field of
gender equality and protecting women’s human rights neither recognize the problems and needs of
Roma women, nor provide for special measures aimed at prevention and elimination of double
discrimination that Roma women are subjected to.”23

Domestic violence is an issue of great concern. Studies have shown that almost half of women in
BiH (>15 years) have been subjected to some form of violence. Prevalence of domestic violence is
higher in rural than urban areas; younger women and poorer women are most affected.24

In BiH, there are 9 safe houses that can accommodate 173 individuals.25

Roma women face particular discrimination, as a result of the wider marginalisation of their
communities. Many do not have identity documents, meaning they are unable to access state
services and benefits, or vote. 90% of Roma women have no access to social protection, health care
or employment.26

Roma women are often subjected to early and paid marriages. Over 1/3 of Roma women aged 1519 are currently married, and nearly half of Roma women aged 20-49 were married before age 18.27

Following the war, Roma were the last to repossess their property, and received the least
international or national grants for reconstruction of their homes. Those living in informal
settlements could not benefit from reconstruction programs.28

Women remain under-represented in political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 22-24% of seats
in Parliamentary Assemblies and the Federal Parliament held by women. There is one female
minister.

Women have not participated in any of the peace negotiations affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina.29

The Gender Action Plan 2013-2017 and the Action Plan for Implementation of UNSCR 1325 in BiH for
the period 2014-2017, have recognized as a priority area, the increase of participation of women in
public life and decision-making processes
1
2009 is the only year for which UNDP data is available
Women and Men in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Statistics of BiH, Sarjevo 2013
3
Most in this section taken from National Labour Force Survey 2010
4
ILO, 2010, Employment and Labour Market Dynamics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, p. 12; Beijing +20 rpt
5
Stephen Muller, National policies towards Romani Women in the Western Balkans, CARE, Sept 2011
6
Economic Development and the Gender Wage Gap, Sherri Haas Illinois Wesleyan University, 2006
7
CEDAW concluding observations on the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
July 2013, pp 9-10
8
ibid
2
16
9
http://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/corporate+governance/
publications/focus_case+studies/International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
10
http://genderindex.org/country/bosnia-and-herzegovina#_ftn14
11
Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Review of progress made in the implementation of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the
General Assembly (2000) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 2014 (Beijing +20 report)
12
Beijing, p.7
13
Idzakovic, F (2013) ”Economic Status of Women” in Miftar, E. ed. Annex to the 3 rd Alternative Report on the
Implementation of CEDAW and Women’s Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo: Sarajevo Open
Center, pp. 9-14
14
UNICEF, Bosnia and Herzegovina Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2011–2012
15
Beijing +20 report
16
Esther Garcia Fransioli, Human Rights Papers, Annual Report on the State of Women’s Rights in Bosnia and
Herzegovina in 2013
17
(OSCI 8 Apr. 2009; MRG n.d.a; HCHR BHn.d.a, 5).
18
Progress toward MDGs 2010, p.31
19
MICS 2011–2012, and MICS: Roma Survey conducted by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH
(MHRR BiH) in cooperation with the Agency for Statistics of BiH (BHAS).
20
MDG Report 2010
21
RS Social Welfare Beneficiaries 2012
22
CEDAW p 3
23
Stephen Muller, National policies towards Romani Women in the Western Balkans, CARE, Sept 2011
24
Prevalence and Characteristics of Violence against Women in BiH, 2013. Conducted by the Agency for Gender
Equality and Statistical Agency with the support of UNFPA and UN Women.
25
Gender Equality Agency of BiH, “Prevalence and characteristics of violence against women in BiH”
26
MDG 2010 report
27
MICS: Roma Survey
28
Strategy for Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina
29
Beijing +20 report
17