Women’s civil society and gbv, Kvinna till Kvinna

Results and changes in relation to the program Supporting Women's Civil Society in Improving the Institutional Response to GBV in BiH: Ktk provided financial support to four partners in BiH through three year contracts (alowing for more longer term planning). Ktk has also supported the partners with capacity building and networking opportunities. Ktk provides support to other partner organisations as well through other programs, which has created synergies with this one. Focus in the program has been on the civil society demanding accountability and functioning as a watch dog towards decision makers and duty bearers, through evidence-based advocacy. The supported organisations have monitored court cases of gender based violence, trained and sensitized actors in the chain of protection, and provided direct support to women victims/survivors of violence. Partners' monitoring and advocacy has contributed to legislative changes, changes in attitudes and behaviours of certain targeted (by partners) institutions and actors in the chain of protection. The legislation has been better harmonised with the Istanbul Conventionexpanding the women victims/survivor's rights to pretection and support after reporting violence in both enteties or expanding the scope of obligations of relevant actors, and the abolishment of domestic violence as a minor offence through changes in the Criminal Code and Law on protection against domestic violence in RS through. Moreover, legislation has been amended towards achieving right to access reparation for women victims/survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The concept of person of trust has been introduced in both enteties, thanks to civil society advocacy. Attitudes and behaviours has changed among important actors of protection in addressing domestic violence as a serious crime and as a result more reports have been filed to prosecutor's offices and a greater number of urgent and protective measures in favour of victims of domestic violence have been introduced. Through Ktk's provision of networking opportunities and capacity building for partners, advocacy skills and other organisation-related skills has been been strengthened among partners. This has implied stronger coordination and exchange between partners, which in turn has led to successful advocacy. Results and changes in relation to the program project Include women in change processes - Women's Advisory Board: In the WAB-project, which was added as a component to the gbv-program in 2020, the focus has been on supporting WCSOs advocacy efforts towards the EU Delegation and EUSR in BiH. The purpose was to provide an enabling environment for advocacy towards the EU in BiH, and also inform the EUD in BiH on relevant EU accession process issues and their impact on women in BiH. The project was a continuation from their previous work on establishing a Womens Advisory Board (WAB); a structure that EU in BiH can utilize to consult with and learn from the women's civil society. Ktk continued from the pilot phase of setting up structures/mechanisms of advocacy towards the EU-Delegation in BiH. During the implementation period, capacity building of WSCO's and the WAB has continued. Representatives from EUD and EUSR, despite joining the project implementation very late, still recognised the work of some WCSOs and welcomed the possibilities for consultation and other form of cooperation with WCSOs. However, Ktk and its partners recognise that much is left to be done when it comes to the EUD in BiH, both in terms of actively/conciously and willingly listen to and consult with the civil society. Awareness of gender equality, including how gender equality is mainstreamed within the office as well as how it is mainstreamed and targeted through the programmatic work, is still low within EUD. Ktk and partners therefore see the need to continue advocate towards the EU in BiH.

Expected result

For the main program Supporting Women's Civil Society in Improving the Institutional Response to GBV in BiH Impact: Women's rights and women's equal participation in decision-making in the Western Balkans are strengthened. Overall aim of the program: To strengthen women's rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina specifically with regards to victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV) enjoying adequate protection and access to justice. Focus of the program: 1) monitoring the response by law enforcement and judiciary  2) advocate for an efficient system to protect victims of GBV and an improved penal policy for Domestic Violence (DV). 3) Providing fora for networking for women's organisations, networks and other allies at national level. For the component/added project Include women in change processes - Women's Advisory Board ") The overall objective of the project:To provide an enabling environment for advocacy towards the EU in BiH, and inform the EUD in BiH on relevant EU accession process issues and their impact on women in BiH. Intermediate objective: 1) Target women of BiH engaged in political, economic and social processes in BiH are consulted on key issues on the current political agenda through the initiative and WAB.  2) EU engagement in BiH is informed by women's perspectives and attentive to gender issues. 3) Develop advocacy to promote women's perspective and inform EU officials.