Within the EU-funded regional program “Implementing Norms, Changing Minds”, implemented by UN Women, the Roma Women Association ‘Bolja budućnost’ Tuzla as an implementation partner completed a project ‘Let’s use the available mechanisms to protect ourselves from violence and discrimination’, in period from June 01, 2018 until November 30, 2019.
Domestic violence, as one of the biggest challenges of Bosnian society, is a problem that has gone from the private to the public sphere. Violence has a negative impact on basic human needs and quality of life. Marginalized communities such as the Roma are at increased risk when it comes to violence against women and generally unequal status in society, as well as constant discrimination because it is the largest community of the largest national minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the most vulnerable one taking into account all social parameters that are considered when the social status of a community or social group are assessed.
Insufficient and inadequately shared information on the availability of mechanisms of protection against violence and discrimination, which are a particular problem with the so-called ‘groups that are more difficult to reach’, cause lack of information about seeking protection and retaining rights in cases of violence and discrimination. During the implementation of the project, as partners we have contributed to the achievement of the goals of the Program “Ending Violence against Women: Implementing Norms, Changing Minds” because we designed the project on the basis of the recommendations and strategic goals of the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and Istanbul Convention, but also the Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.