World Learning STAR Network Bosnia-Herzegovina

Exploiting the world’s growing openness and interconnectedness, human trafficking is one of the most pernicious and elusive facets of organized crime in the Balkans. In response to the trafficking crisis, STAR Network of World Learning launched three related projects: the Bosnia-Herzegovina Anti-Trafficking Community Mobilization (BATCOM), from 2002-2006, the Croatia Trafficking Prevention Activity (CTPA), from 2004-2006 and the Regional Anti-trafficking Mobilization for Prevention (RAMP), from 2006-2007. BATCOM and RAMP were funded by Zonta International Foundation and CTPA was funded by USAID.

A common public perception among Bosnians is that Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) is a “country of transit,” a place where victims from other places are trafficked on their way to their eventual destination, but that local residents are not at risk. STAR focused on expanding public awareness that Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) is also a “country of origin,” whose own citizens are can be --and are-- trafficked. Developing prevention programs, expanding communication and information exchange and using public policy advocacy to press the BH government and international powers to make prevention of trafficking a priority, STAR's anti-trafficking projects sought to battle this modern scourge. In all of STAR's anti-trafficking projects, we address local needs through actions needed by specific communities, using local expertise.

Both BATCOM and RAMP produced publications. Regional Anti-trafficking Mobilization for Prevention details the innovative work of STAR partners' throughout the former Yugoslavia. Local Communities Preventing Trafficking in Human Beings includes detailed case studies of the local projects implemented by BATCOM grantee partners from 2002-2004. It also details the work of the Bosnian government’s anti-trafficking efforts and those of STAR/World Learning and BATCOM.

Women in the BiH Economy
STOP Poverty
Sarajevo, March 31 - June 1, 2001

Conference Report (preliminary)



Women meet at the "Women in the BiH Economy: STOP Poverty" conference.

World Learning STAR Network and the BiH Women's Economic Network organized a conference titled "Women in the BiH Economy: STOP Poverty" in Sarajevo, March 31 - June 1, 2001. Project partners were the FBiH Bureau for Development Programming and Zene za zene International.

Approximately 70 women from throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina -- businesswomen, NGO leaders, microcredit providers and recipients, government officials and professional experts -- attended the conference. After the opening plenary (see program), participants took part in five concurrent workshops (entrepreneurship, employment, legislation, financing/credit access, education). The workshops resulted in well-articulated recommendations on advancing women's economic empowerment in BiH that will guide the future work of the Network.



	Conclusions of the workshop are presented to representatives of the government and international community.

On the second day of the workshop, the conclusions and recommendations developed in the workshops were presented to representatives of the government and international community, including FBiH President Karlo Filipovic. Zahida Cosic, president of the Women's Business Association UNA, presented recommendations on entrepreneurship, and Klelija Balta of CARE QIF presented recommendations on creating a business-friendly environment that creates new jobs. Jasminka Dzumhur of the Women's Legal Advice Center presented recommendations on how women can influence the passage of laws and regulations that affect their economic participation. Nejira Nalic of MI-Bospo microcredit NGO presented recommendations on how to increase women's access to credit and financing sources for economic activity. Finally, Marijana Dinek of the NGO Forma F presented conclusions on the importance of education for sustainable economic development and the role of NGOs in education and training.

The conference and the network received support from FBiH President Karlo Filipovic who remarked that "the workshop recommendations were seriously prepared" and that he would support the network. Support was also given by BiH Chamber of Commerce's Mensur Smajlovic, who telephoned Ms. Zahida Cosic after the conference to recruit 20 network members to become active in Chamber activities on economic development. Meliha Alic, Vice President of the FBiH National Assembly, expressed support for the network and promised to lobby for its concerns in Parliament. Cantonal Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Besima Boric-Maric promised to help the network by advocating for inclusion of NGOs in employment, for example through the Employment Bureau of Sarajevo Canton, which decided to use 70% of privatization funds for development.

Highlighted Recommendations

A tripartite system should be respected by creating an economic-social council at all authority levels, and women should be represented in decision-making positions on all three sides (government, employers associations, and trade unions).
The government should promote entrepreneurship and employment by removing red tape/administration barriers, simplifying and reducing costs of business registration, and developing entrepreneurial incubators.
Women representatives from NGOs, trade unions, and gender centers should be included in commissions of legislative bodies
30% of all available credit lines should be for women entrepreneurs.
A fund to support women's entrepreneurship development should be established with funds drawn from taxes collected from women taxpayers.
The government should allow and invite NGOs to compete on tenders for educational programs (responsible ministries), and the educational system should recognize and support NGO training programs such as summer schools, long distance learning, and business incubators.



Members of Bosnia-Herzegovina women's economic network planning the May 2001 conference.

Organizing Committee: Nejira Nalic, BOSPO, Tuzla; Klelija Balta, CARE QIF, Tuzla; Lejla Sehic, Prijateljica, Tuzla; Zahida Cosic, Businesswomen's Association UNA, Zenica; Jasna Dzumhur, Legal Assistance Center, Zenica; Milosava Torlic, Women's Section, Bosnia-Herzegovina Trade Union Federation, Sarajevo; Irena Soldat Vujanovic, Independent Social Democrats, Banja Luka; Marijana Dinek, Forma F, Mostar; Edina Hadziahmetovic, Federal Agency for Development Planning; Jill Benderly and Gordana Coric, World Learning STAR Network, Zagreb.