Side Event at CSW59 Co-Organized by the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN and IOGT International
On March 18th 2015, during the 59th session of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59), the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN in New York, in close cooperation with IOGT International, has organized a very successful Side Event titled “Three Major Epidemics Burdening Women: Community and Policy Action to Empower Women”. The main focus of discussion was on violence against women (VAW), HIV/AIDS and Non-communicable diseases (NCD), with representatives of Georgia University, UNDP, UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, NACADA and NCD Alliance as speakers.
Despite being considered as a driving force of development and global prosperity, women in the 21st century are still subjected to tremendous human rights violations, inequality, extreme poverty and inadequate healthcare. HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and all forms of violence against women are three epidemics that disproportionally burden women and girls, threatening their human rights and right to equality and freedom. For that reason, main goal of this Side Event was to encourage researchers, UN agencies and Civil Society to address different factors in a new and inventive way and offer creative solutions for these questions.
In her opening remarks, ambassador Čolaković welcomed all participants, thanking them for their interest in the discussion that encompasses issues that are critical and of great significance for women around the world. She also took this opportunity to present some of the achievements, as well as challenges Bosnia and Herzegovina faces on issues of violence against women, gender equality and HIV/AIDS. Having in mind the great importance Bosnia and Herzegovina attaches to these issues, Ambassador Čolaković stressed the continuous work and effort at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina focused on institutionalization and improvement of standards in areas of gender equality and fight against violence against women. As a good example in context of gender equality, ambassador Čolaković mentioned the significant engagement and a very active role of our women police officers in UN peace keeping missions.
