MOSTAR, November 28 (FENA) – Alarming statistics on femicide reveal that every ten minutes, a woman somewhere in the world is killed by her intimate partner or another family member. According to media reports, seven women were murdered in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the first six months of this year, as highlighted during today’s panel discussion in Mostar titled “Different Forms of Violence: From Harassment in Public Spaces to Femicide.”

 These troubling figures have underscored the focus of this year’s campaign on preventing gender-based killings of women and girls, emphasized participants at the panel discussion.

The panelists stressed the importance of collaborative and strategic action by various levels of government and the civil sector to ensure violence against women is adequately addressed and to prevent its most extreme manifestation—femicide. They also highlighted the need to create safe cities and spaces where women, girls, and young girls can live and move without fear of violence.

Jo-Anne Bishop, representative of UN Women in BiH, explained that the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” aims to eliminate violence against women and girls, promote zero tolerance for such violence, and demand adequate responses to these issues.

“Violence against women and girls is the most severe violation of human rights. This year, we are focusing on femicide as the most extreme form of violence,” said Bishop.

She shared that data from UN Women indicates that, globally, every ten minutes a woman loses her life at the hands of an intimate partner or family member. “These are staggeringly high numbers,” she emphasized.

Bishop added that one in two women globally experiences some form of violence, with the same statistics applying to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To combat this, she stressed the need to strengthen legislation, work on violence prevention, and involve men and boys in addressing these issues. UN Women is committed to working with authorities to enhance legal frameworks and provide training for prosecutors, police, and civil society organizations that support victims.

The event aimed to raise awareness and engage the public in achieving zero tolerance for violence against women and girls.

The panel discussion was organized in collaboration with the Gender Center of the Federation of BiH, Mostar-based NGOs “Žena BiH” and “Dignitet,” the OSCE Mission to BiH, and the Italian Embassy in Sarajevo.

Zlatan Hrnčić, an expert advisor at the Gender Center of the FBiH, emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive multisectoral response to violence, where all parties understand and fulfill their roles. “If one link in this chain fails, we risk an incomplete response that could have severe consequences for the victim,” he warned.

He noted that societal and institutional responses, as well as media visibility of successful cases, play a crucial role.

According to data from safe houses in the entity of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH, SOS hotlines received at least 6,286 calls last year, with 4,910 calls registered until September this year alone.

“Since 2006, we have been monitoring trends in this area. While it is hard to say if violence is increasing or decreasing, what has changed is public awareness of the problem and the responsiveness of citizens and relevant institutions,” added Hrnčić.

Jesenka Falak, a human rights officer with the OSCE Mission in Mostar, expressed hope that discussions on these topics would extend beyond the “16 Days of Activism” campaign and become an everyday commitment for everyone in society.

“The key steps are raising awareness, working with institutions to create an environment where victims feel safe to report crimes and persist with their complaints. We are actively engaging with institutions such as the police, judiciary, and social work centers, as a multisectoral approach is essential in tackling this pervasive problem,” Falak explained.

Dijana Tadić, executive director of the “Žena BiH” association, which operates a safe house in Mostar, highlighted the importance of support systems for women seeking to escape cycles of violence.

“Safe houses are not just a roof over the heads of victims of violence. They are the first step toward breaking free from violence, as they provide comprehensive assistance that helps women exercise the rights they deserve and are entitled to,” stated Tadić.

The campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” will continue in Banja Luka and Bihać, where citizens will have the opportunity to participate in panel discussions and watch the Italian film on gender-based violence, “There is Still Tomorrow,” which was also presented to the audience in Mostar.

Under the slogan “Turn Off Violence Together” and with the messages #StopFemicide and #NoExcuses, the campaign is being implemented by UN Women BiH. It is part of the global initiative UNiTE by 2030, aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. This year, the campaign focuses particularly on femicide—the intentional killing of women because of their gender.