Strengthening working women capacities and networking in the Western Balkans; empowerment of women, Workshop in Mostar/BiH, 27-29 June 2012

The fourth workshop within the ISCOS/CISL and ITUC/PERC European Project on “ Strengthening working women capacities and networking in the Western Balkans” took place in Mostar/BiH from 27 to 29 June. Women from the following sector took part in the meeting: chemistry and non -metal industry, utility services, BH Telekom, administration, police and construction.

The main project objectives follow the decisions taken by the PERC Women’s Committee as concerns their program and action plan: strengthening the national level trade union women’s committees and networks and their capacity to produce equality plans on national level; to influence state institutions, governments policies and trade union policies; developing expertise and professional analytic skills to identify strategies and develop initiatives; developing and improving strategies and methods regarding empowerment of women’s negotiating skills for collective bargaining and social dialogue; producing materials to raise awareness among wider audience about the need for a more balanced representation of decision making positions; networking and campaigning on identified priority issues for the region ( promoting equal treatment; fighting discrimination) and increase understanding on EU affairs and the accession process.

The first part of the workshop was dedicated to legislative developments in BiH as concerns gender issues and difficulties the women are facing in organizing themselves in unions.

The workshop consisted of presentations on the three main themes to be developed by the project: EU integration process and gender aspects; strategic planning and campaigning made by the Project Manager Lorenza Lo Sasso/ISCOS, Enisa Salimovic/ITUC-PERC Sarajevo office, project coordinator and ITUC/PERC. The presentations were followed by debates and workshops which brought concrete ideas and action to be developed as concerns more involvement of women in trade union work, fighting against the existing barriers, elaboration of strategic planning and policy documents , campaigning and networking to implement the priorities in the action plan. Special attention has been given to collaboration with other existing networks in the region and the NGOs dealing with gender issues, more activeness and coordination for attracting more women in trade unions and young people.

The next activity of the project will take place in Ohrid/Macedonia on 4-6 September.

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