BiH is part of the European Union enlargement process and a member of the Council of Europe. Conditions for promotion of gender equality, set forth by the Council of Europe, are based on the EU Framework strategy for gender equality (June 2000) and are related to all equality aspects of economic, social and civilian life, equality in decision-making processes and gender roles and stereotypes. The aim is to promote good practices in the area of gender equality, increase awareness on gender discrimination and provide assistance to key actors in the struggle against gender inequality.

The Member States of the Council of Europe have the responsibility to ensure that the legislation in their institutions contains elements related to gender equity and equality. A State is also responsible for protection of human rights of all citizens living inside its borders and should, in no way, obstruct realisation and enjoying of these rights. On the contrary, a state should sometimes undertake positive measures in order to promote and protect those rights, and carry out its responsibilities in accordance with international and regional instruments for human rights that were adopted. Gender is, inter alia, a prohibited ground for discrimination and is contained in most human rights instruments. The aim is to identify main obstacles for equal participation of women, in relation to men, in politics, economy and culture.

The Council of Europe has defined a gender equality strategy as "reorganisation", development and evolution of political processes. In this way, gender is incorporated in politics at all levels and at all stages, taking into account planning, drafting and adoption of political instructions.

INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS AT THE STATE, FEDERAL, CANTONAL AND MUNICIPAL LEVEL

Required conditions for implementation of the above-mentioned are:

* Targeted policy on gender equality (legislation and mechanisms)
* Institutional and operational mechanisms for integration of gender issues in the governmental system.

In Beijing Platform, which has been adopted and signed by our Government and other 189 governments in the world at the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995, the Government took over the responsibility to establish an institution for improvement of women, as a central co-ordination unit within the Government.

. "Its principal task is to support the whole Government in its orientation towards gender equality in all areas of politics. Required conditions for effective functioning of these institutions include:

1. Allocation at the highest level of Government, responsible directly to the Prime Minister
2. Institutional mechanisms or processes that enable, if necessary decentralised planning, implementation and monitoring, with regard to participation of non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations
3. Adequate resources, relating to budget and professional capacities
4. Possibilities to influence development of all governmental policies".

"Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women" - CEDAW, approved by the General Assembly Resolution 34/180 of 18. December 1979, came into force on 3. September 1981, signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1993 and, in this way, became part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitution, is being applied directly and has a priority over local laws.

"The Member States accuse all forms of discrimination against women, they agree to undertake all available measures, and without delay, to implement the policy of elimination of discrimination against women. Their responsibilities include:

1. to incorporate the principle of equality between men and women in their national constitutions or respective laws, if they have not done it by now, and to ensure, through legal and other adequate measures, practical implementation of this principle;
2. To adopt adequate legal and other measures, including sanctions when necessary, that prohibit all forms of discrimination against women;
3. To incorporate legal protection of rights of women, equal in relation to men, and to ensure, through responsible national courts and other public institutions, effective protection of women against any form of discrimination;
4. To disapprove any procedure or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public organs and institutions proceed in accordance with this responsibility;
5. To undertake all necessary measures for elimination of discrimination against women by any person, organisation or enterprise;
6. To undertake all adequate measures, including legal measures, in order to change or abolish the existing laws, regulations, habits or practice that discriminate women;
7. To abolish all internal criminal provisions that discriminate women;."

Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in its decision of establishing of the Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official paper of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina" No. 53/00 & 64/05).

The programme of the Gender Centre reflects the Beijing Platform of Action from 1995 and its mandate is to promote legal rights of women, in co-operation with the Parliamentary Commission of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, prepare laws and policies, as well as to ensure that men and women equally benefit from the development process. The Decision on establishment of the Gender Centre FBiH also provides the mandate of the Centre, which includes that the Gender Centre promotes gender concept, organises expert debates and similar discussions on this subject, collects initiatives for changes in legislations from the gender aspect, provides expert assistance in bilateral and multilateral relations concerning gender policy, establishes co-operation with local and international NGOs, co-ordinates implementation of local and international programmes, co-ordinates responsible bodies in development of reports for international institutions on conventions and other documents from gender field.

The objective of the Gender Centre is to promote gender equity and equality in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to implement principles contained in international conventions and agreements for needs of the FBiH Government, expert bodies of the Government, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Federal ministries and other Federal institutions.

The Gender Centre is a legal entity, located in Sarajevo.

The Gender Centre monitors and examines position of women and implementation of their rights in local and international legislation, establishes co-ordination with the Commission for equal opportunities of the FBiH Parliament, and co-operates with respective institution in Republika Srpska.

The Gender Centre also prepares draft proposals for harmonisation of local legislation with international standards, collects initiatives for changes in legislation from gender aspect, proposes measures for co-operation between governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations, provides expert assistance in bilateral and multilateral relations concerning gender policy, co-operates with local and international non-governmental organisations and co-ordinates implementation of local and international programmes.

One of the Gender Centre's main activities is to promote equal rights and opportunities for women and men and organise expert debates on this subject, to monitor and examine media from gender aspect, to prepare materials for education and promotion of the gender strategy, and to establish contacts with media.

The Gender Centre of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it was defined in the Decision on establishment of the Gender Centre FBiH, is responsible for co-ordination of activities in development of reports for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.