SARAJEVO, July 10 (FENA) - On the occasion of the World Population Day, Ombudspersons of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nives Jukić, Ljubinko Mitrović and Jasminka Džumhur would like to turn the attention of the public to the human rights situation in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ombudspersons note that the public often regard reproductive and sexual rights solely as women’s rights, which is why it is important to point out that this is a matter of great importance to the society as a whole and is closely related to the survival of all human beings, regardless of their biological determination.
In respect of the exercise of this right, it is important to mention that the Ombudsman Institution issued several special reports in the last few years including those on the access to the rights of the LGBT population, Roma, the rights related to maternity in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the status of women suffering from breast cancer (reports available at the web site of the Ombudsman).
The Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the framework of the Project conducted jointly with the United Nations Population Fund on the “Situation in the area of sexual and reproductive health in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, aims at the fact finding in this field and the access to these rights.
This is also the occasion for Ombudspersons to indicate to the need to raise awareness on reproductive and sexual rights and educational system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In this regard they emphasize the importance of continuous access to understanding the physiological and psychological factors of sexuality, sexual identities, reproductive functions, contraception, sexually transmitted and reproductive diseases, as well as understanding the possibilities and mechanisms of protection against gender discrimination and gender-based violence that are inseparable from sexual and reproductive rights and health, stated the BiH Ombudsman Institution.
(FENA) S. R.