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SARAJEVO, February 14 (FENA) - The number of cases of domestic violence has increased. Crisis situations, including the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, significantly change and affect the most vulnerable categories, women and children victims of domestic violence, said Minister of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH Miloš Lučić in an interview with FENA.
Answering the question of how the pandemic that lasts for almost a year affects the human rights situation in BiH, especially when it comes to domestic violence, Lučić says that in extraordinary circumstances there is an increase in the number of cases of violence because victims are under special pressure and challenge, and there is growing uncertainty about the future, especially regarding existential issues and economic stability.
“Data from non-governmental organizations that run safe houses, confirm that the pandemic period caused an increase in violence against women. According to the data we have from the non-governmental sector, compared to 2019, the number of calls to SOS Lines, as well as the number of requests for accommodation in safe houses has almost doubled,” he said.
Measures restricting movement, he said, most affected the rights of people with disabilities, the elderly, women and children. The right to privacy and protection of personal data is endangered because by publishing the names of persons who are in self-isolation, they are discriminated against by other persons.
“Within the donor programs, we have supported non-governmental organizations that run safe houses to support their activities and overcome the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In that sense, two grant programs were implemented in the total amount of 260,000 KM for eight safe houses for the accommodation of women victims of violence. In addition to the above, the Ministry submitted to all competent bodies of BiH, the entities and the Brčko District relevant resolutions and conventions of the UN and the Council of Europe concerning the protection of human rights in case of a pandemic or other disaster or catastrophe,” said Lučić.
We are witnessing more and more stories in the region about sexual violence after the events in Serbia. Asked what information is about sexual violence against women in BiH, how much is actually known about it and what is being taken over, Lučić said that the situation in this area is being continuously monitored and various activities are being carried out to point out the problems of gender discrimination.
“Victims often do not recognize sexual harassment and are not sure who to turn to in case of sexual harassment, so the prevalence of this problem remains largely unknown. To assist potential actors in the process of effective prevention and protection against gender-based harassment and sexual harassment, the Agency has developed a Guide for taking effective measures to prevent gender-based harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace in BiH institutions. The BiH Council of Ministers adopted the guide, and so far 45 BiH institutions have made decisions on zero tolerance for sexual harassment and appointed counselors to prevent it. In cooperation with the BiH Civil Service Agency, the Agency organized training for 30 appointed advisors in December 2020,” he stated.
He reminded that the Istanbul Convention, which BiH ratified in 2013, envisages the opening of easily accessible crisis centers for victims of rape or sexual violence to provide medical and forensic examinations, support for the experienced trauma and counseling of victims. In this regard, within the USAID-funded project “Strengthening the Capacity of Institutions for Resolving Gender-Based Violence in BiH”, the Agency is implementing a pilot project to establish Crisis Centers for Rape and Sexual Violence Victims and is currently negotiating with health institutions to open crisis centers during 2021.
Asked what the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees is doing to mitigate the consequences of the migrant crisis, he said that according to the conclusion of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina from December 2020, the Ministry is in charge of providing the humanitarian needs of migrants, and this primarily refers to the provision of food and hygiene items.
Since the declaration of the pandemic in BiH, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, in cooperation with numerous domestic and non-governmental organizations and embassies in BiH, has started drafting a Plan of Measures to Combat the Consequences of COVID in the sense that for all vulnerable categories (internally displaced persons, returnees, persons with disabilities, Roma as the largest national minority) provided with food, hygiene and disinfection packages.
In the end, he was asked about his status in the BiH Council of Ministers after a coalition between the DNS (the party that nominated him) and the SNSD was questioned. Lučić says that as the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees in the Council of Ministers, he performs his job professionally and conscientiously and that there is absolutely no pressure.
(FENA) A. B.
