In the period from 16-19, April 2024, four workshops were held in the area of the Municipality of Hadžići. The aim of the workshops is to strengthen the intercultural competences of eighth-grade students by the teaching and professional staff who initially participated in the ToT trainings.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, in all fields of action and in our everyday lives, we have been witnessing and resisting cascading crises for decades, whose dynamics are caused by both extreme and slow violence[1], including wartime and post-war, “post-Dayton” violence. However, its population, its people, are clear that war is not the only disaster that has befallen us, but it is the ethno-capitalist rule where life is governed through constant production of acute insecurity[2], through identity politics of fear behind which are human and social traumas, expropriations, and impoverishments.

On April 2, 2024, an iftar was held at the Primary School 6. Mart, for the users of the Ušivak Reception Center and primary school students from the Hadžići Municipality. The goal of the event was to socialize and introduce the local population to people on the move.

In the period from 25-29. March 2024, four replication trainings were held in the area of the Municipality of Hadžići. Replication trainings aim to strengthen the intercultural competences of teaching and professional staff by colleagues who originally participated in ToT trainings.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, as part of the UNIGEM project, in cooperation with the TPO Foundation, the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) and the Faculty of Agriculture and Food (PPF) in Sarajevo, a workshop was held for students and teaching staff, titled ‘Gender equality in the sector of agriculture and rural development – practice and public attitudes’.

On March 28, 2024, a significant panel discussion took place at the Faculty of Criminology, Criminalistics, and Security of the University of Sarajevo. The event focused on the theme of the role and position of women in the security system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was moderated by Professor Nerma Kibrić Halilović from the Faculty of Criminology and Security, and the panel brought together esteemed professionals who actively contribute to the country’s security landscape.

On March 26, 2024, the results of the research titled “How much does it cost and how much does it hurt: Social decoding of menstruation at universities in BIH” were presented to the public and university representatives as part of the MENGA project. This publication represents the outcome of a five-month study conducted at eight public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involving female students and faculty members. The MENGA research marks the first of its kind conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Friday, March 22, 2024, the TPO Foundation from Sarajevo, the Center for Human Rights and the University Gender Resource Center of the University of Sarajevo organized a panel on the topic of introducing femicide into the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Criminal Code of FBiH.

On Monday, March 25th, the third workshop in the series titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held, initiating a discussion on modern witchcraft. Led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a journalist and researcher from Sarajevo, the workshop explored the concepts of modern witches and their connection to the heritage of witch persecution and political activism.

On Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, a panel titled “Networking of Women in STEM: Challenges and Opportunities” was held. The panel participants were Pamela Njemčević and Amila Akagić from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Azra Gazibegović Busuladžić from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, Lejla Smajlović from the Faculty of Economics, University of Sarajevo, and Belma Memić from the Faculty of Traffic and Communications. The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Jasna Kovačević from the Faculty of Economics, University of Sarajevo.

On Monday, March 18th, the second workshop in the series titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held. The workshop was led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a journalist and researcher from Sarajevo

On March 18, 2024, a publication was released presenting the results of research titled “How Much Does It Cost and How Much Does It Hurt: Social Decoding of Menstruation at Universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” as part of the MENGA project. This publication represents the outcome of a five-month study conducted at eight public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involving female students and teachers. The MENGA research is the first of its kind conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As part of the MENGA project, the TPO Foundation published a publication entitled “How much does it cost and how much does it hurt?” Social decoding of menstruation at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The authors of the publication have worked hard on research in the past period, and on 58 pages you can find interesting information about menstrual poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last week, as part of the UNIGEM project, lectures were held for students and teaching staff at two UNIGEM partner universities – the International University of Travnik in Travnik (IUT) and the University of Zenica (UNZE). The lectures were related to the topic of criminal and criminal law aspects of femicide and to the topic of police work in the community (its legal aspects). The lecturer was an expert in practice Nermin Šehović, who is the Doctor of the Science of Law.

On Saturday, March 9th, 2024, the third forum from the series “Pioneers in Culture” titled “Frame for the Picture” was held as part of the UNIGEM project. The guest was the renowned photographer Imrana Kapetanović, who has gained recognition for her projects with vulnerable groups, including women, people with disabilities, migrants, and others. The conversation was moderated by professor Adisa Bašić, PhD, who emphasized in the introduction that Imrana is an artist who manages to immortalize moments through her camera lens and discreetly capture images with a great deal of empathy. Additionally, as professor Bašić pointed out, Imrana is very modest despite having numerous solo and collective exhibitions to her name, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, and worldwide.

Alice Walker (1944), an African-American writer and activist, reminds us of the power we have within ourselves to make changes with words: “The most common way people lose their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, an inspiring workshop titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held, marking the beginning of a series aimed at exploring the historical and societal portrayal of witches. Led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a prominent journalist and researcher from Sarajevo, the workshop delved into the complex development of the witch myth and its implications for women throughout history.

On Monday, March 4, 2024, the second Socrates Café with founder Christopher Phillips was held on the topic, “What role must each of us play to reduce and eliminate gender inequality and violence against women and minorities?” The founder of the Socrates Café concept, Professor Dr. Christopher Phillips, moderated this conversation.

At the regular session of the Gender Equality Commission of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the work of the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) was presented. The center was established in early 2022 as part of the UNIGEM (Universities and Gender Mainstreaming) project led by the TPO Foundation with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom.

In cooperation between the TPO Foundation and the Women Police Officers Network, and as part of the UNIGEM project, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, an education was held for policewomen from the Border Police, the Judicial Police, SIPA, the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton. Aida Bahtanović, a psychologist, psychotherapist and consultant for the application of gestalt, was the teacher on this occasion.

On Wednesday, 28th February 2024, in cooperation of the TPO Foundation with the Women Police Officers Network, within the UNIGEM project, an educational activity was held, attended by women police officers from the Border Police, the Judicial Police, SIPA, the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton.

On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, the second panel from the series “Female workers in Culture” was held, titled “The Art of the Impossible: Women’s Entrepreneurship in Culture.” The second panel was dedicated to the topic of the position of female entrepreneurs in culture and the challenges they face.

On Monday, February 19, 2024, the Winter School “Gender and Violence” was officially opened at the University of Novi Sad, which gathered more than 40 students from the region (Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). The goal of the School was to shed light, through interactive lectures, on the connections between gender and different forms of violence to which women, as well as other socially sensitive groups, are exposed, and to take into account the broader social context.

We are pleased to invite you to a series of online Socratic Cafés where you will have a unique opportunity to engage in philosophical dialogue with Christopher Phillips, the renowned founder of Socratic Cafés. The second session aims to explore the important question: “What role can and must each of us play in significantly reducing and ultimately eliminating gender inequality and violence against women and minorities?”

TPO Fondacija Sarajevo invites natural persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina to submit offers for transcription services of audio recordings with four focus groups, i.e. transcription of 60 minutes per group (240 minutes in total). The groups were made up of elementary school students, and they discussed prejudices and stereotypes towards minority groups.

Do we have the courage to question our own beliefs, worldviews, and practices? Do we have the strength to stand up against the structural violence perpetrated by patriarchal institutions, both secular and religious? Are we willing to listen to a different perspective and allow different opinions to be respected—even if we don’t agree with them? Are we ready to respect human freedom and the right of individuals to believe or not believe, to question, doubt, and seek answers? Can one be a feminist and a believer?

FEMALE WORKERS IN CULTURE is a series of panel discussions conceived and moderated by professors from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Sarajevo, Ajla Demiragić and Adisa Bašić. These panels are realized within the framework of the UNIGEM project, implemented by the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) and the TPO Foundation.

In the period from 12-13. in February 2024, the second and final TOT training module was held to strengthen the intercultural competences of teaching and professional staff from four schools in the Hadžići Municipality. The training was led by experts in the field of interculturalism and social cohesion: prof. Jasna Kovačević, PhD, Lejla Đelilović, BA and Mirza Kovačević, BA.

On Monday, February 5th, 2024, the first Socrates Café with founder Christopher Phillips was held on the topic "How do we recognize cases and acts of gender inequality and violence against women and minorities?" The first in a series of online Socrates Cafés explored the multi-layered nature of gender-based violence issues, with Christopher Phillips leading us through this complex terrain.

The session titled ‘Who is looking after your children? Maternity and the (im)possibility of artistic engagement’ was held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, as part of the UNIGEM project. This was the first session from the series titled ‘Women workers in culture’. The panellists were Selma Alispahić, the actress, and Lamija Begagić, the writer, and the moderator was Adisa Bašić.

We are pleased to invite you to a series of online Socrates Cafes where you will have a unique opportunity to participate in a philosophical dialogue with Christopher Phillips, the famous founder of Socrates Cafes.

FEMALE WORKERS IN CULTURE is a panel series, designed and moderated by professors from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo Ajla Demiragić and Adisa Bašić. These panel discussions are realized as part of the UNIGEM project, implemented by the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) and the TPO Foundation.

In the period from 15-16. January 2024, the first TOT training module for strengthen the intercultural competences of teaching and professional staff was held for four schools in the Hadžići Municipality. The training was led by experts in the field of interculturalism and social cohesion: prof. Jasna Kovačevič, PhD, M.Sc. Elmana Cerić, Lejla Đelilović, BA and Mirza Kovačević, BA. The opening remarks were delivered by the director of the TPO Foundation, prof. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, PhD.

As part of the UNIGEM project, five new videos are created in cooperation with the legal expert Dr Nermin Šehović, LLM. The titles of new videos are: Current situation regarding gender-based violence in BiH, Evidence in cases of violence or femicide, Femicide in BiH and criminal procedure framework, How to recognize femicide and Procedure for reporting violence.

Review by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ana Marije Sikirić Simčić from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Rijeka was published in the Social Policy Review (Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 243-251, Zagreb 2023): ‘Universities can and should be powerful institutions for promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion

On December, 01. 2023. a meeting was held with principals of elementary schools in the Hadžići municipality. The meeting was held at the “Hadžići” Elementary School with the psychologist of the 9th May Elementary School, the principal of the Hadžići Elementary School, the director of the 6th March Elementary School, as well as the project team attended.