10 Aug Gender equality in the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Council of Europe has published on 15.07.2022 the study on ‘Media and Gender: Towards a balanced gender representation and participation in the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina’ (Study). The Study serves as basis for the development of media and information literacy (MIL) interventions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Study focuses on two conceptual pillars, namely 1) participation and 2) representation, and addresses how media reflects, reproduces, and can shape representation and participation in public life. It elaborates, among others, on the policy-specific context including regional dynamics and norms, the role of gender equality-focused activism, and community-building.

Taking into consideration the local needs and obstacles, the Study puts forward recommendations and relevant resources aimed at encouraging and nurturing critical thinking about gender and addressing gender as a cross-cutting element and cornerstone of holistic MIL, with indispensable implications for sustainable media and an informed public.

The Study is structured as following: the first Chapter presents key concepts and shared gender and media vocabulary; the second Chapter offers a brief overview of the legislative and institutional frameworks in Bosnia and Herzegovina providing with context for existing gender and media norms and trends; the third Chapter combines these analysis and suggests resources for development of MIL interventions to improve the status of women’s participation and representation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This study has been done with the support of the Council of Europe and its action Media and information literacy: for human rights and more democracy, within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2021. The opinions expressed in this work are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Council of Europe.

References from the official website of the Council of Europe