The Initiative “Women Citizens for Constitutional Reform” held a training session for members of the initiative in Banja Luka in the period from 7 to 9 October 2015, which aim was to strengthen the capacities of members of the Initiative through the adoption of additional knowledge of the Constitution of BiH, complex procedures for amending the Constitution and (im) possibilities of citizen/woman citizen participation in the process of changing the Constitution, both in Bosnia and in other countries, as well as introduction to feminist arguments.
Training participants had the opportunity to, through facilitation by Jasmina Čolić and Armina Mujanović from the Center for Administrative and Constitutional Studies in Sarajevo, learn about the political structure of BiH, ways of amending the Constitution, as well as through an analysis of the preamble of the Constitution of BiH, FBiH, RS and Statute of Brčko District see all the flaws that prevent prosperity and progress of BiH in all segments.
Participants were given a chance to see shortcomings of the electoral system in BiH through analysis and practical work, as well as to learn about the ways of voting and adopting amendments to the Constitution.
What is the power of language and the power of communication have shown us trainers Rada Borić and Ana Pavlić, from the Centre for Women’s Studies in Zagreb, which showed participants elements of feminist arguments in the formulation of women’s demands and the importance of using gender sensitive language both in legal and other documents as well as for processes of advocacy and lobbying the constitutional reform. It was pointed out that the language itself is not neutral, and that it is not only the foundation of communication but language creates mental images. For all these reasons, it was concluded that the language should be engendered so we all felt as citizens of this society.
The participants presented the goals of the Initiative through simultaneous press conference, as well as the priorities of the Platform and gender amendments to the BiH Constitution.
In this way, they have opened the way to developing their own PR and advocacy-lobbying capacity that it will be used in the future.
One of the members of Initiative activist and feminist Đulija Aćimović, who for the Initiative found out through social networks, joined the Initiative since herself is a feminist, and is aware of what the role of women in Bh. society, and says that “On the social ladder women are not placed on the same level with the others, so that it was my personal drive to access this Initiative.”
Why held training was essential for members of the Initiative, Đulija says: “The training is very useful, I met a lot of different women from all over the country, with different experiences and age and that is very important. We could learn a lot from each other, as well as from the course of the trainer. For me, the most important in this training was knowledge of the legislation and that the Constitution is not a “bogey”. On that side I am very pleased, and that is an incentive to continue to be active in this Initiative.”
The Initiative “Women Citizens for Constitutional Reform” planned, in the coming period, conference on the Constitution and EU integration, as well as the organization of advanced training for established three working groups of the Initiative (advocacy and lobbying, PR and public presentation).
This activity is part of the project “Engendering Constitutional Reform” which is financially supported by the Foundation Kvinna till Kvinna.
Women Citizens for Constitutional Reform 