President of the BiH CEC dr. Irena Hadžiabdić took part at the UN Women Conference of leaders on women's participation in decision-making
Sarajevo, 16. 12. 2024. – The President of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Irena Hadžiabdić, participated in today's conference, "Overview of Women's Participation in Decision-Making," held in Sarajevo. The event, organized by UN Women, aimed to analyze women's participation in political life and strengthen their leadership skills.
During her presentation, Dr. Hadžiabdić shared key statistical data from the Central Election Commission of BiH regarding women's participation in electoral processes between 2008 and 2024. The data reveals that women make up more than half of the electorate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a share of 50.20%. The number of female candidates in local elections for mayors has increased significantly in recent years, from 6.36% in 2008 to 42% in 2024. A similar trend was observed among female candidates for councilors, whose share grew from 35.8% in 2008 to 42% in 2024.
However, the number of women elected to office continues to lag behind. Of the total number of elected municipal/city mayors from 2008 to 2024, women accounted for just 2.85% in 2008, 3.57% in 2012, 4% in 2016, 3.5% in 2020, and 5.6% in 2024. Despite progress, men still make up more than 90% of those elected to these positions. A similar trend is seen among elected councilors, where the share of women rose from 14.9% in 2008 to 23% in 2024.
Particular attention must be given to the election of representatives of national minorities, where the proportion of women has decreased from 22.85% in 2008 to just 8.7% in 2024. These figures underscore the need for greater support for women, especially in minority communities, to enhance their representation in political life.
One of the main objectives of the conference is to assess women's performance in decision-making, address the obstacles they face, and develop concrete recommendations for further progress toward gender equality. The conference is also supported by frameworks such as General Recommendation 40 of CEDAW, which emphasizes equality in political life, and Beijing+30, as well as the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which focuses on women, peace, and security.