Integrating Gender Equality into Local Governance: Bosnia and Herzegovina Learning from Sweden
From May 12 to 16 a delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) visited Sweden to learn about swedish experience in integrating Gender Equality into Local Governance. The study visist was designed not only to exchange knowledge and practical experiences but to spark new ideas.
"First and foremost, I must say this experience was truly invaluable. The study visit to Sweden focused on integrating gender equality into local governance through the 'Module Municipality'. A special emphasis was placed on the prevention and protection against gender-based violence, with Swedish local approaches and concrete measures presented on the topic. The seriousness of Swedish municipalities' approach to gender equality issues left a strong impression." said Snježana Gvozden, City Councilor of Gradiška and member of the local Gender Equality Commission after the visit.
Despite Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal and institutional framework for gender equality, deeply rooted social norms and persistent stereotypes continue to enable discrimination against women across nearly all aspects of life. From political exclusion to widespread gender-based violence, the challenges are structural. In the economy, women face hiring discrimination, gender pay gaps, and sexual harassment, while carrying a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work with weak institutional support. In education, harmful stereotypes about “women’s” and „man's“ professions and roles prevails, while the healthcare and social protection systems remain particularly inaccessible for women with disabilities and those from marginalized communities.Civil society continues to advocate fiercely for change, but women human rights defenders, especially those working on women’s and LGBTI rights, often face threats and backlash.
Recognizing these systemic barriers, SALAR International integrated and reinforced the gender component of its programme “Strengthening the Role of Municipal Associations in BiH” . Over the past five years, working closely with both the Federation and Republika Srpska municipal associations, SALAR International has supported local governments in developing the internal capacity to better coordinate and respond to discriminatory practices at the community level.
In May 2025, a delegation of fifteen municipalities from BiH participated in a study visit designed not only to exchange knowledge and practical experiences but to spark new ideas. Through a series of lectures, Q&A sessions, and open discussions, participants reflected together on how to turn project insights into long-term, tangible improvements in the lives of women and marginalized groups across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A Study Tour Rooted in Real-World Solutions
The program was carefully designed to reflect the needs and realities of municipalities in BiH. It emphasized cross-sectoral cooperation within local governments and between actors working on human rights, social services, gender equality, and civil society.
The first day began with a welcome and in-depth presentation by Lena Falcón and Lucia Acosta from SALAR International, who outlined SALAR’s gender mainstreaming concept and presented the guiding framework behind the “Model Municipality” SALAR´s Framework.
In Jönköping Municipality, participants met with gender strategist Josefin Hagström to learn how the gender equality model functions in practice. A strong focus was placed on collaboration with schools, museums, and public libraries using the "Normstorm" method to challenge stereotypes and prejudice among youth. The group visited the "Normstorm" exhibition at the Jönköpings Läns Museum.
In Botkyrka Municipality, Samira Ekman and Vladan Petrović presented the work of the municipal center for violence prevention. They shared strategies for training municipal staff and building alliances with sectors like education to implement joint violence prevention measures.
Political support as a prerequisite
A particularly impactful session involved a discussion with Emil Broberg, Swedish politician and a SALAR's Board member, who emphasized the growing need to retain women in politics and support them in continuing their political work, particularly in light of increasing threats and online harassment. This conversation was expanded in a meeting with Susannah Sjöberg from the Swedish Women’s Lobby (Sveriges Kvinnoorganisationer), and BiH participants also shared their local efforts in combating gender-based violence.
Intersectionality and access to services for women who moved to Sweden and are still navigating the Swedish system were explored during a visit to Terrafem, an organization known for its focus on inclusive support services.
Participants were especially interested in initiatives that promote girls’ participation in sports and challenge gender stereotypes. The visit to the Stockholm Football Association highlighted inclusive models for engaging women in football and encouraging both parents to actively support children's participation in sports.
Engaging Fathers and Breaking Norms
The visit concluded with an engaging session with Svenska med Baby, where their team presented the organization’s innovative work on involving fathers in parenting and promoting gender-equitable household roles.
“It’s hard to pick just one standout experience, but the approach of Svenska med Baby, focusing on including fathers in parenting, was incredibly inspiring and something we’re still far from achieving in our own communities.” said Dajana Marić from the Doboj City Administration.
Moving forward
Mirela Čaušević, gender focal point at the Association of Cities and Municipalities of Federation BiH, highlighted that SALAR’s “Module Municipality ” framework offers valuable guidance for strengthening services provided by associations in BiH. As municipalities continue to implement their own local gender equality action plans, this visit provided both strategic and emotional motivation to move forward.
The visit reaffirmed that gender equality is not only a women’s issue, it is a collective responsibility that lies at the heart of building democratic, inclusive, and resilient local communities.