The main purpose of the project “Through Women’s Labour rights” was to increase effectives of institutions involved in protection of women’s rights in the sphere of work and employment, with the special stress put on the protection of women’s labor rights.

Namely, all available indicators point at dissatisfying position of women on the BiH labor market. Women rarely hold director’s or management posts, while the work they do around the house is still perceived to be their obligation, and not useful work that should be valued. Women over 40 years of age are in particularly unfavorable position, as well as pregnant women and mothers of minors. A special problem is the fact that women, due to patriarchal upbringing and fear from losing jobs, seldom decide to report on discrimination at work.

Within the project, we have carried out a research, printed out and disseminated 4000 leaflets and 3300 brochures “Through Women’s Labor Rights” with an overview of the most important international and local norms that regulate the sphere of work and employment, with concrete examples from the local judicial practice and with contacts of all relevant institutions and organizations which women and men workers can approach in the case of violation of some legally foreseen rights; we have also defined 23 recommendations that should contribute to greater promotion and better protection of labor, especially women’s labor rights and we have introduced better cooperation between organizations and institutions dealing with the protection of labor rights.

The project was funded by UNIFEM.