On June 24, 2024, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Sarajevo hosted an intriguing lecture by Professor Adis Đuderija. The lecture, titled “Gender and Religion: Agency of Muslim Women in Secular Contexts,” focused on the complex experiences of Muslim women living in secular societies. Professor Đuderija, a distinguished expert in Islamic studies, presented insights from his book “Essays on Critical and Progressive Islam”. The book offers an accessible overview of progressive Islam as a normative Islamic tradition and emphasizes its potential as a positive force, especially in […]
The TPO Foundation and the University Gender Resource Center held a two-day education in the period from 25 – 26. June 2024. in Hotel Nomad Bjelašnica, in Sarajevo called “Critical thinking and gender”. A total of 30 participants asked about gender issues and ideas on how to incorporate them into the teaching process. The education was led by prof. Bruno Ćurko, PhD and M.Sc. Elmana Cerić, and was attended by the teaching staff of primary and secondary schools, as well as teaching and professional staff of universities and Institutes/Ministry of[…]
On Friday and on Monday, June 21 and 24, 2024, in cooperation with the TPO Foundation and the Police Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, an education was held and it was attended by about 50 police officers. The education was led by Aida Bahtanović, a psychologist, psychotherapist and consultant for gestalt therapy in organizations. The topic of this training was ’Stress management in the context of specifics and challenges in performing police work’.
The sixth and final panel discussion of the series “Women Workers in Culture” on June 24, 2024, was dedicated to the question of women’s contributions to the creation and preservation of exceptionally valuable documentary-dramatic radio programs and a rich audio archive. We discussed radio as a medium of specific artistic creation and the artists, editors, and journalists who have diligently worked and created outstanding audio content for over seventy years, now stored in a rich audio archive. During the June panel, we introduced two valuable contributors who spoke about different[…]
The sixth forum is dedicated to the issue of women’s contributions in the creation and preservation of extremely valuable documentary-dramatic radio programs and a rich audio archive. We will discuss radio as a medium of specific artistic creation, focusing on the artists, editors, and journalists who have diligently worked and created exceptional audio content for over seventy years, now preserved in a rich audio archive. As part of this month’s forum, we will present two notable women who will talk about various aspects of work and activities in radio. Participants[…]
On Thursday, June 13, 2024, a Legal Clinic in the field of criminal law was held at UNIGEM’s partner institution, the International Burch University. The focus was on cases of gender-based violence. The lecturers were Dr Amila Mujčinović and Dr Nermin Šehović.
On Thursday, June 13, 2024, as part of the UNIGEM project, an education for teaching and non-teaching staff was held on ’Inclusion of a gender perspective in the teaching of STEM subjects’ at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of the University of Zenica. The education was held by Prof. Dr Laris Velić, Dean of the Faculty of Law, coordinator of the Center for Gender Equality of the University of Zenica and Assistant Prof. Dr. Dženana Radončić, Vice-dean for scientific and research work at the Faculty of Law, member[…]
As part of the UNIGEM project, the TPO Foundation aims to advocate for the initiative to eliminate taxes on menstrual products by monitoring and financing resilience and influencing the creation of gender-responsive budgets in educational institutions. We invite you to participate in the research on menstrual poverty in BiH by completing a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes of your time. There are no right or wrong answers, so we ask you to provide responses that best reflect your opinion on the topic. Survey questionnaire: https://orgdiagnostics.limesurvey.net/456968?lang=hr Your[…]
Students from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region discussion how gender stereotypes are attempted to be naturalized through science, culture, and religion at the seminar held on June 7, 2024, in Sarajevo. The seminar was organized as part of the activities of the UNIGEM project and was led by Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić and Associate Professor Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak. In the first part of the seminar, participants discussed socio-biological and other scientific theoretical insights that have been used to justify gender stereotypes as natural and innate. Dr. Anić demonstrated[…]
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in cooperation between the TPO Foundation and the Women’s Police Officers Network, training was held for women police officers from several BiH police agencies. This activity was a part of the UNIGEM project. The leader of the education was Aida Bahtanović, psychologist, psychotherapist and consultant for gestalt therapy in organizations. The topic of the education was Managing stress at work and non-violent communication. We would like to thank the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) for providing us with the amphitheatre.
Gender stereotypes affects lives of women and men to a large extent, and there is need to deconstruct them. TPO Foundation organized workshops on gender stereotypes at the University Gender Resource Center of the University of Sarajevo, for teaching staff and students from high schools in Sarajevo from June 5th to June 6th, 2024. The workshops were led by Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić as part of the UNIGEM project aimed at empowering educational institutions for gender equality. The workshops were attended by students from Treća gimnazija, Gimnazija obala, Srednja škola[…]
Last Thursday and Friday, on the 30th and 31st of May, the TPO Foundation organized a two-day training and workshop session for UNIGEM coordinators from partner universities. This event, aimed at addressing critical issues within the academic environment, included a series of panels and discussions that provided significant insights and fostered collaboration among the participants. The first day was dedicated to a training session titled “Preventing Sexual Harassment,” led by Edin Smajić PhD. The training began with a discussion on workplace dignity, followed by a detailed examination of the causes[…]
At the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla, on June 3, 2024, Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić held a seminar on the anti-gender movement and its impacts on the Balkan countries. The seminar was organized within the UNIGEM project with the aim of empowering teaching staff and the student population. To understand the mechanisms and strategies of anti-gender movements globally and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is essential to understand the concepts of gender, gender ideology, feminism, nationalism, and others. Dr. Anić mapped out the key historical milestones that facilitated the[…]
As part of the UNIGEM project at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tuzla, on June 3, 2024, a book promotion was held for “Feminism and Religion in the 21st Century: Technology, Dialogue, and Expanding Boundaries,” edited by Gina Messina Dysert and Rosemary Radford Reuther. The promoters were Prof. Dr. Mirza Mahmutović, Prof. Dr. Selma Veseljevic Jerković, and Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, moderated by Prof. Dr. Nihad Džanić Delibegović. Professor Mahmutović presented the book with a brief review of the topics covered in the 16 essays that bring the[…]
Collaboration with representatives of municipal gender equality commissions, non-governmental organizations, and other institutions is another way in which UNIGEM project aim to empower important actors in the local community for gender equality. In the period from June 1-2, 2024, a two-day seminar was held in cooperation with the Heart and Soul Association from Lukavac, led by Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić and Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak. Although there are gender equality commissions at the municipal and cantonal levels, their work is very limited, and members lack sufficient knowledge to initiate[…]
On Monday, June 3, 2024, a working meeting was held with the representatives of six non-governmental organizations: LARA Foundation from Bijeljina, Dignitet Association from Mostar, Ja bih EU Association, CURE Foundation, Medica from Zenica and Sarajevo Open Center, who presented previous work of their organizations on issues related to criminal laws at the cantonal level and the FBiH and Brčko District levels. The meeting was also attended by legal experts. The meeting was primarily used to discuss the next steps regarding the proposals for criminal codes and the joint action[…]
On May 28, 2024, the conference ‘Our Bodies Are Not a Taboo. Period.’ was held in Pristina, Kosovo, bringing together key stakeholders from the region. The conference attracted a diverse group of participants, including representatives from institutions, national and municipal authorities, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. The focus of the conference was on discussing various aspects of menstrual justice and menstrual hygiene, particularly in relation to education, justice, and the economy. Ivana Kulić, project coordinator at the TPO Foundation, presented the results of the MENGA research. The[…]
On May 28th, a new panel discussion in the “Female Workers in Culture” series was held at Manifesto Gallery under the title “Artist or Professor: How to Keep Academia from Taking our Soul?”. The main speaker was Amra Bakšić Čamo, and the discussion was moderated by Professor Adisa Bašić from the University of Sarajevo. On May 28th, a new panel discussion in the “Female Workers in Culture” series was held at Manifesto Gallery under the title “Artist or Professor: How to Keep Academia from Taking our Soul?”. The main speaker[…]
On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in cooperation with the TPO Foundation, the Women Police Officers Network and the Center for Human Rights of the University of Sarajevo, an education in the field of human rights was held. Its title was ‘Development of public policy proposals in the field of human rights and effective communication with policy decisions’ makers’. The training was attended by 21 police officers from the Border Police, the Judicial Police, SIPA, the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the Federal Police Administration. The[…]
The Police Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and the TPO Foundation from Sarajevo, as part of the UNIGEM project, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, held one-day training in the premises of the Center for Training and Accommodation of the Special Police Unit in Zenica. The topic was ‘Investigation as a procedural, criminal-technical, tactical and methodical action, (with reference to cases of gender-based violence)’, and the lecturer was academician Prof. Dr Nedžad Korajlić, from the Faculty of Criminology, Criminology and Security Studies in Sarajevo. The[…]
In an era marked by digital connectivity, the pursuit of meaningful dialogue and intellectual exchange transcends geographical boundaries. On May 20, 2024, participants of the fourth Socrates Café gathered online to explore the question: “What kind of guidance can foster healthier relationships and celebration of diversity?” The conversation was moderated by Dr. Christopher Phillips, the esteemed founder of Socrates Café, who enriched the event with his wealth of experience. The essence of Socrates Café lies in its commitment to promoting open dialogue, where participants engage in the exchange of ideas,[…]
We invite you to a series of online Socratic Cafés where you will have a unique opportunity to engage in philosophical dialogue with Christopher Phillips, the renowned founder of Socratic Cafés.
The fourth installment of the panel discussion series titled “Female workers in Culture” explored the question: “Is music a male dominated field?” Held at Galerija Manifesto on May 14, 2024, the event aimed to investigate the extent to which patriarchal norms shape the contemporary music scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The panelists, comprising three exceptional women from the music field, shared their personal experiences and insights on overcoming gender-based obstacles to fully dedicate themselves to musical creativity. Belma Alić and Belma Šarančić, both professors at the Music Academy of the[…]
KOR 375-05-24-1Sarajevo, 05.05.2024 Terms of Reference (TOR) for Analysis of Educational Activities undertakenby 19 Partner Universities within the UNIGEM Project Background and information of the Projects: TPO Foundation (Transcultural Psychosocial Educational Foundation) advocates for gender equality, dialogue and peace through partnership of civil society, academic institutions and government. It stands for freedom of consciousness and thought, regardless of identity or affiliation.Bridging the gap between academic and activist, governmental and non-governmental and religious and non-religious worldviews, TPO is a leading organization in inclusive approaches to education for peace, gender equality and leadership. In the period[…]
In the context of the fourth panel, we will attempt to answer the question of whether music is a male-dominated field and to what extent patriarchal norms and perceptions shape the contemporary Bosnian-Herzegovinian music scene. During this month’s panel, we will meet three exceptional women who will speak, through personal experience, about how they managed to overcome various gender-based obstacles and fully dedicate themselves to musical creativity, as well as how we can ensure greater representation of female composers, conductors, and instrumentalists at music events and in professional positions at[…]
On the 9th of May 2024, a compelling online panel convened to delve into the intricate intersections of “Antifascism, Gender, and Higher Education,” commemorating the International Day against Fascism and Europe Day. Hosted by esteemed personalities and experts in the field, the event provided a platform for critical discourse on pressing socio-political issues. The panelists, each bringing a unique perspective to the table, included Ivana Pantelić, a distinguished historian and researcher from Belgrade; Andrea Matošević, a renowned professor from Pula; and Professor Zlatiborka Popov Momčinović, from Istočno Sarajevo. Guiding the[…]
On the occasion of Europe Day, May 9th, 2024, join us for an inspiring online event: “Antifascism, Gender, and Higher Education.” In an effort to explore the key connections between antifascism, gender, and higher education, we invite you to our live online event. Through enriching discussions and sharing perspectives, our goal is to deepen understanding of these important topics. Panelists include Andrea Matošević, Zlatiborka Popov, and Ivana Pantelić, with journalist Nikola Vučić moderating the panel. The panel begins at 4:00 PM. Join us via the Zoom platform. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87481234324?pwd=uISiCyjmRt2O2Lbxfqj8i1ZFKRb9gQ.1 Meeting ID:[…]
Background and information of the Projects: TPO Foundation (Transcultural Psychosocial Educational Foundation) advocates for gender equality, dialogue and peace through partnership of civil society, academic institutions and government. It stands for freedom of consciousness and thought, regardless of identity or affiliation.Bridging the gap between academic and activist, governmental and non-governmental and religious and non-religious worldviews, TPO is a leading organization in inclusive approaches to education for peace, gender equality and leadership. In the period from July 2021 till the end of May 2025, TPO Foundation will implement the project “University and Gender Mainstreaming” (UNIGEM).[…]
In the month of March 2024, a student of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, Lejla Mešanović from Ilijaš, held a series of activities within the project Introducing gender-conscious policies in higher education – UNIGEM. Lejla started her mini-project by showing the film “Girl Rising” to the students of the “Nedžad Ibrišimović” High School Center in Ilijaš. The film is about nine girls from nine countries: (Sierra Leone, Haiti, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Peru, Egypt, Nepal, India and Cambodia). Each girl had her own story written by a[…]
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and on Friday, April 19, 2024, workshops were held under the title ‘Inclusion of a gender perspective in the teaching of STEM subjects’. The lecturer was Assistant Professor Dr. Jovana Mihajlović Trbovc from the Research Center of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Slovenia. The workshops offered answers to the questions: why do we need a gender dimension in research and teaching, and how to include a gender perspective in research. Here, it is possible to offer two types of answers:[…]
On Tuesday, April 9, a workshop titled “Gender equality: international documents and national legislation” was held at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Banja Luka. The workshop was led by Prof. Dr Milena Karapetrović from the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Philosophy. This activity was part of the UNIGEM project. The workshop provided the students with the possibility to learn more about the theoretical and legal aspects of gender equality, the main international declarations, and the Law on Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the[…]
Jasmina Husanović In Bosnia and Herzegovina, in all fields of action and in our everyday lives, we have been witnessing and resisting cascading crises for decades, whose dynamics are caused by both extreme and slow violence[1], including wartime and post-war, “post-Dayton” violence. However, its population, its people, are clear that war is not the only disaster that has befallen us, but it is the ethno-capitalist rule where life is governed through constant production of acute insecurity[2], through identity politics of fear behind which are human and social traumas, expropriations, and[…]
On Thursday, March 28, 2024, as part of the UNIGEM project, in cooperation with the TPO Foundation, the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) and the Faculty of Agriculture and Food (PPF) in Sarajevo, a workshop was held for students and teaching staff, titled ‘Gender equality in the sector of agriculture and rural development – practice and public attitudes’. The workshop was held by Prof. Dr. Sanela Klarić, who received her master’s degree and doctorate at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Sarajevo, on the topic of sustainable architecture[…]
On March 28, 2024, a significant panel discussion took place at the Faculty of Criminology, Criminalistics, and Security of the University of Sarajevo. The event focused on the theme of the role and position of women in the security system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was moderated by Professor Nerma Kibrić Halilović from the Faculty of Criminology and Security, and the panel brought together esteemed professionals who actively contribute to the country’s security landscape. Among the esteemed panelists were Milica Blagojević, Officer for Civil-Military Cooperation of the Armed Forces of[…]
On March 26, 2024, the results of the research titled “How much does it cost and how much does it hurt: Social decoding of menstruation at universities in BIH” were presented to the public and university representatives as part of the MENGA project. This publication represents the outcome of a five-month study conducted at eight public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involving female students and faculty members. The MENGA research marks the first of its kind conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Representatives of the University of Sarajevo emphasized how the[…]
On Friday, March 22, 2024, the TPO Foundation from Sarajevo, the Center for Human Rights and the University Gender Resource Center of the University of Sarajevo organized a panel on the topic of introducing femicide into the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Criminal Code of FBiH. The following persons participated as panelists: The panel was moderated by mr. Miroslav Zivanović. We are glad that a large number of students from the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo attended. We saw this panel[…]
On Monday, March 25th, the third workshop in the series titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held, initiating a discussion on modern witchcraft. Led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a journalist and researcher from Sarajevo, the workshop explored the concepts of modern witches and their connection to the heritage of witch persecution and political activism. Throughout the workshop, Ahmetašević presented participants with the intriguing idea of modern witches intertwining their heritage with modernist political activism. Embracing their role as advocates for women’s freedom, these modern witches strive to combat various forms[…]
On Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, a panel titled “Networking of Women in STEM: Challenges and Opportunities” was held. The panel participants were Pamela Njemčević and Amila Akagić from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Sarajevo, Azra Gazibegović Busuladžić from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, Lejla Smajlović from the Faculty of Economics, University of Sarajevo, and Belma Memić from the Faculty of Traffic and Communications. The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Jasna Kovačević[…]
Sex is a biological category while gender is a social one, and each society creates desirable models of masculinity and femininity which are not natural facts but constructs. With the aim of sensitizing teaching staff and students, the first lecture on the topic “Social Shaping of Gender and Sex” was held at the Veterinary Faculty by Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak on March 21, 2024, organized and announced by Prof. Dr. Dženita Alagić-Hadžijunuzović. After adopting the Gender Action Plan at the University of Sarajevo in 2021, the University Gender Resource[…]
On Monday, March 18th, the second workshop in the series titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held. The workshop was led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a journalist and researcher from Sarajevo During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to delve into the historical portrayal of witches, the infamous witch hunts in Western Europe and the USA, and the contemporary exploitation of these persecutions and crimes for commercial purposes. Ahmetašević PhD highlighted various perspectives on this topic from prominent authors. Sociologist Leopoldina Fortunati and philosopher Silvia Federici associate the emergence of[…]
On March 18, 2024, a publication was released presenting the results of research titled “How Much Does It Cost and How Much Does It Hurt: Social Decoding of Menstruation at Universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” as part of the MENGA project. This publication represents the outcome of a five-month study conducted at eight public universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, involving female students and teachers. The MENGA research is the first of its kind conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first presentation of the results was held for representatives of government[…]
As part of the MENGA project, the TPO Foundation published a publication entitled “How much does it cost and how much does it hurt?” Social decoding of menstruation at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The authors of the publication have worked hard on research in the past period, and on 58 pages you can find interesting information about menstrual poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The MENGA (Eng. Menstrual and Gender Action) research is the first research conducted at public universities in BiH with the aim of mapping the perception and[…]
Last week, as part of the UNIGEM project, lectures were held for students and teaching staff at two UNIGEM partner universities – the International University of Travnik in Travnik (IUT) and the University of Zenica (UNZE). The lectures were related to the topic of criminal and criminal law aspects of femicide and to the topic of police work in the community (its legal aspects). The lecturer was an expert in practice Nermin Šehović, who is the Doctor of the Science of Law.
On Saturday, March 9th, 2024, the third forum from the series “Pioneers in Culture” titled “Frame for the Picture” was held as part of the UNIGEM project. The guest was the renowned photographer Imrana Kapetanović, who has gained recognition for her projects with vulnerable groups, including women, people with disabilities, migrants, and others. The conversation was moderated by professor Adisa Bašić, PhD, who emphasized in the introduction that Imrana is an artist who manages to immortalize moments through her camera lens and discreetly capture images with a great deal of[…]
Alice Walker (1944), an African-American writer and activist, reminds us of the power we have within ourselves to make changes with words: “The most common way people lose their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” On this March 8th, as well as during other important occasions, we often hear women saying they can’t do anything, that they have no power, usually thinking they lack political power but also that it’s not worth fighting because the world is as it is. However, if women had thought this way two[…]
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, an inspiring workshop titled “Are You Afraid of Witches?” was held, marking the beginning of a series aimed at exploring the historical and societal portrayal of witches. Led by Nidžara Ahmetašević, a prominent journalist and researcher from Sarajevo, the workshop delved into the complex development of the witch myth and its implications for women throughout history. Nidžara Ahmetašević explored the historical portrayal of witches, shedding light on the socio-political contexts that led to the demonization of women as witches. She emphasized the interconnectedness[…]
In cooperation between the TPO Foundation and the Women Police Officers Network, and as part of the UNIGEM project, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, an education was held for policewomen from the Border Police, the Judicial Police, SIPA, the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton. Aida Bahtanović, a psychologist, psychotherapist and consultant for the application of gestalt, was the teacher on this occasion. In addition to stress management and non-violent communication, the training also taught the participants about effective[…]
At the regular session of the Gender Equality Commission of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the work of the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) was presented. The center was established in early 2022 as part of the UNIGEM (Universities and Gender Mainstreaming) project led by the TPO Foundation with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom. Alma Kratina chaired the Commission, and the work of UNIGeRC was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak and Lamija Subašić. Parliamentarians had the opportunity to learn about the achievements[…]
On Wednesday, 28th February 2024, in cooperation of the TPO Foundation with the Women Police Officers Network, within the UNIGEM project, an educational activity was held, attended by women police officers from the Border Police, the Judicial Police, SIPA, the Directorate for the Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH and the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton. The teacher was Assistant Professor Dr. Medina Mujic, and the topics covered were: 1. Gender equality in police services, including subtopics:– Understanding the gender-sensitive approach in police work,– Implementation of gender-sensitive policies in[…]
