Me, an activist and defender of women’s rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the COVID 19 pandemic

Me, an activist and defender of women’s rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the COVID19 pandemic.

Two months after the declaration of a state of natural disaster and a state of emergency, life is slowly returning to normal. In the past two months, we have learned the meaning of new terms such as “social distancing”, “self-isolation”, moreover face masks as well as gloves will soon become quite common fashion accessories.

The authorities believe that the discipline of citizens is one of the main reasons why Bosnia and Herzegovina has not experienced the fate of Italy, Spain or the United States.

At the very beginning of the crisis, the Women’s Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina sent letters to the governments of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Srpska asking what concrete measures will be by the authorities to provide protection and direct support to women in situations of violence, what measures will be taken to overcome the economic crisis, and we were particularly interested in the measures that governments will take to support socially marginalized and invisible women.

We admit that the Government of the Republic of Srpska sent us a courteous answer, however not a single word ever arrived from the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On that occasion, today, May 13, 2020, when social restrictions are slowly decreasing , we decided to convey to the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to the public – the views of activists, citizens and members of the Women’s Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These are our individual messages.

A message to the authorities?

  • In all your measures you have completely neglected women. You have done nothing for the socially marginalized women of our society – You are responsible and I ask you to act immediately
  • Give support to the economy, especially to small businesses that cannot work in such conditions;
  • You put us in cages and we suffer while you have not insured anything; we are not animals but human beings. I want to have an online gynecologist to talk to, when schools are closed and movement is prohibited, you should give online content for socializing, play and education for children, when I’m not working because of you, give me an incentive, especially as a single mother; pay me 3 months contributions, other things that I ask you are why didn’t the state provide 3 months free electricity, water garbage, and internet or subsidy;
  • It is important that in this situation you finally show that everything that is in the Law on Gender Equality is not just a dead letter on paper. You have a responsibility to the citizens of this country to work continuously to improve their position and not just to sit in offices; At this time, workers are on the first fronts of defence and protection of all of us, enabling the entire society, system and economy to function more or less regularly. The crisis is significantly breaking on their backs. I am thinking of workers in the field of health, trade, services, production, agriculture, psychologists and social workers who work in safe houses, public institutions such as centres for social work and the like.
  • The most vulnerable are women who have lost their jobs, been fired or otherwise forced to terminate their employment – due to the reduced amount of profit in the companies in which they were employed. For them, I think, the most necessary material assistance, initially from employment services (bureaus), and later, should be allowed to have the opportunity to return to the same (similar) jobs. Women who are entrepreneurs, owners of small and medium enterprises and businesses, are also at risk. They lose a significant amount of work due to temporary termination orders, and thus a significant portion of profits. Employed women, depending on which sector they work in, also suffer the consequences of an emergency. Some have their salaries reduced, others are not adequately protected in the workplace, some have to work full time despite the risks they are exposed to, and all additional work is not adequately valorised. Women who have this “privilege” of working from home are not so privileged, because very often, in addition to work, they take care of the household, children, the elderly and the sick, and some are also victims of domestic violence. As a result, productivity and the ability to perform work tasks efficiently decline. I think that media support, visibility and psychological support are especially important to them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              All forms of support-assistance are needed by all categories, some are more needed by certain groups, while others are needed by others.

– Request that civil society representatives be involved in distribution / support programs by authorities and international organizations. We all pay all duties properly and contribute to the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I do not have any benefits nor are we involved in any measures that are being adopted now.

– to pay more attention to women who are victims of domestic abuse because they are and will be particularly affected by the situation of restriction of movement and isolation

– To include domestic violence in emergency measures so that perpetrators can be punished on the spot…

– Get actively involved so we can expect some results

– The corona virus will pass, but the consequences we already have are incalculable, do they have a plan to help small businesses? How to protect women workers who make up the largest population of the workforce in health, trade, education?

– Use the means intended to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic purposefully. They have money. Don’t forget that women are 51% and that they are on the first line of defense on this occasion as well (health workers are mostly women, tradeswomen, etc.)

– My suggestion is to organize an online consultation with a women’s organization as soon as possible. regarding the creation of a joint strategy to provide support to women during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially women in rural areas.

– I want to say that, in agreement with their mechanisms, they try to prevent injustices that will inevitably occur when possible support is provided by the state for economic recovery. I want to point out to the authorities to pay attention to small businesses run by women, such as small shops, hairdressers and beauty salons, boutiques, dental practices, florists, etc., and especially to those who are the only businesswomen in the family. Also, if they can, that they point out to the authorities, when making decisions (on extending measures or adopting some new ones) to keep in mind women (and men) living in remote areas (eg. public transport problem), women who are victims of violence, children with developmental disabilities, women, children and men with mental illness,… to keep in mind that not everyone has a car and not everyone lives in houses, that not everyone is in well-being and many other things that are largely neglected. Also, I think that when talking about the consequences, economic and all others, NGOs, their funding and many other things in this regard have been largely neglected.

– The judiciary does not function, the law on protection from violence does not apply because the COURT only handles detention cases.

– I have no special message other than that, if possible, they do their job.

– To provide more financial assistance for particularly vulnerable categories of the population (women who are victims of violence, elderly women, women with disabilities, single mothers)

– Why don’t you react again and ask for more protection from women in these times?

– To develop a strategy to address during and after a pandemic that includes gender sensitive budgeting and strategies that create and implement women involving women with a special focus on minority and marginalized groups of women.

– Take the situation seriously, apply a gender-sensitive approach and provide economic incentives for women.

– We witnessed that women were killed during the war, during the floods they were also more endangered than men, and even now, during the COVID19 virus pandemic, women are again the biggest victims. To what extent will institutions ignore the needs of women and is it not time to develop measures for the specific needs of women in emergencies?

 

– Sanction all those companies that fired workers. By no means give them some benefits / tax reduction or help in paying taxes and contributions /, but reward these funds to all those companies that left all employees at this time and give them a chance to receive more workers with certain benefits because they are responsible to the state and towards its employees. Bring order to health care and act competently and not to suit people in managerial positions, at least in health care.

– Do you think or know how many women have lost their jobs, how many are suffering from domestic violence, how many have nothing to feed their children, to pay the rent?

– Let us listen to the experts so that we can get out of this evil as soon as possible and so that we can do what we love.

– They need to find a way to provide help to women who lost their jobs during the pandemic, to pay the salaries they earned before, what about the increasing rate of violence in isolation, with women from rural areas, women of the third age?

– While you are “worrying” about fighting the virus, the rate of violence against women is rising and women have nowhere to go. Safe houses do not have enough funds, where will women go? On the street? Listen to what men really need, listen to what women need!

– A large number of women were disadvantaged during the pandemic (since most women work in cafes, shops, beauty salons, hairdressers), they were fired or they are not and will not be paid, or their salaries are to be reduced to a minimum. I believe that it is necessary to collect data on the owners, private individuals who resigned at this time, punish them and ask them to return to work all those who were fired and ask them to pay their salaries.

– A pandemic must not be an excuse to neglect women’s rights.

– URGENT action of the Agency is necessary to point out how much COVID 19 has endangered women’s rights in all areas. It is very important to point out the very difficult position of women’s organizations that have helped and are helping a large number of all population groups in our country.

– If we survive a pandemic, will we survive the investable crisis?

– We do not know how long this isolation and pandemic will last, for now we still do not have financial problems, but in a month there will definitely be. Therefore, I believe that the authorities should take care of it on time, because it can lead to big problems in families, and we know that the most common cause of domestic violence is material instability.

– All this could be carried out with much more feeling for mental and physical health, some measures were exaggerated and caused panic among the people. I fear an increase in other diseases when the epidemic ends, like strokes and heart attacks because people have moved around a bit and mostly have increased food intake. I am especially afraid for the economic future of all of us

– Ensure that the principle of gender equality and protection of women’s rights is integrated through all measures taken to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, ensure that the system is fully operational when it comes to violence against women, and provide full protection to all women who suffer any form of violence. The state is obliged to ensure that the system functions to the greatest possible extent and capacity when it comes to law enforcement and ensuring the human rights of all citizens.

– Give us quality solutions to get out of the crisis, not platitudes

– The authorities find themselves in these CALLS:

– Distribute protective gear to people because they don’t have the money to buy equipment that is sold in markets and on the street.

– Test your citizens, we consider it a form of prevention for lower mortality

– Create emergency Covid19 laws

– Protect vulnerable groups of women. Single mothers who mostly worked in small businesses and were fired and left without alimony because of the fact that the fathers of the children were also fired.

– Bring people back to real life because they are terrified, powerless and without means of subsistence.

-Separate clinics for COVID 19 and establish special clinics, so that patients with other diseases are adequately treated

 

 

  1. What is your top priority during the pandemic?

 

-Maintain a routine, keep calm and find the strength to overcome this crisis

-hygienic and protective means

-Work And safe infection for the child

-To stay in good health, since I have a chronic illness, and to stay mentally well, in a positive spirit

-economic stability, health care in accordance with personal needs

– That most citizens stay healthy!

– the health of my family

– Maintain the organization and keep all employees

– preserve health and quality of life approximately equal to before

– Stay healthy

– Preserve health and help those in need

– To provide as safe an environment for myself and my family if possible.

– Help those who need help the most and cope with all this in the best possible way.

– Preserve mental health

– common sense**

– Preservation of physical condition and mental health

– Health **

– Common sense and collective existence

– Mental health and opportunities for rest

– provide support to all who need it at this time

– preserve health and sanity

– Follow the instructions of the crisis commissions

– The most important thing during a pandemic is to respect protection measures and to listen to experts

– Health of family and friends

– During the pandemic, it is a priority to listen to experts in this field, adhere to the measures adopted, be in solidarity and help people to overcome this pandemic more easily, and as a member of a women’s organization help users who have problems in the family.

 

  1. What should the government institutions do given the situation, what measures do you think are the most important?

– Have more understanding and open ears for the needs of women

– To start the economy and relieve the economy

– Support entrepreneurship for women and organize child care for single-parent families

– To ensure safety, availability of support services and help for all those w-ho need it, to prevent layoffs for women and much more

-Not to allow firing of workers, to invest in the recovery of health care, to protect the most vulnerable categories of society

-Not to make ad hoc decisions, without a well-prepared decision and to make strategies to alleviate the current economic crisis due to the large number of layoffs,

– Self-isolation of all potentially infected and to provide health care to the infected

– Just as they never accept the fact that associations employ a significant portion of citizens, that their activities or programs are extremely important (often like production and exports because it’s all nothing if we don’t have healthy, stable and interested people in the community). Any measure that will facilitate work in these conditions. Exemption from payment of contributions or at least postponement, reduce or subsidize material costs and enable the same treatment of centers (day care centers, women’s centers, etc.) and maintain them with subsidies until the crisis passes….

-Providing a timely health care and gender-sensitive economic measures if possible

– Measures for the safety and security of citizens, while taking into account fundamental rights and freedoms

– Help everyone, we all have some needs

– Urgent measures and instructions on how to stay “mentally strong” while all this is going on, as well as addressing economic instability as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly affects women.

– Ensure that every citizen is adequately cared for and in accordance with their needs. Unfortunately, it does not do that even in regular circumstances, but I think that measures to preserve jobs are the most important, especially for e.g. independent parents, for persons who are the only business owners in the family, etc.

– Economy

– economic aid measures

– as financial assistance to vulnerable categories of the population

– Assistance to marginalized and vulnerable groups

– Devise and create what after a pandemic, so as not to feel the consequences associated with the economic, social and psychological crisis, especially if we are talking about marginalized groups

– The response to the rise of gender-based violence against women.

– The authorities should have drawn up a plan to support the most vulnerable groups, for example by ordering the police and the social work center to provide more effective support to victims of violence, as violence has escalated but is not talked about. Authorities also need to provide assistance for all vulnerable and marginalized groups. As an organization that takes care of victims of violence, neither the local nor the entity authorities nor institutions offered us help, at least in the form of masks and gloves.

– The government should finally start taking care of the citizens, their needs and the condition in which they find themselves. The most important measure is to preserve calm among the citizens without the burden of politics and the struggle for power.

– To save the economy

– Institutions in the state are working well for now and are working on citizens to protect them unlike other states where mortality is very high

– Help for the unemployed

– More focus on mental health ..

– Help for people who need it

– Providing adequate health care, providing basic social services during the pandemic.

– Help vulnerable groups, the elderly, women who suffer from violence

– To give financial support

– Government institutions are quite well organized, but there are still difficulties in providing for the elderly, as there are volunteers who do not reach all local communities. They are mostly in the city and do not come to rural areas. Many elderly citizens are not even fully informed about the pandemic and what danger lurks if we do not adhere to social distance.

– I believe that economic measures are most important for the future, because we could get into a situation where incomes and thus pensions and social benefits are reduced, or we could get into a situation where they are not paid at all.

– To establish the so-called patient’s path, clear and familiar to the public, and generally other common measures that are implemented.

– to create a good strategy to get out of this situation

 

  1. What is most difficult for you at the time of the pandemic?

 

– Impossibility of movement, isolation **

– The fact of the increase in the rate of violence against women is difficult for me, and there is no data on the rate against marginalized groups of women.

– Lack of free association

– Finding time to do something and trying to make money and at the same time taking care of a child who is closed in due to a pandemic, so parental care is 12 hours a day

– Isolation from friends and family, inability to walk and go to work freely

– Personally nothing, my only concern is how the health system will respond to the presence of the virus

– Inability to help everyone who needs help and support.

– Uncertainty of how long it will last and whether it will happen again

– Isolation, however, is the most difficult, but working from home is also stressful, especially since the institutions are not adapted to this kind of work…

– The feeling that we don’t know how long it will last and what consequences it will leave

– Social distancing

– A certain kind of mental burden, more for the sake of others than for the sake of oneself.

– Measures like curfew

-That I can’t have coffee with colleagues, acquaintances, friends…

– Difficult communication with clients – women victims of domestic violence to whom I provide free legal aid

– Uncertainty **

– Restricted movement

– Inability to move during curfew (I am aware of my privileged position that many women do not have)

– In the organization, we are facing difficulties in financing the costs of caring for victims of violence, we do not have the basic necessities because our donors are also in a difficult situation.

– Non-association with its members

– Isolation is the hardest for all of us because we have all learned a special rhythm of life, but when it comes to health, nothing should be difficult for us.

– Maintaining mental stability

– Nothing

– Social exclusion

– Hopelessness

– For me personally and I believe for other people, it feels as if there is a prison in the apartment because there is usually little time to spend in nature.

– Inability to move and communicate with my friends and acquaintances which is caused by curfew and movement restrictions for the elderly. I also worry about the future of both my own and my family, since I have grandchildren and I’m not sure what the world will look like tomorrow, I would love for everything to come back to the way it was.

-Separation from family and friends

– Limitation

– Separation from children, grandchildren and friends and fear for their own and their health

 

  1. Lessons you learned during (self) isolation?

 

– Mutual support is important, also is important to isolate oneself from media that spreads fear and panic, and school and teachers are worth a lot because they do their hard work

– That health care is very important

– Patience, dedication to work, the preciousness of free time, the love for others

– I would not name the lessons, I have learned how important it is to have friends from all over the world in such situations and to communicate with them, it is important to me that there is this solidarity and care for each other.

– How self-isolation is important

– The most important thing is to believe that self-isolation is a necessary measure and to maintain social relations (the same) in modified ways…

– It would be said again: that priorities change and that the feeling of freedom is one of the most important feelings

– There are many, but the most important is that we can adapt to everything

– You’re never secure

– That we can bridge everything if we are mentally strong enough.

– In my case, I learned that (according to my experience and opinion) faith (spirituality) is one of the most important and valuable things in life.

– I appreciate more what is now forbidden to me

– Nothing new or special

– The most important thing is to preserve your health and stay realistic

– That we should leave a country like this, where there are more official vehicles than respirators

– For fear of war and worrying about being hungry, I try to figure out how to make a living, have a cottage / house where you can plant, but since my income is not good or even possible, I just turn my thoughts around and think how condemned I am to what I have now.

– Nothing is urgent and impossible to prolong.

– We did not know that we needed to value: freedom of movement

– It is important to be healthy and stay sober

– It is important to have a partner

– It is important to organize oneself so that you are not bored

– That we are not ready for the pandemic

-That it is ok not to do something sometimes but simply to relax, in any sense!

– To love yourself

– Don’t waste time on nonsense; the right information is of importance; nothing is certain; flexibility is important.

– Trouble comes suddenly

– Trust yourself

– Patience, patience and as much laughter and creativity and harmony and love for everyone

– More or less as far as hygiene measures are concerned, I have implemented it so far, but I have learned not to panic, because the media emphasized the fear of infection so much, and the measures taken scared me from the beginning, so I slowly overcame it by thinking rationally. and considering the real situation, which was not as dramatic as the authorities and the media described it. I learned to economize even better with what I have and to make and produce the necessary things for life and protection myself.

– Health is most important

– We can use the lack of freedom and movement and boredom very usefully and creatively

– To maintain health, strengthen hygiene, rational spending and appreciate every form of socializing. Drinking coffee with a friend is priceless.

 

  1. Do you think that there was an increase in violence during the time of self-isolation? If you have an example from your environment, please share it with us without providing personal information.

 

  • I think it has, and everyone is on the edge of their nerves. I have no example from the immediate environment.
  • Yes, many women called the association’s phone and we provided them some kind of support
  • Yes, it came even in families where it used to be unknown. My friends in the environment are starting to admit that they are having a hard time coping and sometimes they admit to verbal violence which if it lasts will turn into physical. And children suffer a lot from angry parents
  • I think it has and remains invisible to a much greater extent, I have no specific examples, but I feel that way.
  • I believe it has; I have no examples from the immediate environment
  • I think there has been an increase in violence. I had a case where a friend called me and asked for help in accommodating a woman who was a victim of violence in the Safe House in Sarajevo while her husband was in custody, but there was nothing we could do because of COVID 19, Safe Houses did not accept cases because they had no protection mechanisms and the ability to check whether a woman and children are infected.
  • There is no increase in applications, but it is yet to come
  • I don’t have a specific example, but in contacts with acquaintances and friends, they complain about nervousness and worsening of family relations – Especially if certain minimum expectations cannot be met.
  • This is also indicated by domestic organizations and media abroad
  • I believe it has, but I have no example from my environment
  • Yes, I think so. We will only get information about that. Women are afraid to report because this current situation only affects the bully.
  • YES, The woman gives birth, the labile partner will not have her or the child, the mother will neither (if you bring her I will shoot both her and you – the mother will give birth). Placed in a safe house for a short time. Whats next?
  • I do not have personal experience or such knowledge from the current immediate environment, but I believe that there has certainly been an increase in violence, that there have even been new cases due to global psychological tension due to the consequences of the pandemic.
  • Yes, psychological violence against children and wife
  • I have no such knowledge
  • Certainly, the violence has increased, considering that even in the time without a pandemic, we have a “gray number” of cases of violence, only now has the number of cases of unreported violence tripled.
  • Yes, here regularly in my neighborhood, after 8 pm, the facilities are broken into.
  • Yes, according to our data, violence during isolation has drastically increased. In one case, a husband tried to kill a woman, and we witnessed one case of a suicide attempt by a woman who could no longer bear the exposure to constant violence. In the latter case, the woman had previously reported violence on two occasions and the epilogue was. The number of calls for help has increased via the SOS hotline, but institutions that need to provide accommodation in a safe house avoid issuing a decision on accommodation because they consider it a priority to deal with organ pandemic
  • Yes, but it is not visible in public
  • I have calls from our users in the local community, but we direct them as much as we can to institutions to report violence and ask for help.
  • Yes, I think there has been an increase in violence. **
  • Yes, there are more calls to lawyers and psychologists
  • Yes, because it is logical. I have no example
  • There were several cases of violence among neighbours in my local community, and one person applied to our organization for help
  • I am not aware of such cases, although it is possible that there has been an increase in violence due to confinement, especially if someone in the family is addicted to alcohol or some drugs
  • I think so, but I don’t know of an example
  • I think it is, at least from the media as they report
  • One lady told us that she received a hit to the head by the husband who is a violent man. Another case is a lady who was forced by her husband to walk around the house to exhaustion. Her husband is a PTSD patient. In both cases, the clinics did not accept them for a medical examination. We did it our way. We asked for help from private health facilities and the police. A hit to the head with a pan. Of course, they couldn’t take her to the ambulance..

 

  1. Do you think that health care is adequate at the time of the pandemic? Explain!

 

  • I don’t think it’s and it’s not available at all.
  • no, it could be better organized
  • By no means, everything they do is stupid because we are just followers of the WHO which dictates the rules of this stupid game to us.
  • I don’t think so because the institutions give very little information in public about the mechanisms of health care. Since I have a chronic illness, I am afraid that my situation will get worse and I try to stay well so that I don’t have to seek medical help during this period, I regularly take therapy and watch my diet, I try to walk around the apartment as much as possible.
  • no, a lot of funds are missing, testing is not frequent, health workers are not 100% involved.
  • No, because even after a month it is not known who, and when has the right to test and I think it is a big problem globally, but also opens the possibility of manipulation of citizens
  • they cope well with what they have
  • I honestly don’t know. In my case, yes, because I have good contact with the family doctor but the information is so contradictory that it is impossible without personal experience to give an answer
  • In part, we are a slow and unequipped system
  • No, I don’t think it is there at the time of the pandemic, except for those suffering from COVID 19
  • NO, unprepared, in fear, crisis staff is unprofessional, disorganized. Where the profession is needed, politics works and this makes the fragmented health system more difficult
  • Not completely! **
  • I think that people who need health care are neglected and that certain abuses happen.
  • No, the health care system has been in dubiousness before, now it all comes to the surface, I see on the news that doctors in some hospitals in the Federation do not even have masks!
  • I’m not sure. The health care system in our country is devastated, so I have doubts about the availability of health care for all citizens equally
  • Of course not, it is only now that we see the dubiousness of health care – from the lack of staff to infusions and respirators.
  • I don’t think health care is adequate even when it’s not a pandemic, much less at the time of a pandemic
  • Health care is not adequate because health services are fully committed to the pandemic. Family doctors almost do not accept patients, if medicines are needed, they prescribe them without receiving the patient, but only leave a health booklet on the counter, and the doctor sees from the cardboard which medicines he uses and prescribes them that way. I know of a case where a young woman with multiple health problems had to be admitted to a hospital in Banja Luka in March because she had previously been diagnosed with a tumor between the cerebrum and cerebellum. They did not want to put her in the hospital even though she had terrible pains and problems with walking, dizziness and so on. Some decent people also intervened, and the director’s response was to admit them to the hospital only in case of brain bleeding.
  • Its not adequate. Health centers or employees are irresponsible and I think they take care of themselves. They barricaded themselves and if you need any help you call and they bring you a recipe outside. In my opinion, that is not good, but we are people of flesh and blood and we are careful not to go to the doctor because there seems to be nothing to look for. We relied on over-the-counter pharmacies to buy drugs on the recommendation of pharmacists because we can’t even see a doctor.
  • No, it is very reduced
  • In our local community YES
  • I haven’t had a chance to see if it’s adequate
  • No, on every call to the family doctor I was told to sit at home and increase my vitamin intake, they only receive emergencies.
  • Regular health services are paralyzed
  • No! Without medical and ethical responsibility … at the bottom of the void is the health system
  • In my local community, health care is adequate
  • Yes, although everything has become quite complicated because health workers have mostly locked themselves in institutions
  • No, that is obvious from all media articles.
  • No, diseases other than Covid do not exist nor are treated
  • Health care is not adequate. In the hospital in Bihać Cantonal, only one aspirator, insufficient protective equipment for honey staff, insufficient epidemiologist.

 

 

  1. Are contraceptives available to women at the time of a pandemic?

 

  • They are if they are able to pay the same.
  • I do not know ***
  • Gynecologists are not available to them, examinations and contraception are not available to them because they do not use hormones since they cant be obtained without a prescription. Other men have an increased sex drive in response to stress while women are worried and do not want to have sex, so they have unwanted relations and suffer every night.
  • I see no reason why it should not be available to them. What can be asked as a question is whether relationships are allowed at the time of the pandemic…. As far as I know, a large number of married couples do not have the right information….
  • it is certain that it is difficult to obtain them
  • Yes **
  • No **
  • As far as I know, there are no shortages in pharmacies, and as far as contraceptives are concerned, they are not on the list and are bought over-the-counter.
  • The gynecology department does not work in our health center, only for emergencies that are immediately sent to the UCC
  • No, in our country, doctors only accept emergencies, it is not explained what that means at all.
  • As far as I know, they are, although I am not a user of such funds, so I may not be the best example

 

  1. Where do you do your home shopping for fruits and vegetables, cheese, eggs?

– I buy from small local suppliers ****

– I buy in markets / supermarkets **********

– I buy domestic products ******

– So I can’t opt for any of the three offered answers, because I combine shopping: I buy home-made products: eggs, dairy products, to some extent fruits and vegetables, and in the supermarkets also when I go shopping in the afternoon and the street market is closed.

– Eggs, milk, etc. I buy in a nearby supermarket, I get vegetables from my mother-in-law 🙂

– I shop wherever I go

– Delivery because I am 65+

 

 

  1. Are you familiar with giving illegal layoffs during a pandemic? Share with us if it happened to anyone in your environment, what you did about it.

 

  • I don’t have information about it, but I do have information in the form of expressed fear of colleagues who have small businesses like hairdressers
  • I don’t know anyone who has been fired, except for those women in particular who cannot work due to the prescribed measures
  • no ***
  • yes **
  • I have not heard of any in my environment, but more broadly yes, from the media
  • I do not have such cases in my immediate environment, but during all public appearances, and now a large number of skype conferences, I mention this problem.
  • In today’s situation when a large number of employees do not work because they are employed in agencies, associations, craft shops, etc., it is debatable what an illegal dismissal is.
  • There will be more of it
  • With dismissals yes, but with illegal ones no. These are mostly dismissals due to the reduction in the number of employees in companies.
  • I am not aware of illegal dismissals, but I am aware of dismissals and non-renewal of contracts.
  • I heard, I don’t know anyone personally, except Gordana Katana, who resigned from Oslobodjenje earlier, but she is aware of the situation and knows about the dismissals that were shared in that media house.
  • I’m familiar. my organization is available to give legal advice to women who have been fired
  • There was a termination of a fixed-term contract, that I testified.
  • Many employers have laid off their employees. those who worked illegally do not receive any compensation, while those who worked legally and to whom the employer paid regular contributions receive material care from the employment office. I have no power to do anything.
  • No one contacted us for dismissal, but it is true that they were sent on hold and that they will not be paid during the pandemic, that is, until they return to work.
  • There is a lot of talk about that, but I don’t know anyone who was fired. Still, I think there will be.
  • A large number of saleswomen. Shoe stores. At least 5 women were fired
  • I know there have been a lot of layoffs but I’m not sure if they are legal or illegal
  • I’m not familiar **

 

  1. My message to the Women’s Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

 

  • Thank you for the constant sharing of information
  • Keep working like this, you are great
  • All praise for the engagement for women
  • It works great during a pandemic, takes the right steps according to your capabilities
  • Only together and in solidarity can we overcome this difficult situation, as we have shown many times so far our strength and belief that we exist. Do not allow politically powerful people to survive in power by manipulating and using power in these extraordinary circumstances.
  • Stay at home and follow the laws on the street…
  • Now, more than ever, we need each other to protect the rights of women in and after the pandemic, because women will be the most endangered again.
  • Together we can change the course of action of the inefficient and sluggish, currently decisive authorities. Show them that there are enough of us, that we know and that we will do everything to point out inaction for the benefit of the citizens. And we live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we pay taxes, we work
  • Please send me the results of this survey – vildana@fondacijacure.org and thank you.
  • Thank you for your commitment. When all of this is over, I would like us to try to organize some gathering / meeting where we will recover together and rest from all this. 🙂
  • keep up the pressure on decision makers
  • We are overwhelmed by numerous requests from domestic and international organizations to fill out questionnaires, point out problems, and at the same time we have not received any concrete support from anyone. It would be good if the Women’s Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina has the strength to do so, launch an initiative to support organizations that deal with direct support to women. We do not need moral but real support because we do not have the basic means to care for and support women and children, we do not have isolation facilities to accommodate new victims of violence. Due to the isolation of employees who were in contact with infected people, we had to hire additional staff and we do not have the funds to pay these additional costs.
  • You have good, strong and capable women and you fight together with them to have a society tailored to citizens and not individuals.
  • Support each other. Women have always been brave and strong and so we should continue to do so and to Women’s Network of BIH I wish happy work and to help women’s NGOs in the future
  • Just keep going, in solidarity
  • A light of hope in a dark period.
  • Take care, help women in your local communities as much as you can
  • Thank you for carrying out all these activities during the pandemic.
  • By acting together, it is necessary to use all available mechanisms to protect our rights
  • Long live female solidarity
  • I wish the Women’s Network a lot of success in its work in the future. Stay at home
  • I want to express my deep gratitude to you for your care and all the actions you have taken to not make us feel alone and forgotten which is very important. Thank you for everything you do.
  • Continue with your successful work as before.
  • Bravo!
  • I hope you have protected and saved yourselves from Covid19. But I still follow some members like me that selflessly help others and support each other. But we need even more pressure on institutions to protect single mothers and other vulnerable groups of women who have lost their jobs, mostly in small businesses.