JASMINKA BABIĆ-AVDISPAHIĆ
is a full-time professor of Ethics, at the Department of Philosophy and Sociology, the University in Sarajevo since 1998. She received a Doctoral Degree in Philosophy from the University in Sarajevo in 1985. Her area of specialisation is Ethics and Political Philosophy as well as Gender Studies. She performed the function of the Head of Graduate Studies in Philosophy (1992-1994) and the Head of Department of Philosophy and Sociology (1992-1995), as well as numerous ongoing editorial positions, such us the Editor of Philosophical Journal Dialogue, the Editor of Ethos (Sarajevo-Publishing), the Editor of International Third World Studies Journal and Review (USA).
Her main publications are books Ethical and Political Discourse (Dialogos, Sarajevo 1996), Universal Prescriptivism and Utilitarianism. R. M. Hare’s Ethical Theory (Univerzitetska knjiga, Sarajevo 1997), Ethics, Democracy and Citizenship (2005), Challenges of Feminism (Co-author with N. Moranjak-Bamburač, J. Bakšić-Muftić, M. Katnić-Bakaršić, 2005) and numerous essays in ethics, political philosophy and gender studies on K. Popper, J. Rawls, Ch. Taylor, J. Habermas, S. Benhabib, I. M. Young and other authors.
Ms. Babić-Avdispahić is also very active in the civil society arena, being an Academic adviser to the NGO Women to Women since 2001, Editor of Feminist Journal Patchwork since 2003, as well as member of Advisory Board of GEEP (Gender Equity and Equality) Project in BiH, since 2004. She is a teacher at Women’s’ Studies, organized by NGO Women to Women in Sarajevo. She is also one of the directors of Graduate Gender Studies that is starting in academic year 2006/2007 at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (University in Sarajevo).
Ms. Babić-Avdispahić contributed to the Gender Programme, including the Sub-regional Gender Project, with her active involvement in working groups on the Law on Gender Equality, as the Education Working Group leader and as the editor of the Findings and Recommendations, as well as research on Education in BiH. She facilitated the working group on Women and Education within Beijing +10 Regional Conference organised in Sarajevo in September 2005. It is also important to mention her experts’ contribution to the gender audit process in BiH.
Ms. Babić-Avdispahić is a consultant and an expert in the field of education.
NERMINA BALJEVIĆ
is a graduated theologian and a teacher at the Islamic high-school in Sarajevo. She is an expert in Department of Education in Rijaset of Islamic Community BiH and actively involved in politics since 1996. She was a member in the Cantonal Assembly, and an MP in the House of Peoples of the Federation of BiH in the period 1998-2000, as well as member of Human Rights and Gender Equality Councils of the City of Sarajevo.
Ms. Baljević is actively involved in organization of women’s associations in BiH and protection and promotion of human rights of women. In the period 1994–1998 she was a Secretary General of the Union “ŽAR”, the first network of women non-governmental organizations in BiH. Currently, she is the president of “ŽAR’s” Steering Board. She participated in numerous activities connected to organization, promotion and networking of NGOs in BiH, affirmation of women in BiH, as well as strengthening and affirmation of gender equality in BiH.
Ms. Baljević is actively involved in inter-religious dialogue in BiH, especially in women related issues. She contributed the Programme with her expertise within the Working Group on Social and Health Care.
Ms. Baljević is an expert in the fields of inter-religious dialogue, education and protection of women.
JASMINKA DŽUMHUR
is a lawyer with extensive experience in local administration as well as in international organisations. Ms. Džumhur is working with UN High Commission for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2001, at the highest positions.
For years, she had been active in one of the oldest and strongest women NGOs in B&H, Medica from Zenica, and later with the Centre for Legal Assistance for Women, from the same city. Human rights and in particular human rights of women have been her main area of interest for over 15 years. Ms. Džumhur contributed the Gender Programme with her legal expertise within the Working Group on Gender Equality Law Comments.
She is a consultant and expert for legal issues.
BELMA GORALIJA
is a Medical Doctor, specialising Clinical Cytology. She is employed by the Institute for Health Protection of Women and Mothers in Sarajevo Canton. Ms. Goralija is an independent activist working on the protection of persons with disabilities and equal opportunities for all.
Since 1998 she is involved in work of the local NGO “Centre for Self-reliance”. As of 1999 Ms. Goralija is working with the International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR), Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, as a National Coordinator for supporting groups for persons with disabilities in BiH. She is one of the initiators and founders of the Coalition for Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons in the Federation of BiH.
She has international advocacy and consultancy experience gained in Slovakia and Latvia. As a consultant ms. Goralija was engaged in the preparations of the SHADOW report, on women with disabilities.
Ms. Goralija is an expert for health.
SUADA HALILAGIĆ
is a lawyer and a prosecutor with the area of expertise in Criminal Law. Her reach experience is related to economic crimes, but also crimes against humanity and International Law, as well as crimes against life and body (particularly protection of woman as victims of violence). She has edited a number of expert publications and a joint book: “Status of women in legal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
Ms. Halilagić was also active in NGO sector, as a member of the Centre for legal redress of women and external advisor to NGO Medica, Zenica. She is a trainer of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the project “Multidisciplinary approach to prevention of violence against women and domestic violence” and a lecturer on BiH Gender Equality Law in the BH Parliament.
Ms. Halilagić contributed to the Gender Programme within the Working Group on Gender Equality Law Comments.
Ms. Halilagić’s expertise lies in the field of legal issues.
AMIRA KREHIĆ
is a lawyer with considerable experience in legal assistance and analysis of legal regulations. Her expertise is focusing on legal matters in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since the Dayton Agreement in 1995. Ms. Krehić is the founder and a member of Centre for Legal Assistance for Women in Zenica in 1996.
She was a member of various teams and working groups, working nationally and internationally, such as the International Crisis Group, preparing the analysis of the juridical system and administration. Ms. Krehić contributed to the Gender Program with her legal expertise within the Working Group on Gender Equality Law Comments.
Ms. Krehić’s expertise is in the field of legal issues.
LEJLA SOMUN-KRUPALIJA
is completing her Ph.D research on Feminisms within a post-socialist Muslim context: the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the University of East London, UK. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Forced Migration, from Oxford University, Refugee Studies Programme, UK.
Ms. Somun-Krupalija is Deputy Director of Independent Bureau for Humanitarian Issues (IBHI), Sarajevo, since 2000, where she is professionally engaged for the last ten years. Ms. Somun-Krupalija gained extensive knowledge on civil society and government institutional mechanisms in BiH and in the region through her work as a Project Coordinator for: Gender Equity and Equality Project 2000-2005, an intergovernmental project of Finland and Bosnia and Herzegovina lead by the Agency for Gender Equality of BiH and the Gender Centres of the Federation of BiH and of Republika Srpska; World Bank/IBHI Youth Initiative Assessment; World Bank/IBHI ‘Gender and Poverty Study;’ NGO Empowerment of Swiss Development Cooperation and UNDP Human Development Report 2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina – Youth. Her comprehensive knowledge on civil society as well as direct experience made her a Chair of the Executive Committee of the NGO Council, BiH which she has fulfilled twice since 2002.
Additionally, her professionalism, strong gender background and dedication were leading reasons to appoint her to the Sub-regional Project Board as civil society representative. Ms. Somun-Krupalija was author or co-author of: three UNDP Human Development Reports for Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000, 2003 and 2006), Gender and Poverty study within the World Bank Poverty Assessment of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the forthcoming 2006 Gender Pay Gap in Bosnia and Herzegovina research. Her analysis methods and techniques include social assessment, interviewing skills, discourse analysis and oral histories.
Ms. Somun-Krupalija possesses extensive evaluation and training knowledge. She conducted number of evaluations for EC Mission to BiH, for a few NGOs and she was Training Coordinator for UNHCR Capacity-building Project. She is trainer in Project management, Office management, People-Oriented Planning, Training the Trainers methods and skills, Monitoring and Evaluation instruments and tools, Facilitating, Field Methods in Research, Gender Analysis, Gender Mainstreaming, Gender Planning and Gender and Conflict.
At the regional Beijing +10 Conference Ms. Somun-Krupalija was responsible for overall facilitation of the working groups as well as for editing of all working group conclusions, the Basis for Joint Actions and preparation of Regional MoU which was signed one month latter, at the following regional conference. In view of successful regional MoU implementation and overall coordination, she was appointed a Head of Regional Secretariat.
Throughout the process of BiH gender strategy development, conducted within the Sub-regional project, Ms. Somun-Krupalija was instrumental in its entire facilitation, among institutional gender mechanisms and other stake holders. In addition, she facilitated the process of BiH Gender Action Plan designing and producing.
BERIN KULENOVIĆ
holds B.A. degree in Political Science, University of Windsor, Windsor Canada and M.A degree in Gender and Culture, Central European University, Budapest, thesis: Why Numbers Are Not Enough? Analysis Of: The Impact of the Quota System for Women in Politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ms. Kulenović has extensive experience working with international organizations on developmental issues.
Her areas of expertise are Gender and Sustainable Development, Gender, Power and Decision Making, Gender, Politics, and Identity and Gender and Social Policy.
NADA MLADINA
is docent at the Faculty of Medicine, University in Tuzla. She is member of Editorial Board of the “Medical archive of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and president of the Ethic Committee of Tuzla University-Clinical Centre.
Ms. Mladina actively participated in providing support to implementation of human rights of children and in associations “Our children”, “Children World” and “Amica Educa”, as well as the NGO “Reference group” for fight against domestic violence. She is one of founders and vice-president of the Tuzla Citizens Forum. She is also member of honour of the international organisation, “Amici region Children”, Region Emilia, Italy and a member of the Association of Independent Intellectuals ‘Krug 99’ in Sarajevo, and of its Management Board, as well as the vice-president of the International Bosnia Forum.
Her civil society activism also included active participation in activities of Association “Women in black against the war” and active support and participation in education on human rights, focused on minority and mistreated groups in order to preserve multiethnic BiH.
Her consultancy work included projects on revitalisation of school institutions for the protection of children, projects on humanisation of children clinics as well as institutions for children without parental care, consultancy on social and health care of children, women and elderly. Ms. Mladina is also an educator in the filed of domestic violence and family neglect. Ms. Mladina has published over 60 expert and scientific publications in medical area and two scientific books. She contributed the Programme with her expertise within the Working Group on Social and Health Care.
Ms. Mladina is consultant and expert in the fields of health protection of women and children, reproductive health, family social care and social paediatrics.
JASMINA MUJEZINOVIĆ
is a lawyer working for the Foundation of Local Democracy, reregistered Embassy of the Local Democracy Barcelona in Sarajevo. Ms. Mujezinović has more than ten years of experience with civil society organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is recognised gender expert and practitioner with excellent knowledge of non-governmental issues as practical implications of legal regulations.
Also, she was a member of the Working Group on Gender Equality Law Comments.
Ms. Mujezinović’s expertise is in the field of legal issues.
JASNA BAKŠIĆ-MUFTIĆ
holds a Ph.D in Law (University of Sarajevo), received for a thesis ‘Women’s rights in the human rights system’. Since 2001 she is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Law, of the University in Sarajevo, teaching ‘Introduction to the study of state and law’. She is also the coordinator at the clinic ‘Theory of law – human rights’, part of the project of clinical legal education, lecturer on Regional Masters Programme ‘Democracy and Human Rights’, University of Sarajevo, and teacher at the „Women's Studies“ programme, organised by NGO Žene ženama“ in Sarajevo.
As a recognised expert she was a consultant on the National CEDAW report, published in 2004, and appointed coordinator on BiH National Action Plan (NAP). Recognised as such, within the Sub-regional Project she facilitated knowledge exchange, but also contributed the facilitation and drafting of the Montenegrin National Action Plan. She has edited a number of professional and academic works, including: „Concentration camps as the most extreme form of genocide“ – Legal thought 1992, ‘Phenomenology of the women’s movement in BiH’ lecture for the 1st Women’s Conference in BiH, 1996, ‘Dayton and the statehood of BiH from the human rights angle’ – monograph ‘Statehood of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Dayton Peace Accord’, 1998, ‘Human rights in the context of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina’, co-author with Zdravko Grebo – monograph ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina and human rights’, 1988, as well as number of articles in various periodicals. She was author of contributions related to gender equality for the UNDP Human Development Report 2001. Her work „Women's issue (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Women worldwide“, Volume Europe Greenwood was published in 2003.
Ms. Bakšić-Muftić took part in numerous international conferences, including UN in New York, where she was a panellist on the topic “Women in war”; the 4th UN World Women’s Conference held in Beijing (China), where she was representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. Ms. Bakšić-Muftić gave her contribution to the Gender Programme by facilitating the working group on Institutional Gender Mechanisms at Being +10 conference, as well as with her legal and other analysis prepared within the Gender Audit and research on Education in BiH.
Ms. Bakšic is a consultant and an expert for legal issues, human rights and education.
ALEKSANDRA PETRIĆ
is currently involved as a local monitor/advisor on gender equality for the Canadian Embassy/CIDA in Sarajevo, BiH. She is a gender expert, researcher, and civil society activist with 10 years of experience in working with local nongovernmental organizations in BiH on the issues of human rights, gender equality, and youth participation. Beside her consultant position for Canadian Embassy/CIDA BiH.
Ms. Petrić currently works as human rights advisor in NGO United Women, Banja Luka. In addition to her Project monitoring scope of work, she gives valuable information and advice for the Sub-regional Project enhancement. Ms. Petrić assisted the project with her knowledge and deep insights, particularly advised on inclusion and enhancement of the cooperation of civil society organizations and institutional gender mechanisms in BiH.
Ms. Petrić facilitated working group on Women and Violence at Beijing +10 Conference in Sarajevo, as an expert in this field.
Her areas of expertise include: gender based violence, gender equality and political participation, integration of gender equality into public policies, and development of public advocacy strategies.
ALEKSANDRA ARSENIJEVIĆ-PUHALO
is a psychologist and specialist for protection of children’s rights. Ms. Arsenijević-Puhalo has been a professional associate for children’s rights in the Ombudsman of Republic of Srpska until 2002. Before that she was a high school professor for three years. She was cooperating with the Gender Centre of Republic of Srpska as a member of the GEEP Project Advisory board.
Also, she was engaged in researches on family violence and Gender equality studies in different social areas (such as management and public participation). Those activities were supported from Gender Centres of Republic of Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, she was cooperating with the Agency for Gender Equality BiH, and entity Gender Centres in collection of materials related to education.
Ms. Arsenijević-Puhalo was a member of the UNDP BiH Working Group on Education.
Her field of expertise is in psychology, gender statistics and education.
AMRA SELESKOVIĆ
is an electrical engineer from Tuzla. She has extensive professional experience in media, as well as the international organisations. For the past eight years, Ms. Selesković was managing the organisation Vesta. This organisation is the founder of VestaRadio, first gender sensitive non-profit radio station in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ms. Selesković possesses comprehensive knowledge in media, gender and training package. She participated in Working Group on Media and prepared group training publication. Also, she was engaged as a trainer for the UNDP Gender and Media training program. Ms. Selesković edited a manual for journalists, “Gender sensitive reporting on family violence”. Ms. Selesković is trainer and expert for media.
AZRA SMAILKADIĆ
holds M.A. in Human Rights and Democracy in South-East Europe. Her focus of research and hence expertise are gender and poverty issues (economic dependence), domestic violence (wife abuse), violence against women in war (mass rapes in war), gender in war and genocide. She worked in Association for Protection of Human Rights and Civic Freedoms “HOMO” in Pula as an intern and in „Medica“ Zenica (Shelter for Women and Children) as an volunteer, thus she also gained practical experience regarding gender-related activities. She was a trainer/lecturer at “MA Course War Crimes, Genocide and Memories - Roots of Evil - I want to understand” in Dubrovnik in 2006, official part of European Regional Master's Program in Human Rights and Democracy in South-East Europe.
She has significant experience in the field of media and public relations.
Ms. Smailkadić is an expert for media.
MEVLIDA KUNOSIĆ-VLAJIĆ
holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Ms. Kunosić-Vlajić has 16 years of experience in coordination and research in scientific and research programmes in field of environment and chemical engineering (local and UNDP programmes).
Also, she possesses 4 years of experience in management of TALDi, training and research NGO from Tuzla. Her experience is related to management and implementation of social and economic development, organisation capacity building, institutional strengthening, strategic and project planning for organisation, institutions, local community and region, as well as the development of business sector, self employment, transfer of new technology, in existing and new business students and secondary schools.
Ms. Kunosić-Vlajić is an experienced consultant and an excellent gender expert and trainer.
ALEKSANDAR ŽIVANOVIĆ
graduated Journalism at the Faculty of Philosophy in Banja Luka. In the period 1997-2001 he worked as a journalist, starting as a reporter of local media and the Alternative information network news agency and later as a correspondent of Radio Free Europe (from 1998) and Reuters (2001).
From 2001 to 2002 he was a deputy director of Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution in the project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since 2003 Mr. Živanović is programme manager of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka (local NGO). His focus is on conflict resolution and gender issues, as well as implementation and design of related trainings. To date he was involved in more than 80 trainings, as either a trainer or a co-trainer, with more than 1700 participants (politicians, students, judges, public officials, lawyers, teachers etc.) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.
Mr. Živanovic contributed to the Gender Programme with his expertise within the Working Group on Media, but also as a trainer for trainers for media representatives.
Mr. Živanović is a trainer and an expert in media.