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Marking the World Day of Social Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Bosnia and Herzegovina as a post ethnic-conflict country, is enduring a long-lasting and challenging transitional process. The majority of the elderly population, having lived in a socialist era where rights of the workers were respected, salaries were higher, and the infrastructure was expanding as the economy was growing very fast, often organize protests because of the lack of existing social policies in the country. Younger generations did not have the privilege to live in socialist era, but rather suffered the consequences of the devastating conflict that resulted in disenfranchised workers, hungry pensioners, underrepresented disabled people, women destroyed by gender based violence, and politically manipulated national minorities.

Moved by such a huge generational disparity Zvijezdana decided to bridge that gap by initiating a celebration of World Day of Social Justice (February 20th) for the first time in Banja Luka, and for the very first time in the country itself. Zvijezdana was curious and eager to talk to everyday citizens from all generations about what social justice represents and means to them. She also used the occasion to advocate with local media for more successful social justice policies.

With her Action Project, Zvijezdana addressed the non-existence of state social policy. The street action was aimed at raising the public awareness on several problems that marginalized groups encounter in their daily life, such as lack of jobs, low income, disenfranchised workers, lack of proper social policies, and  the growing number of gender based violence in our community

The Action Project included delivering promotional flyers with information on free legal aid to the citizens of Banja Luka at the street action on February 20. Foundation United Women Banja Luka, partner in this action plan that provides free legal assistance services to all citizens of Banja Luka, including the victims of gender based violence and domestic violence, shared flyers to inform, citizens how they can acquire assistance in cases of domestic and gender based violence. Via this particular social phenomenon, different topics with citizens were also discussed, such as lack of social policy, low income in the community, rights of the workers, and etc.

The second part of the project dealt with the media promotion of the street action via TV hosting, Facebook promotion through the event page, website, and articles (on web platforms Medium.com and iBalkanYou).

  • Usage of social media is crucial in advocacy for the social justice. Senior Fellow Zvijezdana Marković giving statement for the media
  • Members of Foundation United Women and Banja Luka Center for Human Rights are sharing flyers to citizens