Full Coverage: Bosnia

31.01.2006 The Bureau of Public Health of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, in cooperation with four elementary schools from Mostar started a campaign to mark 31 January – No Smoking Day. The official slogan of the campaign is “No Smoking – Life at Its Fullest”. The campaign is organized under the Orkdal project, with support by the Nansen Dialogue Centre Mostar.

30.01.2006 In his address of the press after the meeting and talks with his counterpart from Sanski Most, Marko Pavic, the Mayor of Prijedor said that these two cities can approach the development funds in B&H and the EU easier if the two municipalities cooperate better.

27.01.2006 The recording of the firts radio programme in Romani language intended for broadcasting on the B&H Public Radio Service, was completed at the Media Plan Institute in Sarajevo. The Amaro Drom Project (Our Way) was prepared by ten young Roma men and women who completed the three-month training at the Institute.

26.01.2006 The Association of Disabled Persons of the B&H Federation warned the Government and the Parliament of the catastrophic situation of this population, and demanded from the institutions to finally start to fulfil their obligations to secure the conditions in which the disabled could start the realization of their rights in accordance with the Law.

24.01.2006 The constitutive session of the Youth Steering Committee of the Republic of Srpska was held today in Banja Luka. The Committee was established and named by the Government of the Republic of Srpska, upon prior proposal by the State Secretariat for Sports and Youth, in accordance with the Law on Youth Organization.

24.01.2006 B&H citiznes need visas to enter 173 countries in the world, so that the figure released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the citizens spent over 50 million KM on visa fees in 2005 should come as no surprise.

20.01.2006 The Ombudspersons of the B&H Federation, Vera Jovanovic, Esad Muhibic and Branka Raguz, reccomended the Federal Ministry of ducation and all cantonal education ministries in the Federation to secure free access to primary healthcare to all university and high school students, a right guaranteed by the federal Law on Healthcare.

19.01.2006 Confirming success of the second phase, European Union granted 4 million Euro for continuation of SUTRA (Sustainable Transfer to Return-Related Authorities) Programme, implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina by UNDP. Third phase of SUTRA (Support to Result-oriented Approach) PLOD (Partnership for Local Development) shall rely on experience gained through implementation of the first two phases as well as replicating the co-financing model with national authorities with the aim to double the existing budget with their matching contribution.

18.01.2006 The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in B&H published its 2005 annual report which presents, among other, disturbing findings on prevalent ethnic discrimination in the country, especially in the field of labour legislation.

17.01.2006 The “Resource Centre” Project of the B&H Centre for Promotion of Civil Society will make direct contribution to the establishment of vital and sustainable civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 2000 CSOs, business and governmental organizations from all parts of B&H and the region will be able to use the services of the newly established Resource Centre, thus expanding their know-how and strengthen their capacity.

13.01.2006 On January 5, 2006, a GROZD (Citizens Organizing for Democracy) debate was organized at the Public Culture Centre in Kakanj, to discuss the current situation and developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and identify the greatest problems they face.

11.01.2006 The Young Researchers of Banja Luka, in partnership with the Ecco Team from Sarajevo and the Tuzla Centre for Environment and Energy, started the “Civil Society Local Level Environmental Initiative - SEAL” project, supported by the EU through the CARDS ENR Programme.

10.01.2006 For over a year now the EUPMÂ’s Press and Public Information Department has trained and advised the spokespersons of the BiH police forces on all aspects of their work. As a result the first ever jointly planned and implemented PI campaign is about to kick off in January 2006.