Space for Women - III
The third cycle of workshops for women in Tuzla (June-September 2001)

The project "SPACE FOR WOMEN" - III began in June 2001, with the re- opening of the CCPN office, after being closed for nine months. It was very important for the organisation generally, which got a space and funding for basic expenses (communication, office supplies), so that we could return to work on the Project and also on other activities. Thanks to the support from the EWSF (which had also supported the second cycle of the project, in 2000), the CCPN began to re-establish its contacts, membership and activities, all of which had been frozen during the time the office was closed.

The group was composed of 17 women, different age (22-56), education level, marital and social status; from different ethnic and religious groups (Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats); domestic, refugees and returnees, employed and unemployed. Ten workshops on different topics were held in the third cycle.

Evaluation of the Project uncovered the main problems that cause the low participation of women in social life generally and especially in public life and decision-making. These main problems are:

• traditional role of women (patriarchal)
  
• material base (hard economic situation)
  
• lack of education (practical: computer skills, languages)
  
• lack of support (from family, society)
  
• lack of women's solidarity (support to each other)
  
• lack of self-respect/self-confidence
  
• lack of knowledge in human rights/women rights

The group showed high interest in inter-entity, cross-border and regional co-operation with similar groups.

Important parts of the CCPN's program in the next year will be to continue to meet the needs of the women, support them in their further emancipation, and promote their active role in society.

Space for Women III was supported by the WCC-Ecumenical Women's Solidarity Fund, Omis. Our special gratitude to Mrs. Carolyn Boyd, the WCC-EWSF Programme Co-ordinator, for her great understanding and confidence!

In Tuzla, 31 October 2001

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Space for Women
The first cycle of workshops for women in Tuzla (September 1999, March 2000)

(The first of 8 two-hour workshops was held in September 1999. The last topic, "Woman is..." was held in the beginning of March 2000. It was planned for the end of December 1999, but delayed because of religious holidays and a flu epidemic.)

The workshops showed very specifically the difficult position of women in Bosnia, who labor under a double role: traditional, in which a woman has the secondary role in a family and society, and modern, in which she has education, job and a desire for full participation in all levels of life and decisionmaking, in which her presence is more than symbolic.

The important facts for women in Bosnia and Herzegovina, are: heritage, hard post-war economic situation, low level of support from the family, society and other women, discrimination (in a family, work and wider), violence (sexual and other kinds) and low level of education and awareness. Formal equality does not mean real equality in life - women have to work for it.

The group was composed of 16 women, of ages from 17 to 53, from different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds. Two mothers participated with their daughters.

The project was made possible by a grant from Quakers Peace and Service, London. A new cycle will start in the spring, supported by the WCC "Ecumenical Women's Solidarity Fund," Zagreb. Our gratitude to both! Women in Bosnia really need some space for themselves!