The campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence was successfully implemented

Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar and the TPO Foundation, as part of the UNIGEM project and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, held lectures, workshops, and discussions between the 26th of November and the 10th of December, 2024. These activities educated teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as students, on gender equality and gender-based violence.

During the closing ceremony, the University Rector, Prof. Dr. Alena Husinbegovic, and the UNIGEM project coordinator for the University, Prof. Dr. Rebeka Kotlo, outlined the significance of the activities and highlighted the achievements of the UNIGEM project and the Gender Equality Plan. They emphasized the need to actively prevent and combat gender-based violence, discrimination, and sexual harassment while maintaining integrity and quality in higher education and broader society. Engaging in discussions with attendees, they called for continuous education, awareness-raising, information dissemination, and professional conduct. They also emphasized the urgency of making support services accessible for victims and swift sanctioning of perpetrators, as well as implementing systemic measures to prevent gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence (GBV) impacts all societies and institutions, yet many fail to recognize or address it, even as femicide continues to rise globally. Research shows that one in three women faces some form of violence during their lifetime. This issue extends beyond individuals, posing a societal challenge that demands systemic solutions. Since its inception in 1991, the 16 Days of Activism campaign has united over 180 countries and thousands of organizations to illuminate the gravity of this problem and drive meaningful change.

Over the past three years, the TPO Foundation, in partnership with 19 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro—including the Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar—has delivered remarkable results through the UNIGEM project:

• Partner universities hosted over 300 events, including workshops, panels, debates, and artistic performances.
• Organizers held three Winter Schools and two Summer Schools for students and faculty.
• Teams developed seven syllabi on gender equality, integrating them into academic programs.
• Translators produced five publications to serve as additional resources for universities.
• Researchers published and promoted a study on gender equality and gender-based violence.
• A separate survey of menstrual poverty was published and shared widely.
• Universities organized multiple "16 Days of Activism" campaigns.
• Trainers educated police officers, judiciary representatives, prosecutors, and civil servants.

The campaign 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence represents an important step in the fight for gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence. Through education, raising awareness, and concrete actions, the University and the TPO Foundation have demonstrated their commitment to creating a safer and more just society.