MP Ismeta Dervoz presented a report on sexual violence against women during the war in BiH, at PACE’s autumn session in Strasbourg

 
Member of the Permanent Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH PA) in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Ismeta Dervoz, during PACE’s regular autumn session in Strasbourg, participated in the work of the Network of Parliamentarians to fight violence against women and, in particular "Sexual violence against women in armed conflicts."

MP Dervoz presented a survey of women who survived this form of violence used as a weapon of war in BiH. The research "We're still alive," by the Zenica-based organization "Medica", was presented in the BiH PA on 7 October 2014.

In the framework of the Committee for Science, Education, Culture and Media, PACE MP Dervoz presented a preliminary draft of the report "Preserving cultural heritage in crisis and post-crisis situations," whose adoption is expected by the Committee at its next meeting in December this year.

MP Dervoz and Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Bosnia in Strasbourg, Mr. Almir Šahović, met with the PACE rapporteur for BiH, Roger Gale, to discuss his notes on his visit in July this year, which was presented in September at the 3rd meeting of the PACE Monitoring Committee in Paris. During the meeting, Mr. Gale once again stressed the urgency of implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the Sejdić and Finci case, and appealed for faster formation of the government in BiH after the October elections.

As First Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Non-discrimination and Gender Equality in PACE, Mrs. Dervoz represented the Committee at PACE Bureau meetings.

Otherwise, PACE under urgent procedure, considered the report entitled "Threats to humanity of the terrorist group known as 'IS': violence against Christians and other religious or ethnic groups." In this regard, they adopted a resolution highlighting deep concerns about events and the necessity for urgent and co-ordinated action to stop the threat, the suffering of the people and to provide the necessary humanitarian aid.

During the regular autumn session of PACE, the "Vaclav Havel" award was presented today for the second time, through which civil society representatives are rewarded for their efforts in defense of human rights. The award went to activist and human rights defender from Azerbaijan, Mr. Anar Mammadliu. (End)