Bosnia-Herzegovina
Latest from USIP on Bosnia-Herzegovina
- January 4, 2012 | Publication
Gender and Peacebuilding Center Director, Kathleen Kuehnast, discusses USIP's focus on women's equality in 2011 and looks ahead at the gender projects USIP will work on in 2012.
- November 23, 2011 | Publication
This report is based on the panel presentation and the views expressed at a September 12, 2011 meeting of the Security Sector Reform working group.
- October 25, 2011 | Event
USIP, in collaboration with the Institute for Inclusive Security, USAID, and Vital Voices, hosted a discussion with Ambassador Swanee Hunt and USAID’s Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg on lessons emerging from the Bosnia conflict with a particular focus on the best ways to ensure a direct role for women in peacebuilding efforts worldwide. In addition, film producer Abigail Disney and film director Pamela Hogan presented their PBS documentary, “I Came to Testify,” that describes how a group of 16 women from Bosnia, victims of the war’s systematic rapes, broke through political and societal silence by stepping onto the witness stand at an international tribunal.
- September 12, 2011 | Event
In the aftermath of war, two processes are vital to successfully manage the transition to stability: disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR). On September 12, 2011, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a panel of distinguished experts with combined experience implementing DDR and SSR in Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, the Balkans, Somalia and Haiti.
The Current Situation
On October 3rd, 2010, almost 15 years after the Dayton Accords ended the war in Bosnia, Bosnians across the country participated in the nationwide elections. The general elections -- the fifth since 1996 -- represent the victory of politics over violence, but still reflect schisms that caused the conflict. As the results of the election emerge and the new government takes shape, USIP remains committed to working with Bosnia and international actors to foster an environment that encourages economic growth, progress toward eventual membership in the European Union and a concerted effort at constitutional reform.
The Bosnian Elections
USIP’s Daniel Serwer discusses the significance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's October 3 elections and the challenges facing the country and region.
- Why is this election significant?
- How has ethno-nationality been a challenge for government reforms?
- What constitutional reforms have been suggested?
- What could change with the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
- What lessons can the international community and other nations struggling to emerge from conflict can learn from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s experiences?
- Is there hope for Bosnia?
Influencing and Advising Policy Makers
Daniel Serwer recently addressed Congress on the U.S. role in Bosnia's needed reforms. Serwer advised that the U.S. focus its attention on:
1. Adapting Bosnia’s constitution so that the country can hope one day to enter the European Union.
2. Helping Bosnians to overcome the divisions in their educational system that risk laying the foundation for war in the next generation.
You can read the full testimony, Fulfilling the Promise of Peace: Human Rights, Peace and Reconciliation in Bosnia, here.
Get Involved
- Sign up to learn more about Bosnia-Herzegovina events and publications
- Contact us to learn more about the USIP's work in the Balkans
Visit usip.org/balkans for all of USIP's work in the region