In the ten years since the Dayton Peace Accords were signed, Bosnia-Herzegovina has made significant progress toward interethnic stability, democratic institution building, and economic recovery. Yet there remain signs of a lack of political will in building a common state. Education and defense reforms unified both sectors in Sarajevo at the expense of regional or “entity” governments, but came about only after intense international pressure. Similar reform of police structures has stalled. The country’s main political parties publicly signed on to constitutional reforms to centralize government decision-making to give Sarajevo the power it needs to negotiate European Union (EU) accession, but the reforms were voted down in parliament several months later.
On October 1, approximately fifty-five percent of registered voters went to the polls in the first post-Dayton general elections held without international supervision. The tri-partite presidency saw a moderate Serb and Croat elected representing the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), respectively—the latter stemmed in part from crossover support by Bosniak voters. The Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina (SBiH) claimed the Bosniak seat. The state-level parliament is led by the Bosniak Party for Democratic Action (SDA), followed by the SBiH, SNSD, and SDP, respectively. The SNSD emerged as the strongest party in Republika Srpska, where it is one seat short of a majority. As the leading moderate party in the Federation, the SDP disappointed expectations by coming in third behind SDA and SBiH.
An NDI-supported women’s advocacy group in Banja Luka plans a safe house for victims of domestic violence.
The key objectives in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s democratization are to strengthen the country’s state parliament, particularly as the international community removes itself from a formal oversight role; to encourage public participation in helping to shape decisions taken by the political leadership; and to broaden that participation by including greater numbers of women and youth in the political process.
Building state-level government through constitutional revisions and related police and defense reforms is critical to advancing toward eventual EU and NATO membership. The decisions of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s political leaders on these matters will assume greater significance as the Office of the High Representative, which has enforced the political and civil components of the Dayton Peace Accords, will be disbanded in 2007, succeeded by a less intrusive EU mission.
NDI in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Since 1996, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the Office of the High Representative, NDI has supported the democratic development of political institutions and governing bodies through political party building, legislative strengthening, election monitoring, and citizen political participation.
“The campaign that NDI assisted us with is the type of campaign that every branch of the organization should be running.”
—Nermina Uzunovic, member of the presidency of the Social Democratic Party
Political Parties in Governance and Elections
NDI is assisting moderate political parties through new membership databases, and training on local branch organization, grassroots activities, and internal party statutes and procedures. NDI works to increase member participation in party decision-making and to formulate election strategies and government programs that are communicated to citizens. In preparation for the October 2006 general elections, NDI conducted training seminars on Get-Out-The-Vote campaign management and membership recruitment for more than 4,000 people in 42 municipalities representing six parties. NDI is helping party caucuses in parliament to translate election platforms into legislative agendas.
Legislative Strengthening
NDI is assisting the state parliament and the two entity assemblies in improving constituent representation through a network of more than 65 constituency offices throughout the country. NDI is helping to revise and adopt rules of procedure, establish MP codes of conduct and hold legislative public hearings before committees. Having divested a legislative internship program to the Republika Srpska National Assembly, the Institute is preparing to hand over similar programs to the state and Federation parliaments, respectively.
Strengthening Women's Political Participation
In 2004, NDI initiated a program to bring women in political parties, civic groups and elected office together to form advocacy groups in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Brcko, Bijeljina, Mostar and Prijedor. NDI conducted focus groups to provide a basis for advocacy and trained participants on issue definition, media outreach, and public speaking. Resulting initiatives have produced legislative amendments, budgetary reforms, and public awareness campaigns on such issues as support for victims of domestic violence, preventive breast cancer treatment, and maternity benefits. A multi-ethnic group of women activists in Mostar was selected as the recipient of the 2006 Madeleine K. Albright grant and featured in a film entitled Building Bridges.
Increasing Civic Engagement with Youth
NDI is linking political party youth branches, non-governmental organizations, and members of parliament through policy discussions on issues of significance to youth. For example, after organizing an advocacy seminar for youth and women representatives of two political parties in Bihac, NDI helped them reach out to the youth branches of other parties, local civic groups, and medical experts to raise awareness about and to foster solutions to the growing problem of youth drug abuse.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
Washington, D.C.
Robert Tibbetts, Program Officer
202-728-6321 Send Email
Bosnia-Hercegovina
Niamh O'Connor, Resident Chief of Party
at 387-33-214-664 Send Email
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