IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina February 2021 News

Introduction

As new Representative of IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I am proud to lead a diverse and capable team of women and men fully motivated by our mandate and action in the country.
Aligned with IOM’ s Global Strategic Vision, IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina strives to work on three main dimensions of the migration landscape:

1) Mobility: working directly with migrants to ensure their rights are upheld and needs fulfilled;

2) Governance: working with the State, Cantonal and local authorities to build an inclusive and effective governance of migration;

3) Resilience: build resilience of youth, marginalized and host populations and support them in overcoming the past while encouraging their innovative approaches to build a better BiH.
 
I invite you to discover our recent achievements and encourage you to send us ideas and feedback for always improved actions!

Laura LUNGAROTTI
Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans and IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Mission

HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ROMA HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

Gratitude and sparks in the eyes for our visits to Roma communities, shown respect and direct humanitarian support to Roma population who suffered the consequences of the Holocaust, persecution and discrimination during the Second World War. Little is needed for happiness of those who are neglected and forgotten. In the past month, IOM directly assisted 170 Roma families with hygiene and food packages, with purchase of orthopedic aids for the elderly Roma population in BiH, and with small repairs to the households in need.

This project aims to contribute towards reparation efforts of Roma holocaust survivors in BiH, through provision of health mitigation measures and humanitarian assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAPACITY BUILDING – CCCM TRAINING

During the month of February, IOM BiH organized the contextualized one day Camp Coordination and Camp Management - CCCM training for staff from the Ministry of Security and Service for Foreigners Affairs who works in PC Lipa.

The training is designed to provide general knowledge and practices of humanitarian assistance, as well as sectors within such as: CCCM, shelter, NFIs, WASH and transport and interlinkages among various sectors. The training will contribute to better understanding of the work context, increase comprehensive knowledge of relevant procedures and provide additional guidance.

IOM BiH continues to focus on capacity building, opening of professional dialogues among staff through horizontal structure, and helping them understand how each sector is functioning and make the knowledgeable of basics of CCCM and how it fits into overall process.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL COHESION AND RULE OF LAW

IOM organized a workshop for the representatives of the institutions of the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of strengthening the institutional capacities and coordination for work on the prevention of violent extremism. The aim of the workshop was to improve multisectoral cooperation by discussing the establishment of protocols on the cooperation of relevant institutions in the prevention of violent extremism and strengthening the capacity of members of the interdepartmental team to work in a group with special emphasis on communication skills and information exchange.

Final activity of SMART'Y workshop in Tuzla: youth connecting the community through public call asking them to bring in toys for children in alternative care facilities. At the end this action brought together both young and old residents of Tuzla, but also residents of neighbouring communities.These activities, and many others, were realized through the IOM project "Moving towards sustainable approaches to prevent violent extremism in the Western Balkans" funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.

ZENICA YOUth is BUZZING!

At the end of January, the BHRI-supported Zenica Youth Center ‘shut-up nights’ hosted two city councilors as guest speakers in a monthly event for youth and motivational speakers and the representatives of the Urban Ministry and academic institutions attended the event. On city council session, the two city councilors raised youth’s questions about the economic empowerment of youth, as well as proposed to subsidize the work of the youth center.
Since opening in October 2020, the BHRI- supported Youth Club in Zenica has had over 1,000 visitors through the organization of more than 80 different activities: board game nights, language classes, dancing workshops, CV writing workshops, and team building events -  all of this rendering the  Youth Club a central gathering place for youth from Zenica and surrounding communities, who otherwise lack meaningful activities and opportunities for positive interaction. 
Recently, Zenica city council approved the motion that was presented to subsidize the work of the youth center. The municipality will contribute BAM 10,000. 

ADDRESSING COVID-19 CHALLENGES within the Migrant and Refugee Response in the Western Balkans

Through the EU funded project, IOM BiH and the implementing partner DRC provided support to the health institutions by delivering more than 31,200 pieces of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) protecting over 5,000 frontline healthcare workers valued at approx. EUR 40,000 and 32 pieces of COVID-19 specialized medical equipment to Primary Health Centers and Primary Health Institutes across several Cantons and to the Veterinary Faculty UNSA valued at approx. EUR 120,000 improving the quality of services and general health conditions in the country.

An automatic autoclave - a machine that uses steam under pressure to kill all kinds of bacteria, viruses and any agent that can transmit bacteria provided to Veterinary Faculty UNSA, one of the leading institutions in fight against COVID-19 pandemic in BiH, was a welcomed addition to the existing resources of the Faculty as it replaced the old technology dating back to 1990 with the new, modern and more efficient device. This device is described as an essential to the institutions research activities on COVID-19 as it improves the quality of services, safety conditions in the institute and in the community.

DISPATCHES IN EXILE

IOM started a 1 year project with the renowned VII Academy in teaching migrants basic principles of journalism, and media production including photography, time-based media, ethics and narrative storytelling.

A group of about 60 men and women from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East currently residing in Temporary Reception Centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit from these trainings. Besides the educational sessions, a web platform will be created where migrants can tell their stories and contribute to a better understanding of their needs and feelings.

The project is led by VII Academy curator Ziyah Gafić an award-winning photojournalist and videographer based in Sarajevo focusing on societies locked in a perpetual cycle of violence and Muslim communities around the world. He covered major stories in over 50 countries.

SUPPORT TO INSTITUTIONS OF BIH TO FULLY MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. 

IOM continued to support institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in their efforts to fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons. In co-operation with the Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of the Republika Srpska (CEST RS) and Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of F BIH (CEST F BIH), IOM organised a training entitled “Human trafficking - challenges in detecting and prosecuting complex crimes against human dignity” aimed at strengthening capacity for judicial office-holders and representatives of law enforcement agencies. Activity took within the scope of the project "Short and Medium-Term Support to Strengthening Counter Trafficking Efforts in BiH" supported by United States Agency for International Development in BiH (USAID in BIH) and Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

IOM THANKS THE AUTHORITIES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AND OUR DONORS FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT