From 12 to 15th August 2013, in hotel Garden City in Konjic, within the project Constitutional Reform in BiH: Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in Politics, funded by Swiss Development Agency (SDC) was held seminarConstitutional Reform and Gender Perpective in BiH and European Practice.  The aim of the seminar was to introduce participants with constitutional reform experiences and gender perspective in countries of the region and wider Europe, as well as preparation of partner organization for dialog within constitutional reform process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. TPO team have prepared gender sensitive amendments and presented it to the participants, together with Platform developed by HCA Banja Luka and Udruzene zene Banja Luka in cooperation with Women Network. Participants were representatives of 11 partner women organizations actively included in project implementation. Lectures and workshops

were held by national and international experts whose expertise is in constitutional and international law and politics.
Important contribution for seminar work is given by representatives of 10 local partner NGOs involved in project implementation. Their active work and contribution is reflected in a number of high quality proposals for the improvement of gender sensitive constitutional amendments, participation in advocacy action plan development, as well as discussion with experts, knowledge and experience sharing. Organizations involved in project and seminar are: Udruzene zene Banja Luka, LARA Bijeljina, Glas zene Bihac, Forum zena Bratunac, UG Grahovo - Bosansko Grahovo, Forma F Mostar, Krajiska suza Sanski Most, KULT Sarajevo, Vive zene Tuzla and Medica Zenica. Partners’ network is coordinated by TPO.

First day of the seminar (12.08.2013.) was dedicated to lecture delivered by professor Marijana Pajvancic, that gave introductory information on types of constitutional principles and baselines as well as specific articles related to gender equality. After short reflection on theoretical framework, she talked about her experience on constitutional reform and gender perspective in Serbia, answered a number of questions during discussion. Having in mind her experience and lessons learned on Serbian experience, she emphasized importance of key stakeholders of the process, namely, elected politicians, experts and media.  
Marijana Pajvancic is professor of constitutional law, parliamentarian law, electoral law, constitutional and legal protection of human rights on University Singidunum in Novi Sad. She participated in preparation of the establishment of institutional mechanisms for gender equality in Serbia, was chair of the expert group involved in drafting of the

gender related articles for new Serbian Constitution, and member of expert group for drafting of the Law on Gender Equality.
Introductory notes on existing initiatives of constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina were given by Lajla Zaimović Kurotović on second day of the seminar (13.08.2013). She presented policy document designed within the Equal Opportunities project and discussed ongoing and past initiatives on constitutional reform in BiH. She also presented specific aspects of gender equality within existing legal framework, emphasized gender aspect in existing constitution and presented main findings and recommendation for development of constitutional amendments. 
Lajla Zaimović Kurtović has experience in local and international organizations; she was manager on two projects related to constitutional reform implemented by ACIPS from 2010 to 2012.

Proposals for constitutional reform and amendments designed within the Equal Opportunity project were presented byBesima Boric. She clarified that amendments are made on existing text of the Constitution, without introduction of new articles. According to Ms. Boric, this will give better results and have fewer chances to be neglected by authorities. Having in mind that each article has been amended, gender perspective is emphasized wherever it was possible. During discussion all participants contributed through eventual changes and improvements of the text. During the workshop participants defined activities related to advocacy for constitutional reform and framework schedule of amendments presentation. 
Besima Boric has a long term experience in politics, especially in the field of social policy, human rights and gender equality. In 2001-2002 she was a Minister of labour, social policy, displaced persons

and refugees. She is a Parliament Member from Social-democrat Party in Federal Parliament, president of the Committee for labour and social policy, and member of the Commission for gender equality.
Workshop on advocacy for constitutional reform was organized on the second day of seminar. Workshop was delivered by Emina Abrahamsdotter, experienced expert in the field of civil society development and gender equality and political participation. Participants had an opportunity to hear about general concept of advocacy, steps leading to successful realization of the goals and action planning of advocacy activities.  During the exercises  they defined key stakeholders in the process, main supporters, role of media and defined activities, deadlines and responsibilities for each activity.  

Third day of seminar (14.08.2013.) was dedicated to presentation of Icelandic experience and discussions related to lessons learned applicable for Bosnian context. Expert who delivered lecture, Silja Bara Omirsdottir was directly involved in constitutional reform process in Iceland and she shared her experience from the perspective of activist and expert on gender equality issues. She presented situation on Iceland, economic crisis, citizen’s protests, government changes as well as process of participative democracy in election of the Constitutional Council in charge for drafting of the new constitution.  Participants were interested in details regarding procedures, costs of the action, communication with citizens, advocacy and presentation of the document. Conclusion was that in spite of the wide and participative democratic process, there was no political will to resolve the question of new constitution that is highly applicable for BiH context, also. 
Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir teaches on the Faculty of Political Sciences on the University of Iceland. She is expert in the field of foreign policy, security,

feminism and international relations. She is active in a number of movements aimed at gender equality and human rights.
Last day of seminar (15.08.2013.) guest was Agnes Bernhard, legal expert from Austria. In the introduction she presented evolution of the Austrian legal and constitutional system, and emphasized conservative character of Austrian society. Long term battle for gender equality has started to result just recently. Example is that in 1994 no women were a member of constitutional court. Situation is much more progressive today, but examples of the cases brought to the constitutional court clearly depicted discrimination against women in the past. Using examples and exercises she described process of constitutional court reasoning and explained steps that country has made to promote gender equality. 
Agnes Bernhard is legal expert with more than 20 years of experience in legal issues, public institutions, training centres and on a number of projects. Agnes is expert for human rights and gender equality.