On December 8, 2025, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Bihać and its Gender Equality Center, held the thirteenth book promotion of Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler, as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The book was presented by Prof. Dr Amela Čolić and Prof. Dr Jasmina Bešlagić. The presenters emphasized that in the promoted publication, the author speaks very clearly and directly about the topic of gender, as well as sex, addressing concepts, prejudices, and stereotypes, primarily from a philosophical perspective, while not avoiding the socio-political challenges and concepts that this issue entails.

At the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, on December 9, 2025, the Twelfth promotion of the Bosnian edition of Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler was held. The event took place within the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, led by TPO Foundation and the UNIGEM network of universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. The promoters of the event were Prof. Dr. Valida Repovac-Nikšić and Prof. Dr. Jasna Kovačević, while the moderator was Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, the editor of the Bosnian edition.

On 06 December 2025, TPO Foundation, in collaboration with the Hercegovina University, held the eleventh promotion of the book Who is Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The promotion is part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”campaign. The book was presented by Dr Martina Primorac and Tihana Matić, mag. iur., who emphasized that Butler, in her work, exposes the ways in which the concept of gender is used in political and cultural conflicts, and warns of the dangers of manipulating identity issues.

TPO Foundation is 10.12.2025. in cooperation with the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST) held the tenth promotion of the book Who’s afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The promotion was part of the “16 days of activism against gender-based violence” campaign. The promotion was moderated by Emina Ganić, and promoters were Professor Dr Jasminka Hasić-Telalović and Professor Dr Azra Bećirović.

On December 1, 2025, the TPO Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) from Montenegro, held a book promotion for Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The promotion took place as part of the campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,” and the book was discussed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikoleta Đukanović and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milica Kovač Orlandić, representing the UDG Office for Gender Equality.

With the support of the TPO Foundation, an exhibition and film screening took place on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, in the lobby of the Faculty of Philosophy in Zenica, as part of this year’s “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.

The 16 Days of Activism Campaign concluded with the commemoration of Human Rights Day on 10 December 2025, which TPO Foundation has been organizing for eleven years together with secondary schools at the Jewish Community of Sarajevo. Through three activities—a panel on religion, gender, and violence against women, short student films, and an art exhibition—we reflected on what it means to be human, how to safeguard the dignity of every person, and how to resist every form of violence, especially violence against women and children.

On Monday, 8 December 2025, as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the Mixed Secondary School in Zenica, held a presentation on research into menstrual poverty. The presenters were Professors Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak and Dr. Edisa Gazetić from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zenica, and the event was moderated by Lamija Subašić.

On December 8, 2025, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Tuzla, held the eighth promotion of the book Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The promotion is part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The promoters were Professor Dr. Jasmina Husanović and Professor Dr. Anisa Avdagić.

On Monday, 8 December 2025, as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the Mixed Secondary School in Zenica, held a presentation on research into menstrual poverty. The presenters were Professors Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak and Dr. Edisa Gazetić from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zenica, and the event was moderated by Lamija Subašić.

The TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the International University of Travnik (IUT) in Travnik, held a promotion of the book Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The event was organized as part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The promotion was led by Amira Perenda, MA, and Selma Otuzbir-Mecan, MA. The aim of this event was to encourage dialogue on gender issues, identity, and contemporary social challenges that shape our society.

From 5 to 7 December 2025, academic discussions on pluralisms in the Balkans were held in Zagreb, bringing together representatives of universities from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The meetings gathered distinguished scholars from the fields of social sciences and humanities, with the aim of strengthening regional and international cooperation in the study of pluralism, secularism, and religion. On behalf of the TPO Foundation, the discussions were attended by Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, while Professors Zoran Grozdanov, Slavica Jakelić, and Nebojša Zelić conceptualized and led the programme.

As part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” Campaign and in cooperation with the TPO Foundation Sarajevo, a lecture was held on December 5th, 2025 at the Second Gymnasium for students on media and religious narratives about violence against women. The organization of the campaign at the school, as well as the research and lecture on the importance of this topic, were led by professors Elmana Cerić and Jasna Kovo Salkić.

The TPO Foundation hosted the sixth book promotion on December 4, 2025, in collaboration with the University of “Džemal Bijedić” in Mostar, for Judith Butler’s book Who’s Afraid of Gender?.The event was part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The promotion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Rebeka Kotlo, and Ms. Edisa Demić discussed the book. In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Kotlo reflected on the importance of the “16 Days for Gender Equality” campaign and the UNIGEM network, briefly recalling the achievements of the UNIGEM project

The promotion of Judith Butler’s book Who’s Afraid of Gender? was held in Zagreb on 4 December 2025, gathering distinguished experts in law, sociology and religion who analyzed the broader social significance of the book and the increasing impact of anti-gender movements in the region and Europe. Speakers included Josip Hrgić, Advisor in the Office of the Ombudsperson for Gender Equality of Croatia, Prof. Dr. Biljana Kašić, and Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić, with the event moderated by Prof. Dr. Snježana Vasiljević.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the director of the TPO Foundation, Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, held a lecture today for students and teaching staff on different forms of violence, its symptoms, the characteristics of perpetrators, and tactics of coercive control. She urged young people to recognize the signs of violence and to react and protect themselves in time. In the first part of the lecture, the professor explained why the 16 Days of Activism Campaign—observed in 164 countries around the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 3 December 2025, TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Zenica – Faculty of Philosophy, held the fourth promotion of Judith Butler’s book Who’s Afraid of Gender? at the Zenica City Library. The event is part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. The promotion was moderated by Azemina Krehić-Halilović, and the speakers were Professors Edisa Gazetić, Zilka Spahić Šiljak and MA Larisa Mahmić, while Professor Hazim Begagić read excerpts from the book..

On December 2, 2025, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the International Burch University (IBU), held the third promotion of the Bosnian edition of Judith Butler’s book Who’s Afraid of Gender? as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign and within the activities of the UNIGEM (Universities and Gender Mainstreaming) network. The event featured Dr. Dženana Telalagić and Assistant Professor Dr. Adem Olovčić, who presented the book and offered a critical examination of gender, power, and contemporary social tensions.

On December 1, 2025, the TPO Foundation, in cooperation with the University of Banja Luka – Faculty of Philosophy, held the second promotion of the book Who’s Afraid of Gender? by Judith Butler. The promotion was part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. Participants were Prof. Dr Milena Karepetrović and Dr Željko Šarić from the Department of Philosophy. At the beginning of the program, the moderator, Željko Šarić, emphasized the importance of this international campaign.

In cooperation with the TPO Foundation, the Secondary School of Textile, Leather and Design Sarajevo is actively participating in the “16 Days of Activism” Campaign. Two workshops were held on November 24th, 2025, led by professors MSc Alma Ahmethodžić and Elbasa Mulić, as well as peer-education run by students Adna Skopak, Azra Hadžić i Ena Herco.

As part of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence”, two educational workshops were held at the Public Secondary Business, Commercial and Trade School Sarajevo from November 27-28, 2025, with the aim of raising awareness among young people about the issue of gender-based violence, its causes, consequences, and prevention. Workshops were implemented by the teacher, Medina Fazlić.

As part of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” Campaign, a series of activities aimed at promoting nonviolence, respect, and the creation of a safe school environment were implemented at the Sarajevo Medical High School from November 27 till Dece,ber 01, 2025. All activities were run by teachers Selvira Mašnić, Marija Knežević and Dr. Medina Mujić.

Within the global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, students of the Third Gymnasium of Sarajevo, in cooperation with the TPO Foundation, actively participated in this important initiative through a series of educational and creative activities aimed at promoting nonviolence, dialogue, and social responsibility. The activities were led by professors Đuldina Kurtović and Esada Grabus, and school counselor Aida Rustanović.

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The TPO Foundation and the UNIGEM network of universities from BiH, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro held the first online promotion of the translation of Judith Butler’s Who’s Afraid of Gender? on November 26, 2025. The event was moderated by Nikola Vučić, and the speakers Adriana Zaharijević, Jadranka Rebeka Anić, and Jasmina Husanović highlighted that the book is an invitation to a collective struggle against the moral panic and fear spread through narratives about so-called “gender ideology.”

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The UNIGEM network of universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro is organizing activities as part of the “16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Violence on Women” this year.

We are silent because we think it doesn’t concern us. We are silent because we are afraid of losing our job, reputation, or peace in the neighborhood. We are silent because we fear those who hold power. We are silent because we’ve been taught “not to meddle.” We are silent because it’s easier to believe “they brought it upon themselves.”

At Drake University in Des Moines, on October 2, 2025, Professor Zilka Spahić Šiljak delivered a lecture titled “Two Idealized Cosmologies of Gender Relations.” The host of the event was Professor Timothy Knepper, after which an interactive seminar was held with a group of students from the Department of Philosophy of Religion.

At Boston University on September 25, 2025, Professor Zilka Spahić Šiljak delivered a lecture titled “Muslim Ritual Practices and the Role of Women in Leading Rituals”. The event was organized by Professor Kecia Ali, a renowned scholar in the field of gender and religion, who also expressed interest in deepening collaboration with the TPO Foundation.

At the invitation of Boston College, pofessor Zilka Spahić Šiljak delivered a lecture on “Women’s Approaches to Inter-faith Peacebuilding” on September 24, 2025. The lecture atracted a large number of students interested in feminist and interreligious perspectives on peacebuilding. The hosts of the lecture were Professors Cynthia Simmons and Katy Bailey, who expressed strong support for continuing this collaboration.

Do we have the courage to question our own beliefs, worldviews, and practices? Do we have the strength to stand up against structural violence carried out by patriarchal institutions, both secular and religious? Are we ready to listen to a different perspective and allow for diverse opinions—even if we disagree with them? Do we respect human freedom and the right to believe or not believe, to question and search for answers? Can one be both a feminist and a believer?
Send your application by 05 October 2025 to: ferskola.tpo@gmail.com. You will be informed by 08 October 2025.

At a time when words are increasingly used to conceal rather than reveal, when slogans echo louder than conversations, and noise replaces silence, an encounter between two thoughtful, ethically grounded individuals becomes a rarity—almost a phenomenon. In this dialogue, guided by the hand of academician Nerzuk Ćurak—one of the last bards of Bosnian-Herzegovinian intellectual integrity and peace discourse—we are presented with the portrait of a woman who has not chosen the easiest path, but the one that is right.

On June 7, 2025, in Sarajevo, the promotion of the book “And You, Sister, Speak” was held – a collection of texts in honor of the renowned scholar Jadranka Rebeka Anić, who dedicated her academic career and social engagement to issues of gender and religion.

The eighth semester of FRER FER (Feminism and Religion) online school was completed, and on 07.06.2025, a formal certificate award ceremony was held at the premises of SPKD Prosvjeta, Sarajevo, for some of the participants who attended both the academic and non-academic programs of this school.

At the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Zenica, organized by the TOP Foundation, scientific advisor from the Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences – Split Regional Center, Dr. Jadranka Rebeka Anić, held a public lecture titled Anti-Gender Movement and Populist Discourses on June 2, 2025.

The film Gender and Peace in the Balkans: Charting the Way Forward is a compelling documentary that emerged from the international conference of the same name, held in Sarajevo from February 25–27, 2025.

On March 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM, a promotion of the follow-up research on gender equality in higher education in the Balkans will be held at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Sarajevo. The promoters will be Prof. Dr. Nerzuk Ćurak, Prof. Dr. Sarina Bakić, and Prof. Dr. Dženita Hadžijunuzović Alagić. The research was conducted as part of the UNIGEM project, implemented by the TPO Foundation.

As part of the UNIGEM project, the TPO Foundation organized a panel discussion titled “Media Activism in the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence” on March 28, 2025, in Sarajevo. The event aimed to explore the role of media and sports role models in the prevention of violence and the promotion of gender equality. Gender-based violence is not only a women’s issue – it is a societal problem that requires the engagement of everyone, including men, who, through their voice, example, and influence, can contribute to change.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8—celebrated in many countries—TPO Foundation organized an online panel discussion on March 6, 2025, featuring two well-known journalists from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Hana Imamović and Dragan Markovina. The panel was part of the activities of the UINGEM (Universities and Gender Mainstreaming) network, which includes 19 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Medina Mujić moderated the panel and, together with her guests, opened up discussions on the status of women—particularly female workers—the ways in which this important international holiday is marked, and the key challenges women face today.

On March 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM, a promotion of the follow-up research on gender equality in higher education in the Balkans will be held at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Sarajevo.

The promoters will be Prof. Dr. Nerzuk Ćurak, Prof. Dr. Sarina Bakić, and Prof. Dr. Dženita Hadžijunuzović Alagić.

The research was conducted as part of the UNIGEM project, implemented by the TPO Foundation.

On March 20, 2025, the publication “Echoes of Change: Advancing Gender Equality in Higher Education in the Balkans” was promoted at the Book Corner of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tuzla. The authors of the publication are Zilka Spahić Šiljak, Jasna Kovačević, and Anita Dremel, and it was published by the TPO Foundation from Sarajevo.

On March 19, 2025, the final event of the four-year project “Universities and Gender Mainstreaming (UNIGEM)” took place at the Hills Hotel in Ilidža. The project was implemented by the TPO Foundation in collaboration with 19 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, with support from the UK Government. It was an opportunity for representatives of the academic community, donors, and researchers to gather, summarize the project’s results, and highlight its importance for integrating a gender perspective into higher education.

Following four years of implementing the UNIGEM (Universi­ties and Gender Mainstreaming) project across 19 universities in the region a follow-up study has been published (the first study was conducted in 2021 and published in 2022 in local languages, and in 2023 in English). In the light of this research authors Zilka Spahić Šiljak, Jasna Kovačević i Anita Dremel maintain an optimistic outlook, despite the growing influence of anti-gender narratives that disseminate misinformation and promote fear in wider so­ciety regarding gender equality.

Organized by the TPO Foundation as part of the UNIGEM project, three webinars titled “Women in Language and Society: From the Fairer Sex to Victims of Femicide” were held on February 20, 24, and 28. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the most common linguistic practices in both the public and private spheres in our speech area, which subtly or overtly assign women a lower status within the heterosexual binary framework.

The TPO Foundation, in collaboration with the “Narodna biblioteka” (People’s Library) of Sanski Most, held the promotion of the collected volume “Discourses of Gender Justice: Analysis of Legal Frameworks and Judicial Practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia” on February 28, 2025, in Sanski Most.

In coordination with psychology teacher Sandra Muratović, the International Women’s Day was celebrated at the Second Gymnasium in Sarajevo. During a class session for the III3 grade students of the IB program, Leonarda Miličević and Majra Rija Subašić prepared a presentation on the topic of significant women in history. Through this activity, they explored the lives and contributions of women who left a lasting impact in various fields, from science to social and political engagement, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and globally. As in previous years, the International Women’s Day was marked in partnership with the TPO Foundation.

Today, a roundtable discussion was held at the Jewish Community Center in Sarajevo on the topic “Erased from History – From the First Strike in the Carpet Factory in 1905 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Today.” The participants were Rahela Džidić, Sarina Bakić, Jadranka Miličević, and Elma Softić-Kaunitz. The discussion revolved around the status of female workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1905 to the present. They analyzed the position of workers during the Austro-Hungarian rule, discussing the general dissatisfaction of women workers throughout more than 120 years.

Recalling the words of Gloria Steinem, the feminist icon, journalist, and activist, who said, “We are stronger together. One woman can do a lot, but together we can change the world,” I had the privilege of witnessing how women in Gračanica, a beautiful town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, are changing the world for the better—for themselves and others.

On the eve of International Women’s Day, at the invitation of the Informal Women’s Lobby Group from Gračanica, a book promotion was held on March 7, 2025, for The Price of Impure Blood: Cultural and Economic Aspects of Menstruation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, authored by Jasna Kovačević and Zilka Spahić Šiljak. >> more

The Gender Equality Council of the University of Tuzla, as part of the UNIGEM project and with the support of the TPO Foundation, held a panel discussion for male academic staff on February 21, 2025, at the University of Tuzla, titled “Unconscious Bias – Hidden Risks of Gender Equality in Higher Education.”

As part of the UNIGEM project, the promotion of the book “Decolonial Feminism” by Françoise Vergès was held at the International University in Travnik on February 21, 2025. This important event brought together students, professors, and all those interested in the decolonial approach to feminism and its role in social change.

On Friday, February 28, 2025, at 12:00 PM, a book promotion of “LAURELS FOR A WOMAN’S HEAD: The Gender Dimension of Literary Awards in Bosnia and Herzegovina” by Prof. Dr. Ajla Demiragić and Dr. Adisa Bašić will be held at the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Philosophy. The authors teach at the Department of Comparative Literature and Information Sciences.

On January 31, 2025, a panel discussion on the topic “Arranged Marriages in Modern Society: Tradition, Freedom of Choice, and Equality” was held at the Grand Amphitheater of the International University of Travnik. The event gathered experts, academics, and students who together explored the important issues surrounding arranged marriages, focusing on their connection to tradition, freedom of choice, and gender equality.

On Friday, January 31, 2025, a promotion of the student anthology “Gender and Art” was held at the Book Corner of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tuzla. The anthology, published by the TPO Foundation in collaboration with the University of Tuzla, features academic and artistic works prepared by students under the mentorship of selected professors, following the Winter School held at the University of Tuzla in 2024 as part of the UNIGEM project.

Following the highly successful promotion of the book The Price of Impure Blood: Cultural and Economic Aspects of Menstruation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, this very important work, which represents a pioneering step in exploring a topic often marginalized or silenced in Bosnian society, was presented in Zenica on Thursday, February 20. The promotion of the publication, authored by Jasna Kovačević and Zilka Spahić Šiljak, took place at the Faculty of Law at the University of Zenica.

The book The Price of Impure Blood: Cultural and Economic Aspects of Menstruation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, authored by Jasna Kovačević and Zilka Spahić Šiljak and published by the TPO Foundation, was promoted on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in a full hall at the Marriott Hotel in Sarajevo. The promoters of the book were Prof. Dr. Amila Ždralović, Prof. Dr. Munira Šestić, and Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak.

As part of the UNIGEM project (Universities and Gender-Responsive Policies), the TPO Foundation, in partnership with the University Gender Resource Center of the University of Sarajevo, the ZATO Foundation, and 19 universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro, is organizing the international conference Gender and Peace in the Balkans: Tracing the Path Forward. The three-day conference will take place in Sarajevo from February 25 to 27, 2025, in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation (with live streaming).

Every year, the Third Gymnasium in Sarajevo publishes a school newsletter, created by both teachers and students. This year’s edition, titled “Youth in Action for Peacebuilding and Promoting Tolerance,” focuses mainly on activities involving teachers and students from seven Sarajevo high schools, supported by the TPO Foundation within the framework of the UNIGEM project.

The book The Price of Impure Blood: Cultural and Economic Aspects of Menstruation in Bosnia and Herzegovina provides a comprehensive analysis of one of the most significant yet often overlooked issues faced by women and girls worldwide. The research was conducted in 28 cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina through a survey involving over 2,000 women and interviews with 73 women. Through an examination of social norms, economic challenges, and health implications, the book uncovers deeply rooted stigmas, gender inequalities, and structural barriers that hinder women from managing menstruation with dignity. The goal of the book is to raise awareness of this complex issue, create space for discussion, and explore solutions that would enable economically, health-wise, and socially fairer conditions for women and girls. >> Click here to download book.

The evaluation is expected to start on 3 March 2025 for an estimated duration of 20 working days.

After four years of project implementation, TPO Foundation is looking for 10 persons to do monitoring of the undertaken project activities. Five persons are needed for universities in BiH, tree for Croatian partner universities and one person per Serbia and Montenegro, i.e. for UNIGEM partner universities in these two countries.

Within the UNIGEM (Universities and Gender Mainstreaming) project TPO Foundation in partnership with the University Gender Resource Center of the University of Sarajevo, Foundation ZATO and 19 universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro is organising the International Conference “Gender and Peace in the Balkans: Charting the Path Forward?” The three-day conference will be held in Sarajevo from February 25-27, 2025 and it will have a hybrid format allowing for in-person or online participation (live video streaming).