The Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MHRR), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Women Forum for Development (WF4D) platform, convened the International Women’s Day Dialogue 2026: From Backlash to Justice – Women’s Leadership and Gender Equality in Society, at the UN House in Sarajevo. This policy dialogue event examined how patriarchal narratives, discriminatory policies, and anti-gender campaigns undermine women’s ability to lead, participate, and influence decision-making across social, political, and institutional spheres. By linking leadership with access to justice, economic empowerment, and institutional reform, the dialogue advanced systemic solutions to strengthen women’s resilience, expand their leadership space, and create safer, more enabling environments for inclusive governance. 

Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić, Director of the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, MHRR, emphasized the central role of women’s economic stability in securing access to justice and promoting leadership:” There is no justice for women without economic stability. Equal employment opportunities, equal pay, and access to future-oriented sectors must go hand in hand with women’s full participation in political and public life. Through this holistic approach, the Agency for Gender Equality, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, and UNDP - through the Women Forum for Development - are advancing sustainable, long-term solutions.” 

Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted the importance of linking economic empowerment, leadership development, and institutional transformation: “Gender equality requires action and sustained investment. Today’s dialogue brings stakeholders together to address the root causes of backlash against women’s leadership and respond collectively and decisively. Economic independence, coalition-building, mentorship, and strong justice systems together ensure that women’s rights are not symbolic, but real and enforceable.” 

The Dialogue is part of global International Women’s Day 2026 campaign, “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls,” which frames workplace inequality as structural and closely linked to women’s access to justice, economic autonomy and leadership opportunities. The dialogue is organized within the Gender Equality Accelerator (GEA), a joint programme financially supported by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, and Denmark, and implemented by UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF. The dialogue brought together women leaders, civil society, governments including justice and security institutions, academia, and international partners.