The results of the initial research in secondary schools in Sarajevo and eight other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on gender-based violence, gender equality and healthy lifestyles were presented today in Sarajevo.

The research was created within the project “YMI: Innovative Approaches to Prevention of Violence and Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles”, funded by the Government of Switzerland, Austrian Development Cooperation, OAK Foundation and CARE Germany and implemented by CARE International with partners Institute for Population and Development, Youth Power Mostar, Perpetuum Mobile Banja Luka, Zemlja Djece – Land of Children Tuzla, PRONI Brčko, Forum Theater East Sarajevo and OTAHARIN Bijeljina in Bosnia ans Herzegovina.

Regional Directress of CARE International Balkans Sumka Bučan pointed out that the research included a sample of 1,600 high school students in Bosnia and Herzegovina in nine cities. “Research has shown that young men still have stereotypes when it comes to gender equality, while when it comes to knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, research has shown that it is still at low level,” Bučan said.

The presentation of the publication was attended by the Deputy Director for Cooperation of the Swiss Embassy, ​​Chantal Felder, who concluded that young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be at the center of attention. “But that means that both girls and boys have equal opportunities,” she said.

Minister’s Assistant of Secondary Education and Adult Education, Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton Lamija Husić said that cooperation with CARE International Balkans through the promotion of healthy lifestyles in this Canton lasts 10 years, and is now extended to secondary schools. “Today we received results on what young people think about healthy lifestyles, what their opinion is about the existence of violence in their schools, and how they react to violence,” said Husić.

The newly developed Program E – a comprehensive, science-based program for the prevention of violence and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among primary school students – was officially presented at the event. The author Feđa Mehmedović from the Institute for Population and Development presented the program.