“SEEKING CARE, SUPPORT AND JUSTICE FOR SURVIVORS OF CONFLICT-RELATED
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA” JOINT PROGRAMME
Formation of a Group of Civil Society Organizations
working on Conflict-related Sexual Violence
Call for expression of interest
In consideration of the key role played by Bosnian and Herzegovinian (BiH) civil society when it comes to
conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), the Steering Committee of the “Seeking care, support and justice
for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in BIH” Joint UN Programme decided to include civil society
more formally in the implementation and oversight of the Joint Programme. The Steering Committee also
decided that civil society participate in the Steering Committee through inclusion of an officially
nominated representative.
In light of the above, the UN proposes to create an advisory board called “CSOs Group” (Civil Society
Organizations’ Group) to provide advice and feedback to the Joint UN Programme on all activities of the
Joint UN Programme and issues related to CRSV. The CSOs Group will also nominate the civil society
representative to the Joint UN Programme Steering Committee.
Joint UN Programme Background
More than 20 years after the 1992-95 war in BiH, which was marked by serious violations of International
Humanitarian Law, including widespread rape and sexual violence, many survivors of conflict-related
sexual violence (CRSV) have not been redressed to this day and still suffer dramatic consequences on their
daily lives.
As recognized by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences,
Mme. Manjoo, in the report on her visit to BiH (A/HRC/23/49/Add.3), the critical need to provide
assistance and services to survivors of CRSV and for a comprehensive approach to tackling CRSV is greater
than ever. Indeed, both societal and governmental recognition of the harms suffered by CRSV survivors both women and men - during the war is lacking and survivors suffer from widespread stigma. Moreover,
survivors need enhanced access to tailor-made services, such as free legal advice and access to affordable
and appropriate psycho-social and health care services, including mental, sexual and reproductive health
services, as well as economic empowerment. There is also a need for governmental institutions at all levels
1
in BiH to recognise CRSV survivors as a specific category of war victim, and provide equal access to
reparations, both symbolic and material, across the entire territory.
In 2014 the UN developed a Joint Programme entitled “Seeking care, support and justice for survivors of
conflict related sexual violence in BiH”. The Joint UN Programme is aimed at promoting the rights and
respond to the needs of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) from the conflict in Bosnia and
Herzegovina in the early 90s, and at providing redress to both them and their families. In particular, the
Programme works on improving the status of CRSV survivors and their access to reparations, justice,
health, social protection and economic empowerment programs in their respective communities. It
represents the combined efforts of IOM, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women, and demonstrates the resolve of
the entire UN Country Team (UNCT) to tackle this issue.
The Programme has four main components:




Data collection, research and mapping of needs and capacities
Enhancement and expansion of CRSV-sensitive service provision (access to health care and
justice, economic empowerment, including capacity building of civil society organizations to
provide further support to survivors)
Development of a reparations program
Stigma reduction through advocacy and awareness raising of media, service providers and the
wider public.
Purpose of the CSOs Group:
The purpose of the CSOs Group is to provide advice and feedback to the Joint UN Programme on all
activities and issues related to CRSV as well as to inform civil society about UN activities on this topic.
This includes, but is not limited to, advise on the design and development of CRSV-relevant activities,
provide feedback on the Joint Programme’s implementation, participate in consultations regarding
amendments to existing legislation and development of new laws and by-laws, etc. The CSOs Group will
also nominate a representative to the UN Joint Programme Steering Committee.
Duration
The duration of the CSOs Group is up to 2 years.
Composition
The CSOs Group will be formed of representatives of civil society organisations that support CRSV
survivors. Up to fourteen (14) organisations will be selected through this open call for expression of
interest. Out of the selected ones, half will compose the CSOs Group in the first year and the other half in
the second year.
2
Application and selection procedure
The organisations that are interested in becoming part of the CSOs Group will have to meet the following
criteria for eligibility:
-
organisations must be registered according to domestic legislations.
organisations must clearly demonstrate that their mission is or includes working with CRSV
survivors and/or civilian victims of war.
organisations must demonstrate experience in working with and/or providing services to CRSV
survivors.
All civil society organisations which fulfil the criteria above, are invited to submit an application including
the following documents:
-
-
One page letter including the request to join the CSOs Group and the motivation for applying
signed by the president of the organization. CSO applicants should clearly reference (by name,
contact details and function) the person nominated on behalf of their organisation as the official
representative in the CSO group. In the letter, associations may also indicate if they prefer to be
part of the CSOs Group in the first or second year.
Copy of the ruling on registration
Copy of the organisation’s statute
A short overview of activities and projects implemented by the organisation targeting CRSV
survivors, including:
o Title
o Implementation period
o Donor (if any) and value of the project/activity
o Main activities/description of the project
The overview should also include the number of CRSV survivors that are members or work for the
organization.
The applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a committee formed by the UN Agencies IOM, UNDP,
UNFPA and UN Women. The results of the call will be also shared with the members of the Steering
Committee, which comprise representatives of BiH State, Entities and Brcko District authorities, as well as
the Gender Mechanisms of BIH and the donors (UK Government, Canadian Government and UN Action
Fund).
The applications will be first evaluated according to the above-mentioned eligibility criteria. The selection
committee will then weigh the following elements to ensure a wider and diverse representation:
-
Years of experience
Scope of work (local and/or Entity, State)
Type of support provided to CRSV survivors
Number of members/employees that are CRSV survivors
Regional, ethnic and gender representation
3
In order to ensure the functionality and efficiency of the Group, one half of all organisations which will be
selected will make nominations for the first year of programme implementation, and then the other half
will automatically take over through rotation as members for the second year.
Organizations cannot be at the same time members of the CSOs Group and receive grants from the
“Seeking care, support and justice for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in BIH” Joint
Programme, unless they withdraw from the CSOs group before applying to the open call. Similarly, current
grantees of the UN Programme cannot apply to become part of the CSOs Group.
The selected organisations will be directly notified by the Joint UN Programme.
Functioning of the CSOs Group
Once selected, the CSOs Group will be assisted by the UN in developing the Terms of Reference and Rules
of Procedure of the board. These documents will set the ground for the functioning of the group, selection
of new members and any other matters pertinent to the work of the Group. The CSOs Group will also
decide on the modality to select the representative of the Group that will take part in the Steering
Committee. The position should be on a rotation basis and not last for more than a year.
Participation in the CSOs Group will not give entitlement to any remuneration except reimbursement of
travel costs when necessary and in accordance with UN rules and procedures. All activities related to the
CSOs Group will be facilitated and organized by the CRSV Joint Programme Manager and covered through
‘coordination costs’ planned for this purpose and administered by UNDP.
****
All civil society organizations that meet the above mentioned criteria are invited to submit their
application via mail to the following address:
UN Registry,
Zmaja od Bosne b.b.,
71000 Sarajevo
Or via email at [email protected]
With the subject 'Application for the formation of a Group of Civil Society Organizations working on
Conflict-related Sexual Violence '
All applications need to be submitted the latest by 2 March 2017 at 17h.
Questions may be sent via email to the address [email protected] no later than two days before the
deadline of the call.
4