The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) is the first public institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the first in Europe and the region, to be certified under UNDP's "Gender Equality Seal" programme. By receiving the silver certification, HJPC has become a leader in excellence in the field of gender equality—implementing transformative practices and aligning its regulations, procedures, and operations with global quality standards represented by the Seal.

In coordination with the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees BiH as a key partner, UNDP supports the public sector in all phases of introducing gender equality principles and institutional transformation through capacity building, tailored tools, technical advice, and the exchange of experiences.

The "UNDP Gender Equality Seal" initiative for public institutions is a comprehensive tool for public administration reform that helps create a new generation of public policies and decision-makers aimed at reducing discriminatory norms, enhancing skills and capacities of public institutions to deliver gender-responsive public policies and services. It is a global transformation program specifically designed for public institutions, aiming to support, recognize, and promote public institutions committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women within their organizations.

To qualify for the "Seal," public institutions must formally express interest, conduct self-assessment, prepare and implement an action plan for reform, and undergo a final external evaluation assessing the level of standards implementation covering five key areas and involving 40 success indicators.

After completing the necessary institutional arrangements, HJPC, with the assistance of UNDP, conducted an initial self-assessment, which was subsequently validated by the UNDP Gender Equality Seal team. This process enabled HJPC to define its action plan for enhancing and strengthening existing processes of integrating gender equality principles and improving compliance with the Gender Equality Seal standards and criteria.

Over the past two years, HJPC BiH has actively worked on strengthening internal capacities for integrating gender equality. As a result of these efforts, according to the Evaluation Report, HJPC BiH has fulfilled 30 out of the total 40 success indicators of the Program, which includes all mandatory conditions for receiving the Silver Gender Equality Seal for public institutions. This progress not only confirms HJPC's commitment to higher levels of gender equality and empowerment of women within its jurisdiction but also represents a significant step towards the European Union accession process, where gender equality is a fundamental principle.

It's worth noting that HJPC BiH adopted the Gender Equality Strategy for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian judiciary in 2020, making BiH the first country in the region to have such a document. This strategy serves as a foundation for creating individual action plans for all judicial institutions in BiH aimed at enhancing gender equality principles.

Based on the achieved results, it is recommended that the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina be awarded the Silver Gender Equality Seal, making HJPC BiH the first public institution in Europe and the region to receive this prestigious recognition. This accolade and the accomplishments reflect the commitment of HJPC BiH, its efforts, and ongoing work in promoting gender equality and women's rights both internally and externally within the judiciary sector.

HJPC BiH will continue implementing activities to strengthen gender equality mechanisms and capacities, facilitating enhanced empowerment of women in the workplace. This will include adherence to international conventions ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring respect for all legal rights in employment relations in BiH, and advancing institutional policies and practices in the field of gender equality.

On the ground in some 170 countries and territories, UNDP works to eliminate gender inequalities through a range of targeted, gender-focused programmes and strategies that accelerate structural transformation. Working in partnership with governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia and think tanks, UNDP seeks to ensure that gender equality remains central to development efforts and that the needs, experiences and contributions of women and girls are considered in decision-making.