Representatives Without Space

In a country where politics is still widely seen as a “man’s job,” women and LGBTI+ people in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain in the shadows — present, but rarely empowered to decide. Although gender quotas have been in place for more than a decade, their purpose is often exhausted in formality. The numbers exist, but behind them stands a system that gives women and people of diverse identities not power, but the illusion of equality.

Between Law and Practice

Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most detailed legal frameworks for gender equality in the region — from the Law on Gender Equality, to the Election Law prescribing at least 40% representation of the less-represented gender on candidate lists, to strategies and action plans that, on paper, promote equality.

In practice, however, these provisions remain largely symbolic. According to the research conducted by Tuzla Open Center in 2024 on the representation of women in local political structures, women remain significantly underrepresented, especially in key decision-making bodies.

In the Tuzla City Council, out of 31 council members, only 6 are women — a mere 19.35%, while 80.65% are men. Although the legal framework allows for a better balance, the reality shows that political parties still do not use quotas as a tool of empowerment, but rather as a formal requirement.

Even more alarming are the data on local community councils, where the share of women continues to decline with each electoral cycle. In 2024, the number of women participating dropped drastically, indicating that even in areas of politics closest to citizens’ daily lives, women are not equally invited to participate in decision-making.

Quotas That Don’t Mean Power

Gender quotas were introduced with the idea of opening doors, but those doors do not yet lead to equality. Political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina regularly meet the legal minimum — 40% women on lists — yet these women are most often placed in low-ranking positions with little chance of being elected.

Women are present, but not empowered. They fill the numbers, but not the seats of power.

Research by Tuzla Open Center clearly points to this pattern: while women are visible during election campaigns, their voices fade after elections, as decision-making remains dominated by men. Political culture, shaped by male authority and patronage networks, still does not recognize women as actors, but rather as exceptions.

Politics as a Continuation of Patriarchy

In Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political space, gender equality is often reduced to rhetoric. Parties boast about the number of women in their membership, but rarely about how many hold leadership positions. Media coverage focuses more on how women look than what they say. And the public still applies double standards: a man who is sharp and assertive is a “leader,” while a woman with the same qualities is “too ambitious” or “cold.”

These double expectations create immense pressure, pushing many women into political silence or withdrawal. For some, public engagement also means exposure to risk — verbal abuse, misogynistic attacks, online harassment, and intimidation. Civil society research shows that women politicians in BiH frequently experience political violence — a form of discrimination that is rarely reported and almost never sanctioned.

Invisible Allies: LGBTI+ People in Politics

If women are marginalized, LGBTI+ people are almost erased from the political picture. They exist — in institutions, political parties, and administrative bodies — but remain invisible, because coming out in politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina can mean the end of a career, public humiliation, or threats.

There are no openly out public political figures in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That fact alone speaks volumes about the level of social stigma and lack of political safety. For many, concealing their identity becomes a survival strategy.

However, this invisibility has a cost. Without open role models and voices within institutions, the LGBTI+ community remains excluded from institutional politics. While women at least have quotas as a formal tool for inclusion, LGBTI+ people do not even have symbolic recognition.

Their presence is visible in civil society — through activism and projects such as those led by Tuzla Open Center — but not in political structures. This shows that representation is not only a gender issue, but also an identity issue: politics in BiH still fails to embrace diversity.

Political Parties Without a Vision of Equality

The Tuzla research also revealed that no political party in the city has developed an internal gender equality policy or specific mechanisms of support for their female members. Women’s forums and councils exist, but in practice they are mostly decorative, with minimal influence on party decision-making and scarce financial support.

When it comes to LGBTI+ rights, the situation is even worse — political parties almost never mention sexual orientation or gender identity in their platforms. The topic remains taboo, while any mention of equality is met with accusations of “provocation.”

This sends a clear message: women and LGBTI+ people are welcome, as long as they stay quiet. Once they speak about inequality, they become a “problem.”

Media: Between Support and Sensationalism

The media could play a crucial role in breaking stereotypes — but often end up reinforcing them. Analyses of local media in Tuzla Canton show that women politicians receive significantly less coverage than their male counterparts, and when they do, headlines and imagery often trivialize their work.

For LGBTI+ issues, the media space is even narrower. Coverage usually appears only after incidents — attacks, Pride marches, or “controversies.” As a result, the public continues to perceive LGBTI+ people as a “social issue” rather than as political subjects with ideas, rights, and a vision for society.

European Standards on Hold

One of the strongest arguments for advancing equality lies in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path toward the European Union. The European Commission’s Opinion on BiH’s EU accession explicitly emphasizes the need for consistent implementation of gender equality and anti-discrimination policies. Yet domestic institutions approach these commitments selectively.

The example of Tuzla illustrates this well: equality is used as a rhetorical tool, not as a political priority. While European partners insist on gender parity, local politics remains trapped in a mindset that allows women to be present — but not powerful.

European standards exist — but their implementation depends on political will, which remains weak.

When a Quota Becomes an Excuse

In Bosnia and Herzegovina’s political practice, the quota is often an alibi, not an instrument of change. Parties use numbers to project “progress,” but rarely open real decision-making spaces. Lists may include women, but leadership bodies and key committees remain dominated by men.

At the local level, women are often delegated to “soft” sectors — social affairs, culture, and education — while finance, development, and security remain male domains.

As participants in TOC’s 2024 study from Tuzla stated themselves: “Quotas are important, but not enough.” They want a system that values knowledge, effort, and contribution — not just gender.

A Culture of Support Instead of Competition

Transforming political culture requires transforming power relations. Women and LGBTI+ people do not need “spaces that are given” — they need equal access to decision-making and accountability in governance.

Allies play a crucial role here — both women already in leadership and men who understand that equality is not a threat, but a foundation of democracy. When a female representative publicly supports LGBTI+ rights, or when a male party leader nominates a woman for a senior role, the paradigm shifts.

Solidarity — not rivalry — must become the new political language.

New Generations, New Models of Leadership

The greatest potential for change lies with the younger generation. A new wave of politically active women and LGBTI+ people from Tuzla, Sarajevo, and beyond brings a fresh approach — they do not ask for permission; they claim their space.

Many of them have participated in the Political Academy for Women and LGBTI+ People from Rural Areas of Tuzla Canton, an initiative led by Tuzla Open Center with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.

These platforms show that change comes from below — through knowledge, networking, and mutual support. When women and queer people become visible in public life, they not only change politics — they transform society itself.

Time for Quotas to Become Real Power

Quotas are a beginning, not the end. True equality requires a system where women and LGBTI+ people don’t have to ask for permission to participate — they have the right to decide.

Equality is not a number. It is a voice, influence, and the ability to shape decisions that affect one’s life. As long as that voice is heard only formally, and not substantively, equality will remain a promise on paper.

It is time for quotas to become real power. It is time to open a political space where women and LGBTI+ people do not have to choose between safety and visibility, between professionalism and authenticity. Because without them, politics cannot be truly democratic — or complete

This activity was supported by the Government of Canada through the project “Building Political Power in the Margins: Strengthening Civic Participation of Rural Women and LGBTI+ People in Tuzla Canton through Education, Skills Training, and Community-Based Advocacy.” We are grateful to Canada for its contribution to this project through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Canada.