This publication, titled "GENDER-TARGETED PUBLIC FUNDING FOR POLITICAL PARTIES: The Experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina," explores the unique intersection of gender equality and political financing. Political parties are crucial to democratic processes, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as in many countries, they are the primary conduit to political success. However, women remain underrepresented in political spheres globally. To address this imbalance, some nations, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, have implemented measures aimed at bolstering gender equality in politics.
The publication delves into research conducted within Bosnia and Herzegovina, examining the myriad of factors affecting women's political participation. Studies range from the constitutional and legal frameworks that support equal participation, to the role of media, the impact of quotas, electoral systems, and the electorate's influence. These studies typically focus on the descriptive aspects of women's political engagement, such as the proportion of female candidates, their positions on electoral lists, and the number of women elected to legislative bodies at various levels.
Furthermore, the paper examines the potential of public funding as a tool to encourage gender balance within political parties. Gender-targeted public funding is outlined as a system where a party's financial support from public budgets is directly linked to their adherence to gender equality measures. This could mean allocating funds based on the ratio of female to male candidates or the success rate of women elected from a party. Such provisions are proposed as mechanisms to incentivize political parties to promote gender equality actively.
