Minister Bošnjak Signs the Charter on Inclusion in Culture

Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dubravka Bošnjak signed the Charter on Inclusion in Culture, “Culture Belongs to Everyone,” reaffirming a commitment to creating a more open, accessible, and equal cultural space.

The Charter is based on a simple principle: the right to culture does not mean only the opportunity to access cultural content, but also the right to participate equally in cultural life. This means that persons with disabilities should be able to be not only members of the audience, but also artists, authors, performers, collaborators, and initiators of cultural activities.

“When we say that culture belongs to everyone, it sounds like something that goes without saying. But it is not enough for the doors of a theatre, museum, or gallery to be open. The real question is whether everyone can truly walk through those doors, participate, create, and be an equal part of cultural life,” Minister Bošnjak emphasized.

By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Bosnia and Herzegovina undertook to ensure their equal participation in social life, including culture. Minister Bošnjak emphasized that obstacles still remain between formally assumed obligations and their full implementation, and that inclusion must be reflected in everyday practice.

For the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signing the Charter also represents a concrete commitment to incorporating its principles, within the Ministry’s competencies and capacities, into programs, public calls, policies, and cooperation with cultural institutions.

“Inclusion must not depend on the enthusiasm of individuals. It must be embedded in laws, budgets, programs, and policies,” the Minister stated.

The Charter places particular emphasis on three areas of action: accessibility of spaces and communication, access to cultural content for diverse audiences, and creating opportunities for persons with disabilities to express themselves artistically and to be authors.

An important continuation of this initiative will be the Hub for Inclusion in Culture, conceived as a space for connecting institutions, cultural organizations, artists, organizations, experts, and other stakeholders in the cultural sector. The aim of the Hub is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience, develop cooperation, and launch new initiatives that will translate the principles of the Charter into concrete practice.

“Inclusion is not a project. Inclusion is not charity. It is a systemic obligation. It is a strategy. It is what makes a society civilized and humane,” Minister Bošnjak said.

The “Culture Belongs to Everyone” Charter was initiated and developed by the Association “Life with Down Syndrome of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The Minister expressed her gratitude to the Association for its work to date, as well as to all institutions, organizations, and individuals involved in the development of this initiative.