Minister Bošnjak at the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, led the national delegation at the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (UNFPA), held at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Addressing the high-level general debate, Minister Bošnjak emphasized Bosnia and Herzegovina’s continued commitment to advancing public health, with particular focus on cancer prevention and sexual and reproductive health, especially by empowering young people to realize their full potential.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the Ministry of Civil Affairs, remains dedicated to improving public health. Priorities include cancer prevention, and sexual and reproductive health, which are essential for sustainable development and a better quality of life for all our citizens," stated Minister Bošnjak.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of an initiative launched in December 2024, which involves a comprehensive one-year study on the prevention of cervical, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer.

The study is jointly conducted by UNFPA and the World Health Organization, in partnership with all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The statistics are alarming – every week, around 11 women in Bosnia and Herzegovina die from breast cancer, and three from cervical cancer. These diseases, which are preventable through vaccination and early detection, must be a priority in our efforts," the Minister warned.

She noted that this study represents a foundation for future national cancer prevention programmes, which will be aligned with best practices from the European Union.

She also mentioned Bosnia and Herzegovina’s recent participation in the EU4Health programme, which supports further alignment of the country with the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

In her speech, Minister Bošnjak also underlined the highly successful cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and UNFPA, as well as other international organizations, stating that Bosnia and Herzegovina can serve as a model of good practice in achieving sustainable development goals through strategic partnerships.

In addition to participating in the conference and contributing to a panel discussion, Minister Bošnjak held several bilateral meetings during her visit to New York with representatives of other countries and international organizations, further strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international ties.