Our Party (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Our Party (Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: Naša Stranka, NS) is a multi-ethnical political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is led by Denis Gratz. One of the party's founders is the Academy Awards-winning film director Danis Tanović. The party aims to break the dominance of nationalist parties in the Bosnian political system.^[1]

Their first test were the elections of 5 October 2008. The party conquered one mayoral post, the one in Bosanski Petrovac. They may have won seats on the city councils of Cazin, Ilidža and Sarajevo.^[2]

General Program Objectives

OBJECTIVES FOR NEW POLITICS 1.1. Open society. Our goal is to build an open society based on values of respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, justice, democracy, tolerance, rule of law, solidarity between women and men, observance of human rights and rights of the minorities. This goal will be achieved through constant struggle against social exclusion and discrimination, promotion of social justice and protection, gender equality, solidarity between generations, and protection of children's rights.

1.2. Economic growth. Development of a market economy which will enable sustainable development of Bosnia and Herzegovina based on geographically balanced economic growth with a competitive social and market economy striving for full employment and social progress, with particular attention paid to protection and enhancement of the quality of the environment. These goals will be achieved through the promotion of economic, social, and territorial cohesion and solidarity in the territory of both entities, all ten cantons in the Federation of BiH, and Brčko District, and through respect of rich cultural differences and cultural heritage;

1.3. Civil rights. Constant pledging for protection and development of civil rights, particularly in the field of direct involvement in the administration of public affairs, in such a way that the joint interest or will of the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a key criterion for solutions to all problems relating to political, economic, social and cultural life. This includes efforts to secure full-fledged freedom of opinion relating to political, economic, social and cultural life; as well as full-fledged freedom of opinion, conscience and religion; freedom of expression and information; and freedom to congregate and socialize;

1.4. Academic freedoms.

We will fully ensure that art and scientific researches are freed from all limitations with full respect for academic freedoms

1.5. Education. We shall ensure that every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, without restrictions, has a right to education and the right to professional and vocational training. This right implies that without discrimination and under equal conditions everyone has the possibility to obtain a free-of-charge elementary and high school education. Higher (university) education will be equally accessible to everyone based on his or her abilities and desires, which will not be restricted due to his/her social, economic or geographic status. We shall make it possible for all parents to provide under equal conditions such education for their children which is congruent with their religious, philosophical and pedagogical beliefs;

1.6. Labor law. Securing full respect of the right to employment and to freely selected and accepted employment shall be the most important economic priority. We shall ensure that every male and female worker has the right to such working conditions that respect their health, security and dignity. We will ensure for every worker to have the right to a limited number of work hours, daily breaks, and to get a paid annual leave. In achieving this goal, we shall guarantee to every worker the right to a just, satisfying salary that will secure for them and their family a dignified life. If necessary, this right shall be supplemented, through the State, with other means of fiscal policy and social protection;

1.7. Union rights. We will fully guarantee to workers, i.e. their representatives, access to information and consultation in entrepreneurship. We shall secure full respect for the right of every person to form unions with others and to join a union of his own choice in order to protect and enhance their economic and social interests. We shall provide protection for all workers against unjustified dismissal. We will ensure that employed young people have working conditions which correspond to their age, including protection against economic exploitation and such type of work which could endanger their safety, health, education, or physical, mental and social development;

1.8. Rights of the unemployed. We will secure care for every person throughout the period of his/her unemployment. We will ensure efficient and free-of-charge services for job inquiries, which will include, if necessary, the services of retraining and specialization. During the period of unemployment, all unemployed persons will have a right to minimum social security, without discrimination on any basis;

1.9. Veto to discrimination. Full-fledged commitment to protection of the right to full equality before the law with consistent observance of the principle of general prohibition of discrimination, with particular attention to the struggle against all types of discrimination based on ethnicity. Measures that are taken to secure specific strengths in favor of the group that is in an unfavorable position shall not be considered as a breach of the principle of equality.

1.10. Fight against crime, corruption and terrorism. The issue of combat against crimes, corruption and terrorism is our key security priority. We will ensure a judicial system with greater responsibility and enhance its efficiency through adoption and implementation of the strategy for development of the judicial sector. Aiming to root out corruption, we will strive to completely implement the policy of zero tolerance for corruption, trying to root out corruption through draconic punishment, if necessary, from all spheres of public affairs, business operations, including public procurements, health care, education, and utilities. In the field of combat against terrorism we will enhance the capacities of security agencies and we will constantly strengthen international cooperation in this area, including the use of means for adequate implementation of international conventions in this field.

1.11. Protection of children. We will ensure that every family has legal and economic protection and social care. We shall pay particular attention to make sure that every child, equally and regardless of his/her place of birth or any other economic, political, administrative or social status has all conditions for protection and care necessary for their welfare. The right to social security and social services which will guarantee protection of children (child allowance and other mechanisms for children's social protection) shall be completely and equally secured for all children in the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

1.12. Maternity leave. All mothers shall be provided with special care within a reasonable period of time before and after the birth. During this period, all mothers shall be entitled to social security and care, and employed mothers shall be guaranteed paid leave in accordance with standards that are in force in countries of the European Union. We shall completely root out the employers' practice of violations of the employed mothers' labor rights;

1.13. Care for old people. Elderly people shall be given total independence through strong guarantees that they will have secure conditions for an independent, dignified life. We shall guarantee observance of this fundamental right in such a way that through a complete reform of the pension system their right to pension and social security will be equally secured for all elderly people, including the right to social pension for all elderly people, regardless of the duration of their pension security, and the right to equal participation in social and cultural life;

1.14. Care for disabled people. We shall secure for all disabled persons to have full independence and social integration to the extent, which secures their independence, social and professional integration and their involvement in the community's life. We shall secure this right by phasing out all forms of discrimination on any basis, and all Government's institutions and their policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be mobilized to secure and protect this right;

1.15. Social security for everyone. We shall ensure that the State guarantees for every person in Bosnia and Herzegovina the right to such living standard which will enable him/her and their family to be healthy and enjoy welfare, including food, clothes and home. The level of complete social security and that of the most jeopardized individuals and groups shall be increased through constant improvement of living conditions. In order to implement this goal we shall ensure the functioning of the system for social security and network of public and private social services that have at their disposal adequate public resources necessary for their implementation. Aiming to combat poverty and social exclusion, the State shall ensure that all those who have insufficient incomes for a minimum living standard are entitled to social aid and accommodation, which will enable them to be fully involved in political, economic, social and cultural life;

1.16. Healthcare for everyone. Every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall have the right to preventive health care and the right to medical treatment regardless of his/her economic and social status, without discrimination and under equal conditions. The system of health insurance shall, in addition to a basic, free-of-charge health package, make it possible for all to use their health rights and services which will guarantee that all insured persons enjoy the best possible physical and social health. No one in Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be without health insurance. By implementing complete and comprehensive reform in the health sector, we shall ensure the necessary resources for an efficient health system, which will make it possible for everyone to have equal access to good-quality health services in the whole territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

1.17. Security of life in the countryside. We shall endeavor to secure for all rural population to have a dignified living standard through engagement of public resources for improved methods of production, preservation, processing and distribution of agricultural products; and through development of agricultural systems in such a way so as to use the natural resources in the most efficient way. Through a reform of the agricultural sector we shall endeavor to secure efficient State support in accordance with European standards, which will increase productivity of the agricultural sector and enhance strong development of agro business and employment in the countryside;

1.18. Peace, security and sustainable development. In our relations with the world we shall endeavor to contribute to peace, security, sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and respect between people. We shall advocate for free and fair trade, for reduction of poverty and protection of human rights––in particular the rights of children;

1.19. Local self-government. At the level of local self-government we shall ensure that local institutions of authority have the right and capability to regulate and manage public affairs within the legal framework and on the basis of their own responsibility and in the interest of local population. Local authorities shall be enabled within the legal framework to fully exercise their discretion right to implement their initiatives relating to all issues that have not been excluded from their jurisdiction. To achieve their initiatives local authorities shall be, if necessary, provided with assistance in securing public resources necessary for their implementation.

References

External links

• Official Website