On Friday, March 21, a meeting was held at the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) on the topic “LGBTI Human Rights in BiH Through the Lens of EU Integration.” The meeting was attended by Member of the European Parliament Gordan Bosanac, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament Dragan Mioković, Chair of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the House of Representatives Mirsad Čamdžić, Chair of the Committee for Gender Equality of the House of Representatives Alma Kratina, Chair of the Committee for Human Rights and Freedoms of the House of Peoples Miomirka Melank, Expert Associate of the Department for European Integration of the House of Representatives Ema Jukić-Salčinović, and representatives from the Sarajevo Open Centre (SOC).

The meeting provided a platform to exchange experiences regarding Croatia’s path to full EU membership, particularly in relation to affirming the rights and freedoms of LGBTI persons. Participants also shared insights on advocacy initiatives for LGBTI human rights in the FBiH. Representatives of the FBiH Parliament expressed their full support and commitment to improving the legal framework to ensure the full recognition of LGBTI rights and alignment with EU law.

Gordan Bosanac, who is also a member of the LGBTI Intergroup and the EU Parliament Delegation for Relations with BiH and Kosovo, highlighted examples of good practices from neighboring Croatia that could serve as a model for the FBiH.

The meeting concluded with the recognition of the need to strengthen institutional cooperation between SOC and the FBiH Parliament, particularly through working bodies. Additionally, greater focus from the European Parliament on promoting LGBTI human rights in countries aspiring to join the EU was emphasized. One avenue for this could be the LGBTI Intergroup, the largest working group within the European Parliament.

At the end of the meeting, representatives of the FBiH Parliament voluntarily signed a Statement on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in BiH, which will remain open for future signatories.

This event was made possible with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands through the Human Rights Fund.