Joint Submission of the BiH Civil Society Initiative for UPR for the 4th Universal Periodic Review on the State of Human Rights Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the period 2019-2024, B&H faced many challenges which had an effect on the protection of human rights of the B&H citizens. Although the NPM is in the process of being established, it is not yet operational. Government levels in B&H still react on ad hoc basis with no systematic approach to gender inequality. The Constitution of B&H remains discriminatory, both in terms of the participation of “others” in legislative and executive power, and in terms of gender equality. Women are consistently underrepresented in executive bodies at the entity, cantonal, and local levels.

Many of the goals and activities that were set out in the Action plan to Improve the State of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of LGBTI People in B&H for the period 2021-2024 are not implemented yet. The resolution of war crimes cases has been extended by two years since the existing deadline stipulated by the Revised Strategy for War Crimes Cases was not met. HRDs face a lack of public support for their work, and violence against them often goes unpunished, sometimes even encouraged. Rare efforts are invested in making online and offline space for civil society safer. Systematic and coordinated actions of all relevant actors’ are needed for comprehensive and sustainable improvements of rights of people with disabilities.

The BiH Civil Society Initiative for UPR is an informal coalition of fourteen civil society organisations from across Bosnia and Herzegovina which act in various fields of promotion and protection of human rights.

Authors: Aida Daguda, Amil Brković, Amina Dizdar, Bojana Ilić, Dajana Cvjetković, Darko Pandurević, Delila Hasanbegović Vukas, Dragana Dardić, Ena Kljajić Grgić, Filip Novaković, Katarina Zrinjski, Kenan Sadović, Maida Zagorac, Mersiha Jaskić, Nataša Maros, Tea Pokrajčić, Vesna Iliktarević, Željka Umićević

Editor: Dajana Čelebić

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