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Speech by Judge Erkki Kourula, Vice-President of the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, at the 60th Meeting of CAHDI- 24 March 2021

Speech by Emmanuel DECAUX, President of the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, at the 60th Meeting of CAHDI- 24 March 2021

The Joint Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. In the interest of conciseness, it focuses more on areas that require amendments or improvements than on the positive aspects of the Draft Law. The ensuing recommendations are based on international human rights standards and obligations, OSCE human dimension commitments, and good practices. Where appropriate, they also refer to the relevant recommendations made in previous legal opinions prepared by the OSCE/ODIHR and/or the Venice Commission.

Through regular and systematic monitoring of judicial institutions, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) has observed that the practice of appointing so-called additional judges in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) raises serious concerns about impartiality, judicial independence, efficiency, and fairness.

ODIHR summary report from the 8 December 2020 online event launch of the practical guide on “Understanding Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes- Addressing the Security Needs of Muslim Communities”.

The Joint Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. The ensuing recommendations are based on international standards, norms and practices, as for example set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols, as well as the relevant OSCE human dimension commitments, and the Venice Commission’s Code of good practice in electoral matters. The Joint Opinion also highlights, as appropriate, good practices from other Council of Europe member states and OSCE participating States in this field

The ensuing recommendations are based on international standards, norms and practices, as for example set out in the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its additional protocols, as well as relevant OSCE human dimension commitments, and the Venice Commission’s Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters. Where appropriate, they also refer to other reference documents and sources as well as relevant recommendations made in previous legal opinions published by the OSCE/ODIHR and/or the Venice Commission.

The Joint Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. In the interest of conciseness, it focuses more on main areas that require amendments or improvements than on the positive aspects of the Draft Constitution.

Hate-motivated incidents are often violent manifestations of intolerance which instil fear and divide communities. Tackling underlying prejudice is essential in combating the spread of these divisive actions. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the work of government institutions, the criminal justice system, local authorities and civil society to effectively respond to these incidents. The 'Hate Monitor' provides a monthly update on incidents and responses throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Opinion raises key issues and provides indications of areas of concern. In the interest of conciseness, it focuses more on areas that require amendments or improvements than on the positive aspects of the Draft Law. The ensuing recommendations are based on international human rights standards and obligations, OSCE human dimension commitments, and good national practices. Where appropriate, they also refer to the relevant recommendations made in previous legal opinions published by OSCE/ODIHR and/or the Venice Commission.