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Hate-motivated incidents are often violent manifestations of intolerance which instill 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 OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) is issuing this report to present its findings based on an analysis of anti-discrimination jurisprudence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The paper covers the period from mid-2018 to mid-2021. This report is a continuation of the Mission’s monitoring of the work of the judiciary regarding equality and non-discrimination since the adoption of the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (LPD) in 2009. With this report, the Mission identifies significant new trends in how the BiH legal community is utilizing the LPD before courts and displays the power the LPD can have when properly utilized. The present analysis focuses on the responses of courts in the context of discrimination proceedings initiated under the LPD. It is not intended to serve as an overview of discrimination trends and issues in BiH and does not examine how other BiH institutions respond to discrimination. The report tracks and maps the relevant trends, but also highlights some of the more prominent issues in the application of substantive aspects of the LPD, identifying weaknesses and inconsistencies in case law while taking into account the totality of judicial output on these cases.

It is important to now what is a hate crime. When a hate crime is committed, one or more perpetrators target the victim, which can be one or more people or property, because of a protected aspect of the victim's identity, such as religion or ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or disability. Similarly, a hate incident is an act of hostility motivated by prejudice or bias that does not necessarily reach the threshold of a criminal offence, or the criminal nature of which is yet to be determined. A hate crime is any crime where the perpetrator is driven by prejudice or bias. Criminal offence + bias motive = hate crime.

It is important to now what is a hate crime. When a hate crime is committed, one or more perpetrators target the victim, which can be one or more people or property, because of a protected aspect of the victim's identity, such as religion or ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or disability. Similarly, a hate incident is an act of hostility motivated by prejudice or bias that does not necessarily reach the threshold of a criminal offence, or the criminal nature of which is yet to be determined. A hate crime is any crime where the perpetrator is driven by prejudice or bias. Criminal offence + bias motive = hate crime.

The OSCE Presence in Albania is launching a new call for committed and motivated young people from all over Albania to join its Youth Advisory Group (YAG). 8 young individuals aged 18-25 years will be selected as new members of its Youth Advisory Group in the upcoming months. They will support the existing YAG members to prop up Presence's efforts to integrate a youth perspective into its planning and programmatic activities.

The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Ongoing crimes by the Kiev regime and dangerous policies of the Western alliance to exacerbate tensions. Azerbaijan’s continued policy of aggression and violation of its obligations threatening further escalation of the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed on 21 March 2023. Eightieth anniversary of the Khatyn tragedy. Twenty-fourth anniversary of NATO’s aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Twenty-fourth anniversary of NATO’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo. Invocation of the Moscow Mechanism: On Threats to the Fulfilment of the Provisions of the OSCE Human Dimension Posed by Human Rights Violations and Abuses in the Republic of Belarus.

1416th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

1416th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council

Report by the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human, Mr. Matteo Mecacci. The Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Ongoing crimes by the Kiev regime and dangerous policies of the Western alliance to exacerbate tensions. International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed on 15 March 2023.

1415th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council