Publications

The 1990s conflict in BiH resulted in vast displacement and consequently ethnic homogenization in many areas. In an attempt to reverse this process and encourage the return of refugees and displaced persons, the practice of ‘two schools under one roof’ was established as a temporary measure in three ethnically-divided cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zenica Doboj Canton, Central Bosnia Canton, and Herzegovina Neretva Canton). This interim measure provided children of different ethnicities, who had previously studied in separate, often inadequate private premises (houses, bars, or restaurants), an opportunity to at least receive education in a single school building. Unfortunately, the temporary has become permanent without any systemic solution in sight to transition to integrated schools.

Social cohesion is a societal challenge that requires a strategic approach and the engagement of numerous stakeholders. Improved community cohesion achieved via the sustained engagement of civil society actors and public authorities in the implementation of locally-designed Community Cohesion Action Plans (CCAPs), is a central element of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s engagement in this field.

Education as a fundamental human right must be ensured without discrimination on any ground. It is therefore crucial for every society, including Bosnia and Herzegovina and all its levels of government, to recognize and combat discrimination in education. Two decades after the war ended, many children in BiH are still faced with discriminatory practices in education and a subsequent lack of inclusive quality education. This, in essence, challenges their right to education. Education policies and practices in BiH still uphold ethno-national divisions as opposed to promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, and respect for diversity. A key objective of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is to strengthen and support the efforts of BiH education authorities to ensure non-discriminatory inclusive quality education for all children.

The Mission works to strengthen human rights-based practices and to combat discrimination by collaborating with legislative and governmental institutions at all levels, the judiciary, the BiH Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman, civil society organizations, and human rights defenders.

This fact-sheet summarizes the key findings of the analysis of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) of 433 domestic court decisions rendered in anti-discrimination cases from mid-2018 to mid-2021.

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

This report presents the findings of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) survey measuring the perceptions, attitudes, and personal experience of a representative sample of 1001 adult residents (523 men and 478 women) of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) regarding discrimination in BiH conducted from 12 August to 13 September 2019.

The Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (LPD) was adopted by the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Parliamentary Assembly in 2009. It was subsequently amended in 2016, with the goal of strengthening BiH mechanisms designed to fight discrimination, particularly against persons of vulnerable social categories.

A Brief History of Roma Discrimination in Europe, photobook