Publications

In 2017, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina began systematically monitoring and assessing the prosecution and adjudication of corruption and organized crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on this monitoring, the Mission determined that the failure by judicial institutions to repress corruption and organized crime effectively has led to a state of de facto impunity. This remains one of the most salient and pressing issues affecting BiH, as corruption and organized crime threaten long-term stability and prosperity in BiH and the broader region.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina addresses environmental challenges by working with the authorities and civil society in a wide range of areas. The Mission’s priorities in this field include improving public access to information and participation in decision-making affecting the environment, strengthening the capacities of the BiH Aarhus Centres and other relevant CSOs, and training justice sector professionals and future lawyers on environmental law. The Mission also supports local-level efforts that strengthen inter-municipal co-operation and directly involve citizens in protecting the environment.

The Mission places great significance on working for youth and with youth, recognizing young women and men as key partners for positive change, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) monitors and reports on domestic war crimes proceedings to provide an objective and accurate assessment of the capacity and willingness of the judicial system to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate war crimes in an effective, human rights compliant and expedient manner. In addition, the Mission has begun increasing its focus on transitional justice as an essential complement to judicial proceedings. Related Mission programming includes capacity-building, promoting transparency, targeted advocacy and technical support.

According to the 2013 census, women represent around 51 per cent of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, they are under-represented across society, including in politics. Increasing women’s participation in politics would be beneficial for society as a whole, not only for women. Women’s participation in politics and elections, be it as candidates, voters, or party supporters, is a democratic principle that ensures that their needs are well addressed.

As a core element of its rule of law programming, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is committed to strengthening the overall justice sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In encouraging the effective implementation of relevant criminal justice reforms, the Mission aims to promote judicial independence and equality before the law while enhancing public confidence in the judiciary.

To ensure the equality of everyone before the law, protect fair trial rights, and secure justice for victims, the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) must demonstrate both the political will and the capacity to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate complex and serious crimes efficiently and effectively. In light of this, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission), per its mandate under the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, implements its extensive rule of law programming to safeguard the strength, impartiality, and independence of the judiciary in BiH.

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.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina monitors and reports on hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents, advocates for the effective application of legal provisions on hate crimes, raises awareness amongst institutions and the public and builds the capacity of domestic institutions to prevent and process such cases.

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.