BiH Minister of Civil Affairs Sredoje Nović talked today in Banja Luka with Special UN Envoy Farida Shaheed who’s visiting BiH in order to determine whether BiH is respecting cultural rights, access to cultural heritage and participation of all citizens in cultural life.
Shaheed noted that cultural rights are necessary for peace and development and noted that artists and institutions of culture play a vital role concerning that issue.
Shaheed was named by the UN Council of Human Rights to follow and report on situations concerning culture rights.
She expressed special interest in achieving cultural rights, having in mind BiH war heritage and building of social cohesion, mutual respect and understanding among individuals and groups.
Nović informed Shaheed that Ministry of Civil Affairs has only coordinating role concerning culture, and noted that The Strategy of Cultural Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of the Strategy was adopted by entity and cantonal culture ministries.
He noted that it contribution to implementation of conventions BiH has signed and enabling accessibility to all people including those with special needs and minorities is one of one of priorities which is being graded during evaluation of culture projects that have applied to receive support money.
Nović noted that the project of the UN program ‘Culture for Development’ which was implemented in BiH in accordance with millennial development goal and which gave significant results, above all because both entities, together with BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs participated in defining priorities was successfully carried out.
As a part of this program, the analysis of legislative alignment in BiH was carried out in accordance with International culture conventions which were ratified by BiH, and in doing so BiH gave significant support to three religious objects destroyed in the war: Cathedral Church of Mostar, Ferhadija Mosque in Banja Luka and Franciscan Monastery in Plehana, said BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs.
