The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in BiH marked yesterday with a conference 30 years since the signing of Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement and World Refugee Day. As stated, there are 122 million forcibly displaced persons in the world this year.
The relevant minister, Sevlid Hurtic, said that refugees, displaced persons, and returnees are the most important population, because “wherever they return, there is life, there is proof that the state of BiH is present on every inch and that they will not leave their hearths.”
Therefore, it is very important, he believes, that these persons have jobs, schools, the right to their language, and above all security.
“That is why the cantons, entities, and the state of BiH must provide every returnee, every person who returns to their hearth, the right to work, language, culture, and tradition,” Hurtic said and assessed as extremely important that they have security so they would not be endangered when they return to their homes.
He recalled the unfortunate events experienced by returnees, such as the one when a returnee in Derventa was killed while defending his property from criminals, while in Podrinje and Vozuca returnees were also attacked.
The entity ministries of internal affairs are taking care of their security, they are doing their part of the job, but the processes are being conducted in the courts.
Therefore, Hurtic emphasized, that security must be guaranteed to returnees, wherever they are.
In BiH, about 300 families are waiting for a roof over their heads, and for that purpose, Hurtic believes, the state should allocate around 10 million BAM.
According to the representative of UNHCR in BiH, Lucie Gagne, over the last ten years, there has been a significant increase in forcibly displaced people in the world. This year the number of forcibly displaced persons is 122 million. In 2024, there were 120 million, which means that every 67th person in the world today is forcibly displaced.
“Humanitarian aid is getting smaller and shorter. Civilians across the world are increasingly affected,” she said.
And just as citizens of BiH found refuge in other countries around the world 30 years ago, she recalled, today people from many parts of the world come to BiH to find protection from persecution and civil conflict.
“Refugees are people just like you and me. They only need to be given a chance to realize their potential, and talents, and to contribute to the community that receives them. By caring for refugees, we are not only helping them but contributing to the creation of a better society for all of us,” Gagne stated.
The president of the Union for Sustainable Return and Integrations of BiH, Mirhunisa Zukic, explained that World Refugee Day is a day dedicated to those who are still seeking their rights.
“Thirty years ago we declaratively received all those rights with Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, however, to this day we have not received the dignified return that was promised,” she said.
In BiH, as she added, more than 307.000 housing units have been reconstructed, but 43.000 families are still looking for a roof over their heads.
Although BiH records progress year after year because returnees have received a roof over their heads, Zukic says that this is not the only solution for them, because they have problems in the areas of education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
“What we want to convey today is the amendment of the Law on Refugees,” Zukic said yesterday, adding that this would solve the problems that returnees are facing.
As part of the program, an exhibition was opened and the play “I Want to Live” was performed, dedicated to forcibly displaced persons, those who suffer, but who are resilient and brave in seeking freedom and a more just society.
