The delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, Sevlid Hurtić, presented the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Geneva today, as part of the fourth cycle of this mechanism.
In his introductory speech, Minister Hurtić said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is strongly committed to the protection and promotion of human rights, with a special focus on freedom of speech and freedom of access to information, which are guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
He also pointed out that the document “Mapping Responses to Hate Speech in BiH – Situational Analysis” had been adopted, which represents a significant step in identifying and combating hate speech in the country.
Hurtić also emphasized the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen the institutional capacities of the bodies responsible for the protection of human rights. He particularly emphasized cooperation with UNICEF within the initiative to establish an information system for data collection, which will enable more efficient analysis and policy development in the field of human rights.
According to the European Union report, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved a certain level of readiness to implement European legal standards in the field of human rights, which represents an important step forward in the process of European integration.
Members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina delegation spoke about the progress made in the areas of economic, social and cultural rights, which include the right to education, children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, national minorities, refugees and migrants. They also addressed civil and political rights, including freedom of the media, the right to life, liberty and security, the fight against trafficking in human beings, the prohibition of discrimination, as well as the judiciary, with a special focus on preventing impunity and strengthening the rule of law.
As part of this UPR cycle, as many as 65 countries have made recommendations to Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the improvement of human rights. Our country will respond to these recommendations in the next two to three months.
The presentation of the Universal Periodic Review represents a significant moment for Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling not only the evaluation of past achievements but also an opportunity for further improvement of human rights through the implementation of recommendations received from the international community, announced the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
