The United States Department of State has published its annual report on the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the first such document to be issued during the term of US President Donald Trump.
Unlike previous reports, chapters on diversity, equality and inclusion, which was one of Donald Trump’s campaign promises, have been omitted. This year’s report makes no mention of women’s rights, inclusion in local communities, and the rights of homosexual and transgender people, as well as other topics related to positive discrimination against marginalized social groups.
Although the report refers to the previous year, it was written during this year, which is a common practice of the US administration.
Harsh criticism of Dodik and Konaković
The document does not mention HDZ BiH and Dragan Čović, while the worst assessments are directed at the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH Elmedin Konaković.
When it comes to Dodik, Washington is mostly critical of his “escalating verbal and legal attacks on the constitutional order of BiH” and “inflammatory rhetoric of division” which, as stated, leads to increased ethnic and political tensions, according to Nezavisne novine.
Konaković is reported to have stated that public broadcasters at the level of BiH and the Federation of BiH could solve their financial problems “if they did as they were told in the government coalition”. Non-governmental organizations that monitor media freedom characterized this statement as an admission of intent to exert political influence on the media, and the Media Helpline registered it as a case of political pressure.
Media freedoms and hate speech
The report notes that freedom of expression formally exists in both entities, but that the authorities respect it poorly.
“During the year, citizens faced continued efforts to restrict freedom of expression and the media. In Republika Srpska, journalists continued to protest against an October 2023 amendment to the law criminalizing defamation, which NGOs and journalists said was inconsistent with European and international media freedom standards,” the report said.
Regarding hate speech, the law formally prohibits incitement to racial, ethnic, or other hatred, but these provisions are reportedly only occasionally applied, and never to online media.
Chinese Investment and Contract Transparency
The State Department criticized authorities at all levels for refusing to disclose information about contracts and agreements with Chinese investors to the public.
“Transparency International BiH took legal action in several cases, but reported that authorities refused to fully disclose the content of certain contracts, even when ordered to do so by the court,” the report said.
Special attention to the Jewish community
As in previous years, part of the report is dedicated to the position of the Jewish community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has fewer than 900 members, according to Nezavisne novine.
An incident was recorded on June 6, when an unknown person drew a swastika on the wall next to the front door of a Jewish family’s apartment in the Novo Sarajevo municipality. The police investigated the case, but had not identified the perpetrator by October.
“The Jewish community also reported online anti-Semitic harassment,” the document states.
