Authorities in the majority Serb Republika Srpska – which along with the Bosniak-Croat Federation and Brcko District comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina – undertook sustained actions that undercut national institutions, increased interethnic tensions, and limited the freedoms of assembly and expression. Escalating verbal and legal attacks by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik undermined the federation’s constitutional order, and divisive and inflammatory rhetoric from Republika Srpska leaders contributed to increased political and ethnic tensions throughout the country. On April 28, a federation government was formed after four years of institutional blockage.
Significant human rights issues included credible reports of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees by police; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious restrictions on free expression and media freedom, including violence and threats of violence against journalists, and adoption of the law criminalizing defamation; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation for minority candidates; serious government corruption; extensive gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, violence against children, and early and forced marriage in the Roma population; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of ethnic groups; religiously motivated crimes, including attacks, harassment, and intimidation targeting various religious groups; crimes motivated by antisemitism; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons.
The government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.
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