US Embassy concerned about RS Public Order and Peace Law

The US Embassy has expressed its deep concern to politicians and citizens in BiH regarding the proposed Public Order and Peace Law being considered by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, considering it a direct challenge to the fundamental human right to freedom of expression, reports the Patria News Agency.

The US Government supports efforts to ensure all people in the world can exercise their human rights anywhere, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and association. We join all people from various segments of BiH society who have expressed great dissatisfaction due to a possible setback for the citizens of Republika Srpska in this area.

We consider the law under discussion to be the latest in a series of threats to freedom of speech in BiH, which includes not only the way defamation and insult are defined, but also the way courts interpret laws regulating these acts, further endangering the freedoms that this young democracy urgently needs to fight corruption, ensure transparency and accountability, and generally strengthen the rule of law, stated the US Embassy in Sarajevo.