International Human Rights Day: BiH must start taking concrete measures to improve and protect human rights

(Patria) - It is International Human Rights Day. On this day in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed, which for the first time in human history recognized the inalienable right of all people to life, liberty and security without distinction as to race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property or other status.

"This is an opportunity to remind ourselves that human rights are universal, indivisible, inalienable, and interconnected. The promotion and protection of human rights are key to preserving human dignity, and their true respect and realization are also essential for peace, democracy, and sustainable development.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a democratic state based on the rule of law and striving towards the European Union and its values, must start taking concrete measures to improve and protect human rights. Although it has adopted a large number of international documents and undertaken a series of obligations in the field of human rights protection, practice shows that a number of international obligations are not being fulfilled, particularly highlighted by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, the failure to adopt a law on the rights of torture victims, and the slowness in the process of searching for missing persons.

Human rights violations against returnees, Roma, persons with disabilities, and victims of violence have continued, and recently, human rights violations against journalists, who are exposed to widespread, and even systemic discrimination, have been particularly pronounced.

The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken an active role in the promotion and protection of human rights.

In 2023, thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, the Law Amending the Law on the Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted, establishing a preventive mechanism for preventing torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

The "Denis Mrnjavac" award for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence was established, activities were undertaken to adopt a strategic document in the area of discrimination and human rights promotion, the process of collecting data on discrimination phenomena was improved, the Council for Persons with Disabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established, the document Mapping the Response to Hate Speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted. It is important to note that ECRI (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance) of the Council of Europe visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in May and welcomed the steps that Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuously taking to promote and strengthen the level of human rights protection," the Cabinet of the Minister for Human Rights Sevlid Hurtić announced.