Shining a Light on Shadows: The Fight Against Corruption in BiH

By: Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH

Today is the International Anti-Corruption Day, and I recall my first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina many years ago. As a visitor, you are always struck by the country's beauty and diversity, the warmth of its people, and the richness of its culture. When I returned to live here, I realized there was something looming like a shadow: the heavy burden that corruption imposes on the people of this country. No one is spared. In employment, housing, education, even in the healthcare sector – in so many large and small segments of life – corruption takes its toll. I hear about it all the time and, as we all know, it is one of the main factors driving people to leave this country and seek a brighter future elsewhere.

Certain actors who disrupt progress, including politicians elected to represent and serve all constituents, promote the narrative that Bosnia and Herzegovina's challenges are rooted solely in ethno-national divisions and rhetoric. The poisonous rhetoric of division must not overshadow the pervasive problem of corruption. Corruption knows no ethnicity, social class, or gender. It transcends borders and reaches into the pockets of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Corruption is insidious and widespread, and therefore it cannot be eradicated solely by drafting laws, establishing institutions, or implementing strategies and action plans. Such activities are certainly necessary, but not sufficient. The fight against corruption requires new ways of thinking, cultural changes, reshaped practices, and a collective commitment to accountability and human rights.

All of this requires courage.

Being courageous is never easy. Courage requires integrity and determination. Being courageous, for example, means refusing to pay a bribe for services that should be free, reporting corruption even when it seems futile, speaking out by voting in elections, and performing official duties without succumbing to pressure or fear. We witness such acts of courage daily, and the Mission recognizes those who continue to show, as history has shown, that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a land of brave people.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is honored to support this country in these battles. Our Mission uses all its resources to prevent corruption before it occurs and to combat it when it does. No matter how small, every victory is proof of what is possible when determination, cooperation, and expertise come together.

In close cooperation with our partners in establishing and supporting independent and functional anti-corruption offices, we aim to ensure that these institutions empower citizens and encourage them to report irregularities without fear and in a confidential environment, thereby providing crucial insight into public spending, procurement, and decision-making.

The cliché that "crime pays" is a cliché that exists for a reason, so the OSCE targets where it matters most to criminals – their wallets. This includes providing technical support and advocacy to improve the process of confiscating and managing proceeds of illegal activities, and enabling the use of audit reports, public registers, and other innovative ICT tools that strengthen accountability and prevent conflicts of interest.

We can be encouraged by positive examples that can potentially be followed and applied across the country.

For example, in the past few years, the Anti-Corruption Office of Sarajevo Canton (UK KS) has grown into a leading institution in corruption prevention. Since 2017, the Mission has supported UK KS in developing its regulatory framework, human and technical capacities, and establishing the Antikorrupiks platform. Based on this, in 2023 alone, UK KS achieved outstanding results, including the resignations of nearly 100 public officials due to conflicts of interest, protection provided to seven individual whistleblowers, and the processing of a significant number of corruption reports. By reducing the risk of corruption and improving public services, the courage of UK KS has inspired other cantons to adopt similar practices and establish their own anti-corruption offices.

The judiciary is another area in which citizens have very little trust. Through long-term and methodical monitoring of court proceedings, the Mission provides an objective and critical insight into the judiciary's response to corruption, which in turn allows for the development of appropriate recommendations to improve fairness, efficiency, and equality before the law. Increases, even minor ones, in the quality and number of indictments and sentences commensurate with the severity of the crime indicate the commitment and courage of certain actors in the judiciary in combating impunity. The Mission's advocacy for transparent appointments of judges and prosecutors based on merit contributes to the judicial sector employing individuals who are willing and able to tackle high-level corruption.

This fragile progress must be maintained by fostering the courage of institutions and individuals. The courage to call out corruption in all its forms. The courage to punish all cases of bribery, cronyism, and nepotism. The courage to prioritize justice over convenience. The Mission stands with independent journalists, human rights defenders, civil society members, elected officials, and all the many brave citizens who, by their example, demonstrate such courage as they fight against irregularities and injustice, and supports them all.

On this International Anti-Corruption Day, much work remains to be done, but much can be told and celebrated. The courage of those fighting corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings change. Looking to the future, I believe that the citizens of this beautiful country can achieve what they and their families deserve: successful, transparent, and effective institutions, justice, inclusion, the rule of law, and the fulfillment and protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms.