Promoting and protecting human rights of all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mandate
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) works to promote and protect the human rights of all citizens of BiH. The General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), commonly known as the Dayton Peace Accords, directs the OSCE "to closely monitor the human rights situation" in BiH under Article XIII of Annex 6.
OSCE works to promote and protect the human rights of all citizens of BiH. |
The Human Rights Department (HRD) has approximately 130 staff members working closely with domestic human rights institutions, local authorities and civil society. Their goal is to prevent and address human rights violations, build local capacity and transfer knowledge and expertise to BiH authorities and citizens in human rights and the rule of law. The Department works to ensure that BiH has the capacity to prevent and address human rights violations at the local and State levels, and to encourage and equip citizens to use domestic human rights mechanisms so they can take action on their own behalf.
Objectives
The HRD objectives are to improve the awareness of and adherence to human rights standards and the rule of law at all levels of government and society and to strengthen government mechanisms so that they are able to address endemic human rights problems.
Priorities
To achieve these objectives as a matter of priority, HRD monitors assess the level of implementation of human rights obligations and provide technical assistance to the government authorities and the civil society in the following areas:
Legal framework
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Constitution requires respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. BiH has also committed itself to a wide range of international human rights agreements, and is subject to the provisions of international agreements listed in Annex VII of the GFAP. The key international instruments include:
- The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and its Protocols;
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
- The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
- The Framework Convention on National Minorities;
- The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s record of respect for its international obligations in the field of the rights of the child and the women’s rights of also form elements of the Mission’s work.
Methods
If human rights are to be practical and effective for everyone, there must be a strong legislative framework that is in line with international human rights standards, understanding of and respect for that framework, and constant monitoring and feedback to ensure that violations are addressed. In order to achieve this, the Department works in close co-operation with national authorities and the international community. Key national partners include the Ombudsman Offices, the Human Rights
Commission, the Constitutional Court, and the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.
Utilising a rights-based approach, the Department monitors the human rights situation and the development and implementation of legislation through a network of field officers. OSCE staff analyse information received from the field to identify the root causes of human rights violations or potential violations. The OSCE also focuses on preventing violations through political leverage, awareness-raising projects, the development of policy and training initiatives and recommending legislative action by advising and advocating to public institutions at all levels. In doing so, the Department co-operates closely with civil society.
These methods of reviewing the human rights situation create an assessment cycle where a problem is identified, addressed or prevented by various initiatives, and the impact of those initiatives are again monitored to ensure their continued effectiveness. The Mission emphasises that, in any society, monitoring human rights and addressing violations are part of a process that must never stop.
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