Initiative for Monitoring the European Integration of BiH: Proposals for the Improvement of the Institutional Framework for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through the Reform of the Institution of Ombudsman for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo, July 2015
Initiative for monitoring the European Integration of BiH will organize a discussion “What kind of changes are we looking for? Reform of the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina” on 27th of July 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in EU Info Centre (EU Delegation, Skenderija 3a, Sarajevo)
After reading of all the recommendations of Structural dialogue, it is easy to conclude that Bosnian-Herzegovinian judiciary has not improved after initiative of mentioned mechanism.
As a result of our interventions we can conclude that at the yesterdays session (July 1st 2015) Rules of procedures were adopted that include almost all amendments that the Initiative has proposed.
Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina is at a stand still – twenty years after the war, teaching methods in primary and secondary schools have not evolved.
The Initiative for Monitoring European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina has submitted amendments to the Procedure of the ad-hoc committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the election of the three ombudspersons.
Based on these developments we have proposed two special sessions of the Joint Committee for Human Rights, one on the Ombudsman Institution and Ombudsman Law and the second one on the Anti-discrimination Legislation and Policy
We the undersigned, human rights promoters and worried citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Europe, want to voice our concern over the fact that the politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina will be presiding over the Council of Europe as of May 19, 2015.
The Initiative for Monitoring European Integrations said that the law would target critics of the government’s work.
Reintke holds the opinion that PA BiH Ad-hoc Committee for the Appointment of BiH Ombudsman in its work must actively include the representatives of civil society organisations that are protecting and promoting human and minority rights.
We believe that it is desirable and useful for civil society organizations that are active in the field of promotion and protection of human rights, to also be actively involved in the entire process of the appointment of the Ombudsmen.
Members of the Initiative have expressed concern that reforms will be only declarative obligation for the responsible stakeholders.