Bosnia and Herzegovina

Table of Contents

Overview

United Nations Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina works with national stakeholders to protect and promote human rights. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted the establishment of an OHCHR Country Office in 2025. Previously, from 2021, a Senior Human Rights Adviser was supporting the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator. An OHCHR Country Office operated in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1996 and 2007 based on Annex 6 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which invited OHCHR to “monitor closely the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. Read more >

News & Statements

Latest news

20 Jun 2025

Special Procedures

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Human rights defenders stigmatised amid legal uncertainty and political tension says UN expert

04 Jun 2025

Special Procedures

UN expert on human rights defenders to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina

07 Feb 2025

Special Procedures

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bill on registering NGOs will increase government control over civil society operations, say UN experts

24 Jan 2025

Universal Periodic Review

The human rights record of Bosnia and Herzegovina to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

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Latest statements & messages

11 Jul 2025

Multiple Mechanisms

High Commissioner commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica

24 Jun 2022

Multiple Mechanisms

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet concludes her official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (21-24 June 2022)

07 Mar 2022

Multiple Mechanisms

Global Update: Bachelet urges inclusion to combat "sharply escalating misery and fear"

10 Dec 2021

Multiple Mechanisms

Preliminary Observations from the Official Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Featured Stories

Bosnia Torture Fund-story
09 May 2016 Fund for Victims of Torture

Refugee crisis in Europe triggers torture victim’s painful past

Vive Žene, an organization supported by the UN Fund for Victims of Torture, maintains Azra’s sense of family years after the terror of her captivity during the Bosnian war.
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UN and OHCHR Reports

UN Secretary-General and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

A/72/289: Human rights and cultural diversity - Report of the Secretary-General

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Universal Periodic Review

Core documents for the current and previous cycles

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations.

Special Procedures

Reports

A/HRC/61/40/Add.1: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders

A/HRC/59/44/Add.1: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association

A/HRC/55/48/Add.1: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

A/HRC/51/34/Add.2: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence

A/HRC/44/42/ADD.2: Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants

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Special Procedures country visits

Treaty Bodies

Reports

E/C.12/BIH/CO/3: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina

CRC/C/BIH/CO/5-6: Committee on the Rights of the Child: Concluding observations on the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina

CEDAW/C/BIH/CO/6: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina

CMW/C/BIH/CO/3: Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families: Concluding observations on the third periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina

CERD/C/BIH/CO/12-13: Concluding observations on the combined twelfth and thirteenth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina

CAT/C/BIH/CO/6: Committee against Torture: Concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Status & Reporting

Status of Ratifications Reporting Status Standing invitation to Special Procedures General Assembly Resolutions, Decisions and Chairperson's Statements Commission on Human Rights Resolutions, Decisions Voluntary Pledges and Commitments

External Resources

Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Council of Europe

Note: OHCHR is not responsible for the content of external links.

Contact Information

Headquarters

Global Operations Division (GLO)
Contact is in Geneva, Switzerland.

Europe and Central Asia Regional Liaison Team
Email: ohchr-registry@un.org

Field

OHCHR in Bosnia and Herzegovina
United Nations House
Address: Zmaja od Bosne b.b.
71000 Sarajevo
Telephone: +387 33 295 400
Email: ohchr-bih@un.org 

Photo Credit : UNICEF/UN043490/Kapetanovic

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