The status of defenders of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has particularly deteriorated over the past two years, since the movement of promoters of human rights became stronger, more serious and toothier than before. Non-democratic authorities faced with objective and criticism supported with arguments, have demonstrated utter arrogance and resorted to actions such as:

  • the attempted murder of Mladen Mimic, an activist from Milici;
  • death threats to one of the organizers of the First Queer Festival, Svetlana Djurkovic;
  • physical assault and beating up of 8 participants in the opening of the Queer Festival Sarajevo;
  • threats to staff of Transparency International by Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik and other officials of the ruling party in this entity;
  • physical assault by member of B&H Parliament, Sadik Bahtic against journalist Avdo Avdic and cameraman Refik Vejslagic, as well as the physical assault by the Federation Minister Vahid Heco against reporter Samir Jordamovic;
  • break-in into the premises of the Human Rights House and steeling of computers and cameras.

This is only the tip of the iceberg of various attacks on human rights defenders in B&H. Members of the families of human rights defenders are also very frequently subject to assaults and threats.

“We attribute these acts to the authorities, as they are equally responsible for the cases in which they have not taken any efficient measures to detect and punish perpetrators of the attacks against human rights defenders“, says Srdjan Dizdarevic.

In the case of Mladen Mimic, the attacker who caused his serious injuries in the attempted murder has never been officially revealed or prosecuted although it is known who the perpetrator is. No indictment has been raised against those who called for violence and promoted fascists ideas against organizers and participants of the First Queer Festival.

The government is not doing its job to upgrade the status of human rights, so in one hand citizens are greatly engaged as advocators of respect for their human rights, while on the other hand approaching of the European Union has imposed respect for European values in the field of human rights as one of the conditions for membership of family of civilized European countries.

The intention of the Helsinki Committee and Human Rights House Sarajevo (HRH Sarajevo), in general, is to remind the governments of countries where rights of defenders of human rights are not respected, that they do have obligation to protect them. Also, efforts are needed to be invested in making the Declaration on the Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. This Declaration stipulates: “Everyone has the rights, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”.

HRH Sarajevo appeals to all institutions of the society, particularly authorities, to make the Declaration available to as wide circle of people and institutions as possible, in order to reinforce the respect for and understanding of the rights of human rights defenders.