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Romani children: Where are their rights?
The Law on Protection of National Minorities entered into force in 2003 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This law is based on the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities which was ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina. BiH has not yet ratified the European Charter on Regional and Minority Languages. The Law it not being applied both because the necessary by-laws were not passed and because of the lack of political will. (16-NOV-06)
The Elections were Fair and Correct
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina has assessed that the General Elections on 1 October 2006 were held in a fair and democratic atmosphere. Problems that occurred during the elections have not affected the elections procedure significantly or the election results, and it can therefore be assumed that the final results will in fact reflect the will of electors. (03-OCT-06)
Election campaign brings polarization along national lines
The one-month election campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, preceding the General Elections scheduled for 1 October 2006, has reminded the non-partisan observers of the rhetoric that had been employed in the nineties of the previous century and it has failed the expectations regarding opening of opportunities for the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union, as reported by the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (29-SEP-06)
Momcilo Krajisnik sentenced to 27 years of prison
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) sentenced on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 Momcilo Krajisnik, former senior Bosnian Serb political official, to 27 years of prison, and acquitted him of genocide charges. (29-SEP-06)
Campaign featuring hate speech
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a part of the project „Elections for the Future – the Brussels Phase“, financed by the Federal Republic of Germany – Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, conducting monitoring of the pre-election campaign. Results of this monitoring will be published weekly. On Friday, September 15, Helsinki Committee published Press release on their findings, nammed “Campaign featuring hate speech”. (18-SEP-06)
Appeal to Political Parties and Independent Candidates
At the beginning of the election campaign, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through its press release, used an opportunity to appeal to all political parties and independent candidates to run their campaigns fairly, respecting the fundamental democratic principles. (30-AUG-06)
International community is responsible for the mess in Mostar
After their visit to Mostar the representatives of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in BiH have concluded that all should tackle more seriously the escalated violence in Mostar, in order to avoid even more dramatic situations. They believe that the international community has supported the division of Mostar over the past years. (03-JUL-06)
Serious Human Rights Concerns in Kosovo Must Be Addressed
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) has been following the human rights situation in Kosovo since the 1980s and has reported on human rights violations there. The IHF has visited Kosovo three times since March 2004. Last mission was organized from 18 to 22 June 2006. The IHF Secretariat based in Vienna and the member Committees from Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Kosovo Serbia took part. (26-JUN-06)
Withdrawal of citizenship must not result in human rights violations
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Amnesty International and the International Committee for Human Rights expressed concern today that the activities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina State Commission for the Revision of Decisions on Naturalization of Foreign Citizens, which began its work in March 2006, may result in the transfer of persons to countries where they would be at risk of grave human rights violations. (15-JUN-06)