Etnička i vjerska diskriminacija u političkom sistemu

Zabrinutost Human Rights Watch u vezi Bosne i Hercegovine uglavnom se može sažeti u poglavlju Svjetskog izvještaja 2015. o BiH:

Vlada BiH uzastopno ne uspijeva da preduzme potrebne korake da svoj ustav i izborni zakon uskladi sa odlukom Evropskog suda za ljudska prava iz 2009 (ECtHR) o pitanju Sejdić i Finci protiv Bosne i Hercegovine [1] i ukloni etničku diskriminaciju u institucijama BiH za osobe koje ne pripadaju jednom od tri “konstitutivna naroda” (bosanski muslimani, Hrvati i Srbi).

Kao što je opisano u izvještaju Human Rights Watch pod nazivom “Drugorazredni građani” u aprilu 2012, ustavi Federacije i Republike Srpske daju mandate etničkim kvotama za zapošljavanje u javnim institucijama. Te kvote se sada baziraju na popisu stanovništva iz 1991. Taj popis iz 1991. nije izbrojao Rome i druge nacionalne manjine tako da su neproporcionalno isključeni sa pozicija u civilnoj službi.

Popis iz oktobra 2013. imao je za cilj da pokaže da bi uveliko netačni podaci o stanovništvu mogli imati pozitivan razvoj. Preliminarni rezultati popisa iz novembra 2013. ukazali su na smanjenje stanovništva. Konačni rezultati neće biti dostupni do kraja 2015. [2]

Evropska unija treba da zatraži od Bosne i Hercegovine sljedeće:

• Bez odlaganja ispraviti svu potrebnu legislaciju kako bi se okončala diskriminacija u političkom sistemu, i tako u potpunosti uskladila sa presudom Evropskog suda za ljudska prava u slučaju Sejdić i Finci protiv Bosne i Hercegovine.

• Popraviti zakone o nacionalnim izborima kako bi se osiguralo da Romi, Jevreji i druge nacionalne manjine mogu da se kandidiraju za nacionale i lokalne javne službe na jednakoj osnovi sa svim drugim građanima BiH.

Ethnic and Religious Discrimination in the Political System

The majority of Human Rights Watch’s concerns with respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are summarized in the 2015 World Report chapter on BiH:

The government of BiH has repeatedly failed to take necessary steps to bring its constitution and electoral law in compliance with the 2009 European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling on Sejdic and Finci v Bosnia and Herzegovina[1] and remove ethnic discrimination for representation in the institutions of BiH for persons who do not belong to one of the three “constituent peoples” (Bosnian Muslims, Croats, and Serbs).

As described in the April 2012 Human Rights Watch report “Second Class Citizens”, the constitutions of the Federation and Republika Srpska mandate ethnic quotas for employment in public institutions. These quotas are currently still based on population estimates from the 1991 census. The 1991 census undercounted Roma and other national minorities, with the result that they are disproportionately excluded from civil service positions.

The October 2013 census that aimed to address the grossly inaccurate population data could be a positive development. Preliminary results of the census from November 2013 indicated a population decrease. Final results will not be available until the end of 2015.[2]

The European Union should call on the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to:

• Without delay amend all necessary legislation to end discrimination in the political system, so it is fully compliant with the European Court of Human Rights judgment in Sejdic and Finci v Bosnia and Herzegovina;

• Amend the laws on national elections to ensure that Roma, Jews, and other national minorities can run for national and local public office on an equal basis with all other BiH citizens.

Odgovornost za ratne zločine

I dalje je sporna implementacija nacionalne strategije bosanske vlade o ratnim zločinima, prihvaćena 2008. da bi se poboljšalo suđenje domaćih sudova za ratne zločine. I dalje postoji nedovoljan kapacitet i finansiranje za tužitelje, posebno na okružnim i kantonalnim nivoima. Do novembra 2014. Odjeljenje za ratne zločine Državnog suda BiH donijelo je presude u 33 slučaja, povećavajući ukupan broj kompletiranih slučajeva na 250 otkako je sud postao u potpunosti operativan 2005. Tokom godine premijer entiteta Republika Srpska u više navrata je osporavao legitimitet Državnog suda i Tužiteljstva tvrdeći da su neustavni i zatražio njihovo ukidanje.

Evropska Unija treba da traži od vlade Bosne i Hercegovine da:

• Obezbijedi resurse i političku podršku potrebnu za punu implementaciju nacionalne strategije o ratnim zločinima i osigura veću efikasnost u istragama i suđenjima za ratne zločine, posebno protiv višerangiranih vojnih i policijskih zvaničnika koji možda snose komandnu odgovornost.

War Crimes Accountability

Implementation by the Bosnian government of the national war crimes strategy, adopted in 2008 to improve domestic war crimes prosecution, remains slow. There continues to be insufficient capacity and funding for prosecutors, particularly at the district and cantonal level. By November 2014, the war crimes chamber of the State Court of BiH had reached verdicts in 33 cases, increasing the total number of completed cases to 250 since the court became fully operational in 2005. During the year, the Republika Srpska entity prime minister repeatedly challenged the legitimacy of State Court and Prosecutor’s Office claiming they are unconstitutional and called for their abolition.

The European Union should call on the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to:

• Provide the resources and political support necessary to fully implement the national strategy on war crimes, and ensure greater efficiency in war crimes investigations and prosecutions, particularly against higher ranking military and police officials who may bear command responsibility.

Sloboda medija

U prvih sedam mjeseci 2014. Udruženje BH novinara registriralo je 20 slučajeva napada ili prijetnji na novinare u BiH, uključujući i pet fizičkih napada, 14 slučajeva prijetnji i pritiska na urednike i jednu prijetnju smrću [3]. Godine 2013. Udruženje je takođe registriralo 20 slučajeva, uključujući četiri fizička napada i 16 slučajeva prijetnji [4]. Ovo je neznatno manje u odnosu na 22 slučaja registrirana 2012. kad je zabilježeno pet fizičkih napada i 17 slučajeva prijetnji [5].

Istraživanje Human Rights Watch ukazuje na uveliko neusklađen zapis u odnosu na državni odgovor na napade na medijske profesionalce i klimu straha među novinarima.

Veća zabrinutost za slobodu medija u regiona predstavljena je u našem nedavnom izvještaju “Teška profesija: na udaru sloboda medija na Zapadnom Balkanu”, dostupom na linku: https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/07/15/difficult-profession/media-freedom-under-attack-western-balkans and also appended to this report.

Evropska unija treba da zatraži od Bosne i Hercegovine da:

• Javno i nedvosmisleno osudi sve napade na novinare i medijska izvještavanja i osigura brzu i temeljitu istragu svih takvih incidenata;

• Osigura brzu, efikasnu, nepristranu i temeljitu istragu svih napada i prijetnji novinarima i medijskim izvještajima, uključujući cyber zločine i donese odgovarajuće presude.

[1] Sejdic and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina , Application nos. 27996/06 and 34836/06, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 22 December 2009, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4b44a28a2.html [accessed 23 June 2015]

[2] Balkan Insight, Disputes Delay Publication of Bosnian Census, 9 June 2015, available at:http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/political-disputes-delay-publica… [23 June 2015].

[3] Human Rights Watch interview with BorkaRudić, president of the Journalist Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, BiH, July 29, 2014. Statistics on file with Human Rights Watch. Remaining cases involve three civil defamation lawsuits, one labor law dispute, two cases of smearing journalists and one unspecified complaint.

[4] “Registered Cases of Media Freedom and Journalist Rights Violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013,” Journalist Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Free Media Helpline. On file with Human Rights Watch. Remaining cases related to defamation lawsuits, labor disputes, smearing of journalists, legal advice, denying access to information and unspecified complaints.

[5]“Registered Cases of Media Freedom and Journalist Rights Violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2012,” Journalist Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Free Media Helpline. On file with Human Rights Watch. Remaining cases similarly involved defamation lawsuits, labor disputes, smearing of journalists and unspecified complaints.

Media Freedom

In the first seven months of 2014, the Association of BH Journalists registered 20 cases of attacks or threats on journalists in BiH, including five physical attacks, 14 cases of threats and editorial pressures and one death threat.[3] In 2013, the Association had also registered 20 cases, involving four physical attacks and 16 cases of threats.[4] This was slightly down from the 22 cases registered in 2012 consisting of five physical attacks and 17 cases of threats.[5]

Human Rights Watch’s research indicates a decidedly mixed record with respect to state response to attacks on media professionals, and a climate of fear among journalists.

Our wider concerns regarding media freedom in the region are set out in our recently published report “A Difficult Profession: Media Freedom Under Attack in the Western Balkans” available at https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/07/15/difficult-profession/media-freedom-under-attack-western-balkans and also appended to this report.

The European Union should call on the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to:

• Publicly and unequivocally condemn all attacks against journalists and media outlets and ensure swift and thorough investigations into all such incidents;

• Ensure prompt, effective, impartial, and thorough investigations into all attacks and threats against journalists and media outlets, including cybercrimes, and bring prosecutions as appropriate.

[1] Sejdic and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina , Application nos. 27996/06 and 34836/06, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 22 December 2009, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4b44a28a2.html [accessed 23 June 2015]

[2] Balkan Insight, Disputes Delay Publication of Bosnian Census, 9 June 2015, available at:http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/political-disputes-delay-publica… [23 June 2015].

[3] Human Rights Watch interview with Borka Rudić, president of the Journalist Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, BiH, July 29, 2014. Statistics on file with Human Rights Watch. Remaining cases involve three civil defamation lawsuits, one labor law dispute, two cases of smearing journalists and one unspecified complaint.

[4] “Registered Cases of Media Freedom and Journalist Rights Violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013,” Journalist Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Free Media Helpline. On file with Human Rights Watch. Remaining cases related to defamation lawsuits, labor disputes, smearing of journalists, legal advice, denying access to information and unspecified complaints.