Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, on his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (14-22 April 2024)
From 14 to 22 April 2024, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association – at the time Clément Nyaletsossi Voule – conducted an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view to supporting the authorities to meet their obligations regarding the promotion and protection of human rights and to ensure the ability of citizens to participate in public affairs.
Presented to the Human Rights Council in June 2025, the report of the visit stresses that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association are key foundations for a healthy democracy and to ensure sustainable peacebuilding, reconciliation, and democratic transition. The report assesses that these rights are not sufficiently protected in legislation or in practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are under attack in some areas, with especially concerning laws and bills in Republika Srpska and some cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report highlights the chilling effect of hate speech and hostile political rhetoric towards some civil society actors and opposition political parties, as well as the promotion of ethno-nationalist, anti-gender and homophobic narratives, or more broadly the stigmatization of those seen as critical or expressing dissent.
The report concludes with recommendations to all the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including to end impunity and ensure accountability for all instances of harassment and attacks on civil society actors, activists and peaceful protestors; to develop and adopt State-level framework legislation, following meaningful consultation with civil society, to enable and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association; and to remove discriminatory constitutional provisions and ensure equal electoral rights, notably through a multi-stakeholder dialogue. The report also calls on authorities to cease stigmatization of civil society actors and of groups based on their ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation and other grounds; to stop the denial of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and ensure an enabling environment for all victims’ associations and other actors engaged in peacebuilding; and to facilitate a common and fact-based educational curriculum. The Special Rapporteur encourages the international community to prioritize his recommendations to improve civic space as a key enabler for preserving the democratic achievements of the country and sustaining peace.
Published by
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
