At a glance 

The action aims at strengthening the protection of the rights of all citizens through support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to enforce non-discrimination mechanisms by implementing recommendations by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and other applicable standards.

In particular, the action operates on policy and legislative, capacity-building, and awareness-raising levels to advocate the protection and inclusion of vulnerable groups, promote tolerance and equality, and broaden the society’s understanding about the impact of hate speech and discrimination.

 Funding 

This action is implemented within the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

 Duration 

01 January 2023 - 31 December 2026

What are the goals and objectives of the action?

The action aims to improve the fight against discrimination and hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and promote equality in line with European standards, including better protections for sexual and other minorities as well as irregular migrants.

In order to achieve this aim, the project activities are tailored to:

• provide guidance and support to duty-bearers from the state and entity levels, local authorities, and civil society organisations to develop a systematic approach to improving the lives of LGBTI people living in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
• enhance the capacities of relevant authorities on all levels and civil society organisations to address hate speech in line with ECRI guidelines,
• bolster the public role of the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in promoting inclusion, diversity, and tolerance through awareness-raising initiatives intended to educate the public about the impact of hate speech on the wider community.

Who benefits from the action?

The overarching aim is for the entire population of Bosnia and Herzegovina to benefit from broadened efforts to promote equality, tighten anti-discrimination, and protect vulnerable groups.

Those who are immediately targeted by this action are:

• Authorities and relevant institutions at the State, Entity, and local levels,
• Civil society organisations engaged in promoting and protecting human rights,
• Vulnerable communities, including sexual and other minorities, and irregular migrants.

How does the action work?

The action builds on the results achieved under the previous phase of the Horizontal Facility programme, and in particular the actions “Promotion of diversity and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Promotion of diversity and equality in the Western Balkans.”

The completion of action objectives is envisioned through:

• provision of expertise and capacity building to relevant stakeholders,
• support to local authorities and civil society organisations in tackling intolerance, promoting inclusion, and building their capacities through sub-grant schemes,
• awareness-raising initiatives to combat discrimination and hate speech, as well as promote diversity within local community and the general population,
• adaptation of existing tools and methodologies of the Council of Europe and combining them with relevant EU standards,
• support to inter-institutional dialogue on issues related to promoting equality and co-operation.

What do we expect to achieve?

Upon the completion of this action, we wish to see:

• Improved response by relevant state and entity institutions to combat discrimination against LGBTI people,
• Improved response by relevant state, entity, and local authorities to counter hate speech in line with European standards and guidelines,
• Heightened awareness among the general public in Bosnia and Herzegovina about the dangers of hate, intolerance, and racism.

What is the budget of the action?

The total budget of the action is 850,000 EUR.

The budget allocated to the overall Horizontal Facility programme amounts to ca. 41 Million EUR (85% funded by the European Union, 15% by the Council of Europe).

Reference documents:

   Recommendations of ECRI Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (sixth monitoring cycle), published in June 2024

 Recommendations of ECRI Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (fifth monitoring cycle), published in February 2017

   Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on combating hate crime

  Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity

 ECRI General Policy Recommendations:

• n° 15 on combating hate speech
• n° 10 on combating racism and racial discrimination in and through school education
• n° 12 on combating racism and racial discrimination in the field of sport
• n° 16 on safeguarding irregularly present migrants from discrimination
• n° 17 on preventing and combating intolerance and discrimination against LGBTI persons