A/HRC/14/16
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance
with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its seventh session from 8 to 19 February
2010. The review of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held at the 16th meeting, on 17 February
2010. The delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was headed by the Minister of Human
Rights and Refugees, Safet Halilović. At its 17th meeting, held on 19 February 2010, the
Working Group adopted the report on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2.
On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Slovenia, Nigeria
and Belgium.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following
documents were issued for the review of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/7/BIH/1);
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b)
(A/HRC/WG.6/7/BIH/2);
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c)
(A/HRC/WG.6/7/BIH/3).
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by Denmark, Latvia, Sweden, the Czech
Republic, Germany, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Argentina
and the Netherlands was transmitted to Bosnia and Herzegovina through the troika. Those
questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review.
I.
Summary of the proceedings of the review process
5.
During the interactive dialogue, 47 delegations made statements. Recommendations
made during the dialogue are found in section II of the present report.
A.
Presentation by the State under review
6.
In his introductory statement, the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Safet
Halilović, emphasized the full commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to its international
obligations in the field of human rights, through constant efforts to ensure that certain
issues involving human rights were regulated by means of the adoption of appropriate
legislation, but also through the adoption and immediate implementation of international
treaties, both multilateral and bilateral.
7.
He noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina was perhaps unique because its Constitution
was part of a peace treaty known as the Dayton Peace Agreement. The State was
established with two asymmetrically arranged entities. One entity, called the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, is extremely decentralized, with 10 cantons, each of which has
full legislative power; and another entity, called the Republic of Srpska, is centralized, and
legislative powers are only at the entity level. This may be one of the reasons why the
process of harmonizing laws with international conventions in Bosnia and Herzegovina is
occasionally very complex.
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