Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has reported hate crime data to ODIHR via the Ministry of Interior. There is no institutional system for recording and collecting hate crime data in the country. In co-operation with ODIHR and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the authorities of Republika Srpska have worked to improve hate crime recording and data collection through ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT) programme, including through a diagnostic workshop held in April 2022. Bosnia and Herzegovina has also co-operated with ODIHR and the OSCE Mission to train law enforcement officers and criminal justice professionals on hate crimes.     
Bosnia and Herzegovina has launched a Gender Action Plan, 2023-2027. Hate crime prevention activities were included as part of the strategic implementation of the Action Plan. 

Hate crime data collection in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Support for hate crime victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hate crime capacity building in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina's hate crime legislation
Download the 2023 hate crime report for Bosnia and Herzegovina

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2023 54 10 8
2022 42 8 6
2021 45 7 4
2020 8 8 5
2019 21 13 9
2018 Not available Not available Not available
2017 Not available Not available Not available
2016 Not available Not available Not available
2015 24 12 3
2014 200 36 23
2013 350 77 88
2012 Not available Not available Not available
2011 Not available Not available Not available
2010 19 Not available Not available
2009 15 Not available Not available

About 2023 Data

    Data on recorded, prosecuted and sentenced cases include cases that fall outside the OSCE definition of a hate crime, but which could not be disaggregated from the total number.

Hate crime recorded by police

The data below include cases that fall outside the OSCE definition of a hate crime, but which could not be disaggregated from the total number.

National developments

In 2023, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Republika Srpska actively participated in the preparation of an OSCE/ODIHR Report containing recommendations on understanding and improving the recording of hate crimes. The recommendations were a result of a workshop organized in April 2022. 

In 2023, police officers of the MIA of Republika Srpska participated in multiple training and professional development activities organized by international partners. In particular, more than 30 police officers participated in a series of ten training workshops on criminal offences motivated by hatred, organized by the OSCE and the Atlantic Initiative civil society organization (CSO). Police officers also participated in an ongoing project titled "Promotion of Diversity and Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina", implemented in co-operation with the Council of Europe and funded by the EU and the Council of Europe. This project supported the development of an "Action Plan for the Equality of LGBTI Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina", as well as a project to map responses to hate speech in the country, which are currently being monitored.

Police officers of the MIA Republika Srpska also supported a training for police in the Brčko District on hate crimes and hate speech based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In 2023, police officers of the Sarajevo Canton participated in the following professional development activities on the topic of hate crime:

  • A conference on "Improving the legal and social matrix for the prevention of femicide and gender-based violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina", organized by the Association for Development and Education Dignity.
  • A project on the "Prevention of Crimes during the Global Migration Crisis", organized by the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities (AIPG).

A workshop on "Gender Equality in the Police" organized by the Association Network of Police Officers.

  • A workshop on "Raising Awareness of Gender-Based Discrimination in Police Structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina", as part of a project on "Reducing Gender Discrimination within Police Structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina", organized by the 'HAJDE' Association for Assistance and Development in co-operation with the 'Network of Police Officers' Association.
  • A workshop on "Gender-Based Violence against Roma Women in Bosnia and Herzegovina", organized by the Atlantic Initiative CSO.
  • A seminar on the topic of femicide, as part of the initial training and professional development programme of the 'Center for the Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina' for 2023, in co-operation with the AIRE Center.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to report hate crime information and statistics to ODIHR. However, based on the available information, ODIHR observes that the country's mechanisms for recording hate crime data and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes, while the numbers of officially recorded hate crimes are low. In addition, ODIHR observes that Bosnia and Herzegovina would benefit from raising awareness among and building the capacity of criminal justice officials, in particular prosecutors and judges, to address hate crimes.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 12/04, OSCE participating States committed to collect reliable data and statistics on hate crimes. States also committed to take appropriate measures to encourage victims to report hate crimes, including through co-operation with civil society, and to make use of all reliable information available. This can be addressed by introducing a robust system for recording hate crimes, as well as initiatives to encourage victims to report such crimes. ODIHR further recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, participating States committed to introduce or further develop professional training and capacity-building activities for law enforcement, prosecution and judicial officials dealing with hate crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as by providing further resources and tailored capacity-building assistance for police, prosecution, and judiciary.

Our methodology

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

🛈 Please note that the data in the charts above are based on voluntary civil society submissions and as such might not be representative of the actual number of incidents affecting individual communities.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the data in the charts above are based on voluntary civil society submissions and as such might not be representative of the actual number of incidents affecting individual communities.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the data in the charts above are based on voluntary civil society submissions and as such might not be representative of the actual number of incidents affecting individual communities.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Center for education and research Nahla
 Show info
2023-09 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-10 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-10 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-12 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-08 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-12 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-12 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
Center for education and research Nahla
 Show info
2023-09 Violent attacks against people
Center for education and research Nahla
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-09 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-04 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-07 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info
2023-08 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
 Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-02 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-01 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
OSCE Mission to Bosnia And Herzegovina
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-06 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-09 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-10 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-11 Threats/Harassment
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-11 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-11 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info
2023-11 Violent attacks against people
Sarajevo Open Center (SOC)
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.