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 2009 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 2009 Data

    Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred.

Hate crime recorded by police

National developments

The Ministry of Security established a working group, consisting of judges at the state and entity levels, with the aim of amending the Criminal Code. The proposed amendments begin with a substantive definition of a hate crime in the Code that includes the protected characteristics of religion, sexual orientation, nationality or language. Based on that definition, bias-motivation could be considered as an aggravating circumstance during sentencing for any criminal offense. Additionally, the amendments would also include specific penalty enhancements based on bias motivation for specific offenses, including murder, physical assault and rape. ODIHR, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, provided a commentary on the draft legislation to ensure that it is in compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards. The adoption of these amendments will be considered by the Parliament in 2010.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The UN Human Rights Council, in its Universal Periodic Review, made a number of recommendations related to addressing racism and xenophobia, and specifically encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve legislation to combat racist crimes.

ODIHR's police training programme on hate crime was implemented in 2009 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.