Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has reported hate crime data to ODIHR. The three criminal codes applicable in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and the Brčko District contain identical or very similar hate crime provisions. These provisions include a definition of hate crime, penalty enhancements for specific offences and a mandatory general penalty enhancement for offences committed out of hatred. Hate crime data are provided by the Ministry of Interior but an institutional system for recording and collecting data has not been established. Victimization surveys have not been conducted.

SELECT YEAR

OFFICIAL DATA

Year	Hate crimes recorded by police	Prosecuted	Sentenced
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 2010 Data

Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred.

By bias motivation
By type of crime

Download official data

National developments

Amendments to the Criminal Codes of Republika Srpska and the Brcko District were adopted and entered into force on 7 August and 30 June, respectively. The amendments include a substantive definition of a hate crime that includes protected characteristics such as religion, nationality, language and sexual orientation. Based on that definition, bias motivation can be considered as an aggravating circumstance during sentencing for any criminal offence. Additionally, the amendments include specific penalty enhancements based on bias motivation for the specific offences of murder, physical assault, rape, theft, robbery, malicious mischief and causing public danger.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The Holy See reported six cases of damage to property and two cases of graffiti on places of worship targeting Catholic churches and a parish house, as well of three cases of the desecration of cemeteries. In addition, three cases of damage to property and one of graffiti on a place of worship were reported targeting the Serbian Orthodox Church. Local police investigated all of these incidents.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Q reported one physical assault against a transgender person.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) encouraged endeavours to combat ethnic prejudice, and the application of criminal provisions to hate crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The UN Human Rights Council, in its Universal Periodic Review, encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina to apply criminal provisions on hate crimes.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-Semitic hate crime, Anti-Muslim hate crime, Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) noted that attackers continued to damage religious sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also recommended that all “incidents of alleged racist violence be thoroughly and promptly investigated” and that the authorities “introduce systematic and comprehensive monitoring of all incidents which may constitute racist violence.”