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 2013 Data

Data includes incitement to hatred cases.

National developments

In 2013, the Association of Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina published a "Guide for the Prosecution of Hate Crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina." The guide builds on OSCE/ODIHR training and publications and equips prosecutors with knowledge about hate crimes, hate crime laws and skills to prosecute hate crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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 church buildings. In five of these cases, windows were smashed, and in one case, which took place during Easter, the door to the church was set on fire. The Holy See also reported the desecration of a cemetery and a bomb threat to a Catholic school.

The Interreligious Council reported 13 incidents of the desecration of places of worship.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The Interreligious Council reported one incident of the desecration of a cemetery in Tuzla.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

The Interreligious Council reported 16 attacks against property, including mosques, and against people, including Imams and those attending mosques.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Sarajevo Open Centre reported four physical assaults, including one resulting in serious injuries and three carried out by groups; one armed robbery; five threats; and one incident of graffiti.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recommended that Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthen its application of existing criminal provisions on hate speech and hate crimes.