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.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2010 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 2010 Data

Figures include crimes of incitement to hatred.

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.

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

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.”