CAT/C/BIH/CP/6

Bosnia and Herzegovina (CAT 22-12-2017)

The Committee against Torture considered the sixth periodic report of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CAT/C/BIH/6) at its 1578th and 1581st meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1578 and 1581), held on 10 and 13 November 2017, and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1602nd meeting, held on 28 November 2017.

Concluding observations

Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons

36. The Committee is concerned at reports that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and advocates for those persons continue to be attacked, threatened and intimidated and that none of the cases reported to the police and the prosecutor’s office have been tried before the courts since 2015. The Committee regrets the lack of systematically compiled data on hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity (arts. 2, 12–13 and 16).
37. The Committee calls on the State party to publicly condemn threats and attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and their advocates and to effectively protect those persons against threats and attacks based on gender identity, sexual orientation and activities. To that end, the State party should:                  

(a) Promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigate all threats and attacks targeting those persons, prosecute perpetrators and, if found guilty, punish them in accordance with the gravity of their acts;         

(b) Provide training to law enforcement officials and the judiciary on hate crimes, particularly on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and systematically monitor such crimes;                              

(c) Compile statistical data, disaggregated by age, sex and ethnicity of victims, on complaints, investigations, prosecutions and convictions in cases of hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, raise awareness to counter prejudice and stereotypes, and adopt relevant policies to combat and prevent hate crimes.