CRC/C/BIH/CO/5-6

Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRC 05-12-2019)

The Committee considered the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRC/C/BIH/5-6) at its 2404th and 2405th meetings (CRC/C/SR.2404 and 2405), held on 10 and 11 September 2019, and adopted the present concluding observations at its 2430th meeting, held on 27 September 2019.

Concluding observations

G. Disability, basic health and welfare (arts. 6, 18 (3), 23, 24, 26, 27 (1)–(3)
and 33)

Adolescent health

35. With reference to its general comments No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention and No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence, and taking note of targets 3.5 and 5.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee recommends that the State party:                     

(a) Effectively enforce laws and policies prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs by adolescents, including the law on the ban on tobacco consumption and sale to persons below the age of 18 of Republika Srpska and the law on the restricted use of tobacco products of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and monitor their implementation;                                       

(b) Adopt legislative measures to prohibit the sale of tobacco and illegal drugs at the national level and expand programmes on alcohol and drug prevention, intervention and rehabilitation for adolescents;                                   

(c) Expand the scope of the national policy of sexual and reproductive health and rights to ensure that sexual and reproductive health education is part of the mandatory school curriculum and age-appropriate, with special attention paid to preventing early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in all territories of the State party;                                        

(d) Ensure equal access to sexual and reproductive services for adolescent girls and boys, particularly those in marginalized groups, such as Roma children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and children with disabilities, across the State party.