ÿWPCž ‚Èa¼ ?«ÍFy¤Ès€¶¨áê!«ÙaNò«t',Z;\3¼¸w 3ìßAíÞJ5c˜¦™@µfÞ‚—eIÙZøwë~ØânÔ}d>•~±5µÊkîû•˶O~$±þ'm²;•^¡¦Z+¦%¹ý;ˆS,ÐCjü(³ x´°‘tÈ6½ÙZbw*'V‚Q‰²b“YntcªH/«ˆ"×Ö^{új¬©ìbM,(Ñ}b#/Ãè¤Glz#0evöüiŸ\— Egynæ ’'{0|öj3éãQô̤"KßÕ…yS´aþ%K1±¥½äÀ‡ÖAâó¾žÖî{•Ê9 \ûÔ3éňl‰fQE¨žÛû16ådçA™ÿ ³x$ +ÖLô@­Yæj¯ŒwÁ\†Èåg`#ÅÄû‚€&ÝꮚAýôlF¢±L,ÅpÕ£2ûŠÛ4ò,R:~ø±…vRÙÉ´WG‘²ÿâ–OÀŽø-VðOƒb 5æHÉžš˜¢0£À")בDCÿ̤HVë4@íÖøËŽ€Ú_~ûß ‰Á„Ž´gz:ûÜø}³ÌìïüYÞ×WŽ?ºprõüìçÞê\ÛÄ[~A{3Kq— ÐNfcX³ M#ÉPUN %g 0:m^ §w³4·ËÚ mÜNó 0!cõ 1uX 72Í 0wÿ 0Šv 0  0´  0ÇT 0Û 0ïö 0Då 1u)˜HP Officejet 6500 E710n-z (Network)”˜”˜˜””˜0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ôc¨•>‡ ±”“>ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a) i)(Oé;$µµà0  àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0` (#(#à(b·¤$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à(xir$··à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0¸ (#¸ (#à(ŒÜ$¸¸à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0h(#(#à(ŸF$¹¹à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àÔ2#Ô(Ú  ÚÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0Àh(#h(#à(³Àô$ººà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0À(#À(#à(ǵ{$»»à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0p(#(#à(F$ïïà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#àÔ2#ÔÙ ÙÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÙ Ù)Ô3  Ôà0Èp(#p(#àÙ Ù x/Õ3MQUY]aeiâBullets ListÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡¼þ»XXÔÓ  Óò òBOSNIA€AND€HERZEGOVINAó óÔ#†X©œX»¼þ=#ÔÐ ° ÐÓ\ÓÌò òFollow„Up:€State€Reporting€Ð ° Ѐ€€€Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€Action€by€Treaty€bodyó óÐ œì ÐÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô,€A/62/18€(2007)ó óÐ t Ä ÐÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€€IV.€€€€FOLLOW„UP€TO€THE€CONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BYÐ L œ ÐSTATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€9€OF€THE€CONVENTIONÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ...Ð `  ÐÌ497.à  àOn€12€April€2007,€reminders€were€sent€by€the€coordinator€on€follow-up€to€the€followingÐ è8  ÐStates€parties€which€had€not€yet€sent€information€following€adoption€of€the€concluding€observationsÐ Ô$  Ðof€the€Committee€at€its€sixty-seventh€and€sixty-eighth€sessions,€held€respectively€from€1€to€19Ð À  ÐAugust€2005€and€from€20€February€to€10€March€2006:€Barbados,€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,Ð ¬ü  ÐBotswana,€El€Salvador,€Guatemala,€Guyana,€Lithuania,€Mexico,€Nigeria,€Tanzania,€Turkmenistan,Ð ˜è ÐUzbekistan,€Venezuela€and€Zambia.Ð „Ô ÐÌÓ¥Ó...Ð \¬ ÐÐ  H˜ ÐÔ_ÔÔCEUS.,Ôò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô,€A/63/18€(2008)ó óÐ ° ÐÌ...Ð ˆØ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓCHAPTER€IV.€€€FOLLOW-UP€TO€THE€CONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTEDÐ `° ÐBY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE€9€OF€THE€CONVENTIONó óÐ L œ ÐÌ...Ð $ t ÐÌ520.à  àAt€the€1878th€meeting€(seventy-second€session)€and€the€1897th€meeting€(seventy-thirdÐ ü L  Ðsession),€held€on€5€March€and€13€August€2008€respectively,€the€coordinator€on€follow-up€presentedÐ è 8  Ða€report€on€his€activities€to€the€Committee.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ521.à  àBetween€17€August€2007€and€15€August€2008,€follow-up€reports€on€the€implementation€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðrecommendations€regarding€which€the€Committee€had€requested€information€were€received€from€theÐ ˜è  Ðfollowing€States€parties:€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔBIHÔ_Ô/CO/6/Add.1),€DenmarkÐ „Ô  Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/DEN/CO/17/Add.1),€Guyana€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/GUY/CO/14/Add.1),€IsraelÐ pÀ Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔISRÔ_Ô/CO/13/Add.1),€Liechtenstein€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/LIE/CO/3/Add.1)€and€TurkmenistanÐ \¬ Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔTKMÔ_Ô/CO/5/Add.1).Ð H˜ ÐÌ...Ð  p ÐÓ¯ÓÔUS.,CE.,1ÔÌÐ  øH ÐÌò òÔ_ÔCERDÔ_Ô,€A/64/18€(2009)ó óÐ œì ÐÓ  ÓÌ...Ð tÄ ÐÌÔL  ÔÔM  ÔÔL  ÔÔM  Ôò òChapter€IV.€€Follow„up€to€the€consideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties€underÐ L œ Ðarticle€9€of€the€Conventionó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌÔL  ÔÔM  ÔÔL  ÔÔM  Ô48.€€In€2009,€Mr.€Amir€served€as€coordinator€and€Mr.€Prosper€as€alternate€coordinator€for€follow„upÐ  ` Ðto€the€consideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties.Ð ü L  ÐÌ49.€€Terms€of€reference€for€the€work€of€the€coordinator€on€follow„upÔL  ÔÔM  Ôòò1óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€and€guidelines€on€follow„upÐ Ô$  Ðto€be€sent€to€each€State€party€together€with€the€concluding€observations€of€the€CommitteeÔL  ÔÔM  Ôòò2óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€wereÐ À  Ðadopted€by€the€Committee€at€its€sixty„sixth€and€sixty„eighth€sessions,€respectively.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ50.€€At€the€1923rd€meeting€(seventy„fourth€session)€and€the€1897th€meeting€(seventy„fifth€session),Ð „Ô  Ðheld€on€2€March€and€17€August€2009€respectively,€the€coordinator€on€follow„up€presented€a€reportÐ pÀ Ðon€his€activities€to€the€Committee.Ð \¬ ÐÌ51.€€Since€the€closing€of€the€seventy„third€session,€follow„up€reports€on€the€implementation€ofÐ 4„ Ðrecommendations€regarding€which€the€Committee€had€requested€information€were€received€from€theÐ  p Ðfollowing€States€parties:€Austria€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔAUTÔ_Ô/CO/17/Add.1),€BelgiumÐ  \ Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/BEL/CO/15/Add.1),€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔBIHÔ_Ô/CO/6/Add.2),€CanadaÐ øH Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/CAN/CO/18/Add.€1),€Italy€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/ITA/CO/15/Add.1),€New€ZealandÐ ä4 Ð(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔNZLÔ_Ô/CO/17/Add.1),€Republic€of€Korea€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/KOR/CO/14/Add.1),€Republic€ofÐ Ð  ÐMoldova€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/MDA/CO/7/Add.1),€Turkey€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/Ô_ÔTURÔ_Ô/CO/3/Add.1)€and€United€States€ofÐ ¼  ÐAmerica€(Ô_ÔCERDÔ_Ô/C/USA/CO/6/Add.1).Ð ¨ø ÐÌ52.€€At€its€seventy„fourth€and€seventy„fifth€sessions,€the€Committee€considered€the€follow„up€reportsÐ €Ð Ðof€Belgium,€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€Israel,€Italy,€New€Zealand,€the€Republic€of€Korea€and€theÐ l¼ ÐUnited€States€of€America€and€continued€the€constructive€dialogue€with€these€States€parties€byÐ X ¨ Ðtransmitting€comments€and€requesting€further€information.Ð D!” ÐÌ__________Ð #l! ÐÌòò1óó€€For€the€terms€of€reference€of€the€work€of€the€coordinator€on€follow„up,€see€ÔL  ÔÔM  ÔòòOfficial€Records€of€theÐ ô$D # ÐGeneral€Assembly,€Sixtieth€Session,€Supplement€No.€18óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€(A/60/18),€annex€IVÔL  ÔÔM  Ô.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌòò2óó€€For€the€text€of€the€guidelines,€see€ÔL  ÔÔM  ÔòòOfficial€Records€of€the€General€AsÔ_ÔsemblyÔ_Ô,€Sixty„first€Session,Ð ¸'#& ÐSupplement€No.€18óóÔL  ÔÔM  Ô€(A/61/18),€annex€VI.ÔL  ÔÔM  ԀР¤(ô#' ÐÐ  )à$( Ðò òFollow„Up:€State€Reporting€Ð ° Ѐ€€€ii)€Action€by€State€Partyó óÐ œì ÐÔCEUS.,Ôò òÌCERD,€CERD/C/BIH/CO/6/Add.1€(2007)ó óÐ tÄ ÐÌÔ_Ôò òInformationÔ_Ô€provided€by€the€Government€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€on€the€implementationÐ L œ Ðof€the€concluding€observations€of€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discriminationó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌ[12€November€2007]Ð  ` ÐÌò òRESPONSES€TO€RECOMMENDATIONS€OF€THE€COMMITTEE€ON€THEÐ è 8  ÐELIMINATION€OF€RACIAL€DISCRIMINATIONó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌ1.à  àThe€Constitution€of€Bosnia-Herzegovina€directly€prohibits€discrimination€by€its€provisionÐ ¬ü  Ðwhich€reads:€ð ðThe€enjoyment€of€the€rights€and€freedoms€provided€for€in€this€Article€or€in€theÐ ˜è  Ðinternational€agreements€listed€in€annex€I€to€this€Constitution€shall€be€secured€to€all€persons€inÐ „Ô  ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€without€discrimination€on€any€ground€such€as€sex,€race,€colour,€language,Ð pÀ Ðreligion,€political€or€other€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,€association€with€a€national€minority,Ð \¬ Ðproperty,€birth€or€other€statusðð.Ð H˜ ÐÌ2.à  àStandards€of€the€United€Nations€conventions€ratified€by€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€and€ofÐ  p Ðother€conventions,€particularly€the€European€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€andÐ  \ ÐFundamental€Freedoms,€which€guarantees€maintenance€and€realization€of€human€rights€andÐ øH Ðfundamental€freedoms€(whose€article€14€reads:€ð ðThe€enjoyment€of€the€rights€and€freedoms€set€forthÐ ä4 Ðin€this€Convention€shall€be€secured€without€discrimination€on€any€ground€such€as€sex,€race,€colour,Ð Ð  Ðlanguage,€religion,€political€or€other€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,€association€with€a€nationalÐ ¼  Ðminority,€property,€birth€or€other€statusðð),€have€been€incorporated€into€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€andÐ ¨ø ÐHerzegovina.€Under€article€II,€item€2,€of€the€Constitution,€this€Convention€applies€directly€inÐ ”ä ÐBosnia-Herzegovina€and€has€priority€over€all€other€law.Ð €Ð ÐÌ3.à  àEntity€and€Cantonal€constitutions€have€been€harmonized€with€principles€of€respecting€humanÐ X ¨ Ðrights€guaranteed€by€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.Ð D!” ÐÌ4.à  àThe€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€determined€the€position€and€situation€of€itsÐ #l! Ðconstituent€peoples€(Bosniaks,€Serbs€and€Croats)€with€a€view€to€guaranteeing€€these€constituenciesÐ $X" Ðand€realizing€all€their€rights€throughout€the€entire€territory€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€without€anyÐ ô$D # Ðform€of€discrimination.€A€problem€of€ethnic€exclusion€and/or€ð ðminoritizationðð€of€certain€ethnicÐ à%0!$ Ðgroups€or€Bosniaks,€Croats,€Serbs€or€others€in€relation€to€numerical€representation€in€legislative,Ð Ì&"% Ðexecutive€and€judicial€authorities€has€long€been€present€after€a€tragic€conflict€in€Bosnia€andÐ ¸'#& ÐHerzegovina.€All€the€above€has€resulted€in€the€decision€of€the€Constitutional€Court€of€Bosnia€andÐ ¤(ô#' ÐHerzegovina€concerning€compulsory€amending€of€the€Entity€and€Cantonal€Constitutions€and€theirÐ )à$( Ðharmonization€with€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ5.à  àThe€ð ðpartial€decisionðð€of€the€Constitutional€Court€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€on€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðð ðconstituency€of€peoplesðð€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€No.€23/00)€provides€an€interpretation€of€the€PreambleÐ @-(, Ðof€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€in€which€Bosniaks,€Serbs€and€Croats€have€beenÐ ° Ðspecified€as€constituent€peoples.€Moreover,€the€decision€states€that€article€II/4€of€the€Constitution€ofÐ œì ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€prohibits€discrimination€on€any€grounds€such€as,€inter€alia,€affiliation€withÐ ˆØ Ðnational€minority,€presupposing€thereby€the€existence€of€groups€specified€as€national€minorities.€ItÐ tÄ Ðalso€states€that€the€text€of€the€Constitution€makes€a€clear€distinction€between€constituent€peoples€andÐ `° Ðnational€minorities,€aimed€at€recognition€of€continuity€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€as€a€democraticÐ L œ Ðmultiethnic€State.€Constitutional€amendments€have€made€significant€step€towards€both€consolidationÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€political-legal€system€in€the€State€and€formal€legal€guaranteeing€of€equality€to€members€of€allÐ $ t Ðethnic€groups€and€to€all€citizens.€This€presents€a€basis€for€elimination€of€discrimination,€andÐ  ` Ðdiscriminatory€attitude€towards€individuals€and€minority€groups€due€to€ethnic,€religious€and€politicalÐ ü L  Ðidentity.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ6.à  àThe€decision€of€the€Constitutional€Court€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€abolished€previousÐ À  ÐEntity€symbols€(flag,€coat€of€arms€and€anthem)€since€they€do€not€represent€the€constituency€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðpeoples€over€the€entire€territory€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€€€€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌò òA.€Constitutional€changesó óÐ pÀ ÐÌ7.à  àAfter€many€months€of€discussions,€at€the€end€of€March€2006€leaders€of€seven€parliamentaryÐ H˜ Ðparties,€which€together€have€majority€in€both€Houses€of€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€andÐ 4„ ÐHerzegovina€signed€the€Agreement€on€Amending€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€ThisÐ  p ÐAgreement€has€put€an€end€to€many€months€of€talks€between€local€political€actors,€with€the€mediationÐ  \ Ðof€representatives,€first€of€all€of€the€American€Democratic€Institute,€and€subsequently€ofÐ øH Ðrepresentatives€of€the€European€Union€and€the€United€States€of€America.Ð ä4 ÐÌ8.à  àThe€agreed€amendments€to€the€Constitution€proposed€to€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€ofÐ ¼  ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€should€have€increased€efficiency€in€the€decision-making€of€the€authoritiesÐ ¨ø Ðthere.€Also,€they€should€have€eliminated€in€the€text€on€human€rights€to€be€written€into€theÐ ”ä ÐConstitution€those€provisions€which,€in€some€interpretations,€could€mean€discrimination€againstÐ €Ð Ðthose€who€do€not€belong€to€constituent€peoples.€It€has€been€proposed€that€the€previous€solution€inÐ l¼ Ðthe€Constitution€-€that€the€Presidency€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(the€nominal€head€of€the€State)€beÐ X ¨ Ðcomposed€of€one€Bosniak,€one€Serb€and€one€Croat,€which€means€that€persons€belonging€to€ð ðOthersðð,Ð D!” Ðor€minority€peoples,€are€prevented€from€formal€legal€reasons€from€being€nominated€for€membershipÐ 0"€  Ðin€the€Presidency€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€-€be€replaced€with€a€new€text.€It€has€been€proposed€thatÐ #l! Ða€collective€head€of€State€be€suppressed,€while€introducing€the€institution€of€the€President€and€twoÐ $X" ÐVice-Presidents,€who€may€not€be€from€the€same€constituent€people.€This€proposal€has€eliminated€theÐ ô$D # Ðobjection€that€posts€of€the€President€and€Vice-President€are€not€available€to€citizens€of€Bosnia€andÐ à%0!$ ÐHerzegovina€belonging€to€ð ðOthersðð,€i.e.€members€of€national€minorities.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ9.à  àPrevious€solutions€of€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€have€not€prevented€inÐ ¤(ô#' Ðformal€legal€terms€members€of€national€minorities,€i.e.€ð ðOthersðð€to€run€for€and€to€be€elected€deputiesÐ )à$( Ðin€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€be€it€either€as€individuals€or€on€lists€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðpolitical€parties.€However,€in€previous€sessions€of€Parliaments€there€have€been€no€deputies€fromÐ h+¸&* Ðmembers€of€national€minorities.€Proposed€constitutional€amendments€propose€recognition€of€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðrights€of€persons€belonging€to€national€minorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€In€other€words,€theÐ @-(, Ðproposed€solution€reads:€ð ðb.€Three€seats€are€guaranteed€in€the€House€of€Representatives€for€personsÐ ° Ðbelonging€to€national€minorities;€c.€The€House€of€Representatives€has€84€members,€plus€3Ð œì Ðguaranteed€seats€for€persons€belonging€to€national€minoritiesðð.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ10.à  àThe€proposed€solution€is€a€guarantee€to€minority€communities€that€they€will€be€representedÐ `° Ðin€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€Since€deputies€of€the€House€ofÐ L œ ÐRepresentatives€are€elected€through€direct€votes€of€citizens€for€candidate€lists€of€political€parties€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ðindividual€candidates,€the€Electoral€Law€should€have€work€out€a€mechanism€to€fill€up€threeÐ $ t Ðguaranteed€seats€for€national€minorities.Ð  ` ÐÌ11.à  àFurther€improvements€of€constitutional€provisions€regarding€members€of€national€minoritiesÐ è 8  Ðconcern€incumbents€in€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€The€previousÐ Ô$  Ðsolution,€which€determined€that€these€functions€belong€to€Bosniaks,€Serbs€and€Croats,€has€beenÐ À  Ðreplaced€by€a€provision€which€states€that€ð ðthe€Speaker€and€two€Vice-Speakers€of€both€Houses€ofÐ ¬ü  ÐParliament€may€not€be€from€the€same€constituent€peopleðð.€This€means€that€these€functions€areÐ ˜è  Ðavailable€to€member€of€national€minorities,€too.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ12.à  àThe€Agreement€on€accepting€this€and€other€amendments€to€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€andÐ \¬ ÐHerzegovina€has€been€signed€by€the€seven€parties€which€have€a€majority€in€the€ParliamentaryÐ H˜ ÐAssembly.€However,€since€a€two-thirds€majority€of€42€deputies€in€the€House€of€Representatives€ofÐ 4„ Ðthe€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€is€needed€for€amending€the€Constitution,Ð  p Ðthe€proposed€amendments€to€the€Constitution€have€not€been€adopted.€A€total€of€26€deputies€votedÐ  \ Ðfor€the€Constitution.Ð øH ÐÌ13.à  àSince€general€parliamentary€elections€were€held€on€1€October€2006,€political€parties,Ð Ð  Ðproposers€of€amendments€and€representatives€of€the€international€community€(the€European€UnionÐ ¼  Ðand€the€Office€of€the€High€Representative€(OHR))€have€agreed€that,€immediately€after€the€elections,Ð ¨ø Ðthey€will€resume€work€on€the€agreed€constitutional€solutions€and€reconstitute€proposals€to€be€decidedÐ ”ä Ðby€the€Parliament.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ14.à  àAs€per€the€assessment€of€the€Ministry€for€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€of€Bosnia€andÐ X ¨ ÐHerzegovina,€agreed€solutions€concerning€members€of€national€minorities€will€be€contained€in€futureÐ D!” Ðproposal€too.Ð 0"€  ÐÌò òB.€Institution€of€the€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovinaó óÐ $X" ÐÌ15.à  àWith€a€view€to€the€implementation€of€the€Law€on€the€Amendments€to€the€Law€on€the€HumanÐ à%0!$ ÐRights€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€progress€was€achieved€in€the€following€activitiesÐ Ì&"% Ðin€the€period€from€30€September€2006€to€May€2007:Ð ¸'#& ÐÌÓ€  (/Õy3 ÓÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£UGÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝCoordination€meetings:݃ 3£UGŽGÝŒÐ)à$(` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌà0  à(a)à ` àA€total€of€17€coordination€meetings€were€held€in€the€interim€period;Ðh+¸&*(#(# Ðà0  à(b)à ` àRepresentatives€of€all€three€institutions€of€Ombudsman€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,Ð T,¤'+ Ðthe€OHR€and€the€OSCE€participated€in€the€meetings;Ð@-(,(#(# Ðà0  à(c)à ` àThe€coordination€meetings€adopted€the€following€conclusion:а(#(# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àThe€seat€of€the€institution€should€be€in€Banja€Luka.€Moreover,€at€the€momentÐ ˆØ Ðthere€are€offices€operating€in€Sarajevo,€Mostar€and€District€Brcko€of€BosniaÐ tÄ Ðand€Herzegovina.€The€establishment€of€a€certain€number€of€offices€for€theÐ `° Ðwork€of€the€Ombudsman€is€planned€in€the€forthcoming€period;ÐL œ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àA€unique€database€of€the€unique€Institution€of€the€Human€RightsÐ $ t ÐOmbudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€been€established,€achievingÐ  ` Ðthereby€connection€of€the€work€of€all€offices€in€the€territory€of€Bosnia€andÐ ü L  ÐHerzegovina;Ðè 8 ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àAgreement€has€been€reached€concerning€the€initial€framework€of€the€workingÐ À  Ðplan€for€future€functioning€of€the€institution€of€the€Human€RightsÐ ¬ü  ÐOmbudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina;Ð˜è ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àBy-laws:€a€draft€decision€on€internal€organization€and€systematisation€ofÐ pÀ Ðposts€of€the€institution€of€human€rights€ombudsman€of€Bosnia€andÐ \¬ ÐHerzegovina€has€been€drafted;ÐH˜¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àThe€personnel:€rationalization€of€the€employees€has€been€carried€out;€underÐ  p Ðthe€draft€decision€cited€above,€the€optimal€number€of€employees€is€57€to€70;Ð \¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àResources:€the€plan€of€budgetary€resources€necessary€for€the€work€of€theÐ ä4 Ðinstitution€of€Human€Rights€Ombudsman€of€B-H€was€determined€from€theÐ Ð  Ðbudget€of€the€institutions€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina;м ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#à-à0¸ ` (#` (#àActivities€are€under€way€on€the€establishment€of€special€departments€withinÐ ”ä Ðthe€Institution€of€the€Ombudsman,€namely:Ѐи (#¸ (# Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#à(i)à  àIts€department€for€monitoring€the€realization€of€child€rights;Ðl¼¸ (#¸ (# Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#à(ii)à  àIts€department€for€monitoring€the€rights€of€persons€with€disabilities;ÐX ¨¸ (#¸ (# Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#à(iii)à  àIts€department€for€the€rights€of€ethnic,€religious€and€other€minorities;Ð D!” ÐandÐ0"€ ¸ (#¸ (# Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#à(iv)à  àIts€department€for€the€supervision€of€the€situation€in€correctionalÐ #l! Ðinstitutions;Ð$X"¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£bUÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝThe€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€in€accordance€with€theÐ à%0!$ Ðarticle€3€(4)€has€appointed€an€Ad€Hoc€Commission€of€the€Parliamentary€AssemblyÐ Ì&"% Ðof€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€for€the€Selection€of€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman.€TheÐ ¸'#& ÐCommission€is€composed€of€six€members;݃ 3£bU›U݌Ф(ô#'` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£zWÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝIn€accordance€with€article€3,€paragraph€4,€and€article€13€of€the€Law€on€the€HumanÐ |*Ì%) ÐRights€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó,€Nos.€19/02€andÐ h+¸&* Ð32/06),€the€Ad€Hoc€Commission€has€taken€a€decision€on€announcing€vacancies€forÐ T,¤'+ Ðthe€appointment€of€the€three€Human€Rights€Ombudsmen.€The€vacancies€wereÐ @-(, Ðannounced€on€20€April€and€were€closed€on€3€May€2007.€The€vacancies€wereÐ ° Ðannounced€in€the€òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€the€òòOfficial€GazetteóóÐ œì Ðof€Brcko€District,€several€dailies€-€òòDnevni€avaz,€Nezavisne€novine€and€Vecernji€listóóÐ ˆØ Ð-€and€on€the€website.€The€Ad€Hoc€Commission€has€submitted€to€the€House€ofÐ tÄ ÐRepresentatives€of€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€a€list€ofÐ `° Ðcandidates€for€the€Ombudsman.€Appointment€of€the€Ombudsman€from€the€list€ofÐ L œ Ðcandidates€submitted€by€the€Ad€Hoc€Commission€was€established€under€item€35€atÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€session€of€the€House€of€Representatives€of€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€BosniaÐ $ t Ðand€Herzegovina€€that€was€to€be€held€on€5€September€2007.€Mariofil€Ljubic,€theÐ  ` Ðpresent€Ombudsman,€has€received€the€necessary€majority€of€votes€from€among€theÐ ü L  ÐCroat€people€to€be€appointed€Ombudsman;€Ýƒ 3£zW³WÝŒÐè 8 ` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£ë]ÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝThe€report€of€the€Commission€of€the€Board€on€attempts€to€reach€an€agreement€on€theÐ À  Ðappointment€of€the€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€from€among€membersÐ ¬ü  Ðof€Serb€and€Bosniak€peoples€was€considered€under€item€10€of€the€15th€session€of€theÐ ˜è  ÐHouse€of€Representatives€of€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,Ð „Ô  Ðheld€on€26€September€2007.€In€the€second€voting€cycle€neither€candidate€received€theÐ pÀ Ðnecessary€majority€votes,€so€they€were€not€appointed€as€Ombudsmen.€The€House€ofÐ \¬ ÐRepresentatives€has€not€given€consent€for€the€appointment€of€the€Ombudsman€ofÐ H˜ ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€from€among€members€of€the€Serb€and€Bosniak€peoples.Ð 4„ ÐUnder€the€conclusions€adopted€at€the€session€of€the€House€of€Representatives,€a€newÐ  p Ðcommission€would€be€established€at€the€next€session.€The€Commission€will€conductÐ  \ Ðthe€vacancy€procedure,€in€accordance€with€the€law;݃ 3£ë]$^ÝŒÐøH` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£ÖbÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝThe€Parliament€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€adopted€the€LawÐ Ð  Ðon€the€Manner€of€the€Cessation€of€Work€of€the€Institution€of€Human€RightsÐ ¼  ÐOmbudsman€in€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€in€the€transitional€periodÐ ¨ø Ðand€transfer€of€its€competences€on€the€institution€of€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman.Ð ”ä ÐThe€law€was€published€in€the€òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€andÐ €Ð ÐHerzegovina,€No.€51/07€of€1€August€2007.€The€law€enters€into€force€the€day€after€itÐ l¼ Ðhas€been€published€in€the€òòOfficial€Gazetteóó;݃ 3£ÖbcÝŒÐX ¨` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£.fÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝThe€draft€Law€on€the€Cessation€of€Work€of€the€Ombudsman€of€Republika€Srpska€wasÐ 0"€  Ðinserted€into€the€agenda€of€the€14th€session€of€the€National€Assembly€of€RepublikaÐ #l! ÐSrpska,€held€on€11€September€2007.€This€law€would€enable€an€early€commencementÐ $X" Ðof€work€of€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€at€fullÐ ô$D # Ðcapacity,€in€accordance€with€the€Law€on€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman.€This€draftÐ à%0!$ Ðlaw€was€not€accepted€by€the€Committee€for€Petitions,€Proposals€and€SocialÐ Ì&"% ÐMonitoring€of€the€National€Assembly€of€Republika€Srpska.€Hence€the€draft€law€hasÐ ¸'#& Ðbeen€withdrawn€by€the€sponsor.€€Ýƒ 3£.fgf݌Ф(ô#'` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌ16.à  àIt€is€worth€noting€that€a€single€approach€to€the€defence€of€human€rights€over€the€entireÐ |*Ì%) Ðterritory€of€Bosnia-Herzegovina€has€not€been€achieved€yet.€In€April€2006€the€Law€on€theÐ h+¸&* ÐAmendments€to€the€Law€on€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€was€enacted,Ð T,¤'+ Ðaimed€at€the€merging€of€the€institution€of€the€Ombudsman€at€the€State€level.€Unfortunately,€there€wasÐ @-(, Ðno€merger€by€the€set€deadline€(31€December€2006)€since€the€Entities€had€not€enacted€Laws€on€theÐ ° ÐCessation€of€the€Validity€of€the€Law€of€the€Human€Rights€Ombudsman€of€the€Federation€of€BosniaÐ œì Ðand€Herzegovina€and€Republika€Srpska,€respectively,€which€they€were€bound€to€do.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ17.à  àOn€account€of€the€above€reason,€the€functioning€of€a€single€institution€of€the€Human€RightsÐ `° ÐOmbudsman€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€not€been€secured,€although€it€has€been€one€of€theÐ L œ Ðfundamental€tasks€for€the€accession€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€to€the€Euro-Atlantic€institutions,€asÐ 8 ˆ Ðdetermined€in€the€Dayton€Peace€Agreement€(article€III,€item€5,€of€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€€andÐ $ t ÐHerzegovina).Ð  ` ÐÌò òC.€Forms€of€organization€of€cultural€activitiesó óÐ è 8  ÐÌ18.à  àUnder€the€Dayton€Peace€Agreement,€the€field€of€culture€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€fallsÐ À  Ðunder€the€competence€of€the€Entities.€Under€the€Constitution€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€andÐ ¬ü  ÐHerzegovina,€competence€in€the€field€of€culture€may€be€transferred€from€Cantons€to€municipalitiesÐ ˜è  Ðin€their€structure.€A€Canton€may€transfer€some€of€their€competences€to€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€andÐ „Ô  ÐHerzegovina€if€efficiency€and€rationality€in€performance€of€the€mentioned€rights€can€be€secured€inÐ pÀ Ðthis€way.Ð \¬ ÐÌ19.à  àSeveral€legal€provisions€concerning€cultural€activities€have€been€enacted€in€the€last€10€yearsÐ 4„ Ðin€Republika€Srpska.€In€numerous€cases€(library€and€publishing€activities)€they€have€been€changedÐ  p Ðby€means€of€new€regulations€and€by-laws.€Ð  \ ÐÌ20.à  àWith€a€view€to€the€realization€of€the€right€of€each€individual€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€toÐ ä4 Ðparticipate€in€cultural€life,€the€country€has€become€a€member€of€the€World€Intellectual€PropertyÐ Ð  ÐOrganization€(WIPO).Ð ¼  ÐÌ21.à  àUnder€its€Constitution,€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€is€a€homeland€for€three€constituent€peoplesÐ ”ä Ð(Bosniaks,€Serbs€and€Croats)€and€17€national€minorities€(under€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€RightsÐ €Ð Ðof€Persons€Belonging€to€National€Minorities).€This€fact€points€to€the€wide€variety€of€cultural€heritageÐ l¼ Ðas€a€national€treasure.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌ22.à  àIn€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€there€are€four€monotheistic€religions.€Besides€Jerusalem,Ð 0"€  ÐSarajevo,€the€capital€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€is€the€only€example€in€the€world€in€which€in€a€rangeÐ #l! Ðof€500€square€metres€there€are€a€Catholic€cathedral,€an€Orthodox€church,€the€Gazi€Husrev-BeyÐ $X" ÐMosque€and€a€synagogue.€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€sheltered€Sephardic€Jews€following€their€exileÐ ô$D # Ðfrom€Spain€in€the€fifteenth€century,€while€Ashkenazi€Jews€settled€in€the€territory€of€Bosnia€andÐ à%0!$ ÐHerzegovina€following€the€arrival€of€the€Austro-Hungarian€monarchy€in€this€area€in€1875-78,€whenÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€Old€Jewish€Temple€and€present-day€synagogue€were€erected.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌ23.à  àUnfortunately,€in€the€course€of€the€tragic€conflict€in€the€1992-95€period,€€Bosnia€andÐ )à$( ÐHerzegovina,€besides€its€enormous€number€of€human€casualties€(whose€final€number€is€stillÐ |*Ì%) Ðunknown,€hence€the€Institute€for€Missing€Persons€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€been€established),Ð h+¸&* Ðwas€left€without€numerous€cultural€and€religious€buildings€which€were€evidence€of€a€thousand-yearÐ T,¤'+ Ðtradition€of€the€Bosnian-Herzegovinian€State€as€a€multicultural€society€(e.g.€Aladza€Mosque€in€Foca,Ð @-(, ÐFerhadija€Mosque€in€Banja€Luka,€the€Old€Bridge€in€Mostar,€Monastery€Zitomislici€near€Mostar,Ð ° ÐOrthodox€Church€in€Mostar,€Monastery€Plehan€in€Posavina€area,€Haji-Alija`s€Mosque€in€Pocitelj,Ð œì ÐSultan-Esma`s€Mosque€in€Jajce,€Bey`s€land€and€the€mosque€in€Stolac,€etc).€€€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ24.à  àThe€signing€of€the€Dayton€Peace€Agreement€brought€peace€to€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€andÐ `° Ðit€started€its€recovery,€strengthening€tolerance€and€respect€for€€diversity€through€development€of€aÐ L œ Ðmodern€democratic€State€that€shows€aspiration€for€an€early€inclusion€into€the€European€integrationÐ 8 ˆ Ðprocesses.Ð $ t ÐÌ25.à  àThe€Old€Bridge€in€Mostar€(under€UNESCO€protection)€was€re-opened.€This€event€wasÐ ü L  Ðfollowed€by€wide€media€coverage€by€domestic€and€foreign€news€agencies.€The€foundation€stone€wasÐ è 8  Ðlaid€for€reconstruction€of€the€Ferhadija€Mosque€in€Banja€Luka.€Zitomislic€and€Plehan€monasteriesÐ Ô$  Ðwere€reconstructed.€Bascarsija€-€the€old€part€of€Sarajevo€--€was€restored.€The€famous€ð ðbridge€overÐ À  Ðthe€Drinaðð,€i.e.€Visegrad€Bridge€described€by€the€Nobel€Prize€winner€Ivo€Andric,€erected€byÐ ¬ü  ÐMehmed-Pasha€Sokolovic,€has€been€nominated€as€a€cultural€heritage€building€of€world-wide€value.€Ð ˜è  ÐÌ26.à  àBosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€committed€itself€to€the€principle€of€respect€of€human€rights€andÐ pÀ Ðfundamental€freedoms€(the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights€is€an€integral€part€of€theÐ \¬ ÐConstitution,€and€is€applied€directly€in€its€legal€system)€through€strengthening€of€democracy,Ð H˜ Ðmulticultural€dialogue€and€respect€for€national,€cultural€and€religious€diversity,€and€suppression€ofÐ 4„ Ðall€forms€of€discrimination€and€intolerance€against€members€of€any€part€of€the€society.Ð  p ÐÌ27.à  àArticle€183€of€the€Criminal€Code€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(Official€Gazette,€No.€3/03)Ð øH Ðdeals€with€the€destruction€of€cultural,€historical€and€religious€monuments,€since€preservation€ofÐ ä4 Ðcultural€monuments€is€considered€to€be€of€international€significance.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ28.à  àArticle€322€of€the€Criminal€Code€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(òòOfficialÐ ¨ø ÐGazetteóó€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€No.€50/03)€deals€with€sanctioning€of€illicitÐ ”ä Ðconduct€of€research€and€appropriation€of€cultural€monuments.€Article€253,€Chapter€Crimes€againstÐ €Ð ÐProperty€of€the€Republika€Srpska€Criminal€Code€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€RS,€No.€49/03)€deals€withÐ l¼ Ðsanctioning€of€crimes€of€taking€possessions€of,€destruction€or€damage€of€cultural€monuments,Ð X ¨ Ðprotected€natural€objects€or€other€articles€of€special€cultural€or€historical€value,€while€article€254Ð D!” Ðstipulates€criminal€sanctions€for€perpetrators€of€criminal€acts€of€taking€abroad€of€articles€of€specialÐ 0"€  Ðcultural€or€historical€value€or€natural€rarities.€Articles€315€and€316€of€the€Criminal€Code€of€BrckoÐ #l! ÐDistrict€(see€chapter€ð ðCrimes€against€environment,€agriculture€and€natural€resourcesðð)€stipulateÐ $X" Ðpunishments€for€destruction,€damage€and€unauthorized€export€of€cultural€monuments€and€protectedÐ ô$D # Ðnatural€objects,€and€for€illicit€research€and€appropriation€of€cultural€monuments.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ29.à  àThe€Commission€for€the€Preservation€of€National€Monuments€of€Bosnia€and€HerzegovinaÐ ¸'#& Ð(CPNM)€was€established€under€annex€8€of€the€General€Framework€Agreement€for€Peace€in€BosniaÐ ¤(ô#' Ðand€Herzegovina.€In€the€period€from€1996€to€2001,€CPNM€worked€under€the€patronage€of€UNESCO.Ð )à$( ÐIt€was€transformed€into€a€State€institution€by€a€December€2001€decision€of€the€Presidency€of€BosniaÐ |*Ì%) Ðand€Herzegovina.€CPNM€consists€of€five€members€(three€local€and€two€foreign€experts)€appointedÐ h+¸&* Ðon€the€basis€of€their€professional€references.€The€term€of€office€of€CPNM€members€is€five€years.Ð T,¤'+ ÐLocal€members€rotate€the€chairmanship€among€themselves€each€six€months.€All€300€decisions€onÐ @-(, Ðproclamation€of€national€monuments€have€been€adopted€unanimously.€Ð ° ÐÌ30.à  àThe€constitutive€session€of€CPNM€was€held€on€4€March€2002.€It€was€also€entrusted€by€theÐ ˆØ Ðdecision€of€the€Presidency€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€with€international€cooperation€in€the€field€ofÐ tÄ Ðcultural-historical€heritage€of€the€country.Ð `° ÐÌ31.à  àDecisions€on€designation€of€national€monuments€are€implemented€in€accordance€with€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐLaw€on€Implementation€of€CPNM`s€Decisions,€while€responsibility€for€their€implementation€restsÐ $ t Ðwith€Entity€Governments,€i.e.€the€Ministries€for€Physical€Planning.Ð  ` ÐÌ32.à  àIt€is€important€to€mention€that€CPNM€monitors€cases€of€endangered€conditions€of€nationalÐ è 8  Ðmonuments,€and€undertakes€measures€for€their€protection€by€instituting€proceedings€beforeÐ Ô$  Ðcompetent€courts,€in€accordance€with€the€Criminal€Procedure€Code€(illegal€construction,Ð À  Ðunprofessional€reconstruction,€lack€of€maintenance,€and€other€forms€of€destruction).€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ33.à  àThe€Government€of€Brcko€District€has€undertaken€the€following€concrete€steps€towardsÐ „Ô  Ðpreservation,€spreading€and€development€of€culture:€the€Parliament€adopted€in€2002€the€Law€onÐ pÀ ÐAssociations€and€Foundations,€including€associations€from€the€field€of€culture;€it€has€financedÐ \¬ Ðreconstruction€of€devastated€sites€and€built€new€village€cultural€homes€(e.g.€for€Roma);€and€€itÐ H˜ Ðparticipates€in€financial€and€organizational€terms€in€the€realization€of€large€cultural€projects€such€asÐ 4„ Ðthe€International€Art€Colony€Sava,€the€Meetings€of€Theatres€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€the€SpiritualÐ  p ÐMusic€Days,€the€Festival€of€Rural€and€Urban€Amateur€Creativity.Ð  \ ÐÌ34.à  àCultural€activities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€have€been€oriented€towards€strengthening€theÐ ä4 Ðcontribution€of€democratic€society€values€to€development.€Through€the€establishment€of€cooperationÐ Ð  Ðof€civil€society€and€its€institutions,€they€reflect€public€and€cultural€opinion,€in€relation€to€affirmationÐ ¼  Ðof€true€values€of€culture,€art€and€their€creators.€Through€the€cooperation€between€various€cultural,Ð ¨ø Ðeducational€and€media€institutions,€conditions€are€created€for€strengthening€open€democratic€society,Ð ”ä Ðrecognizable€by€intercultural€dialogue€respecting€differences,€setting€new€criteria€for€values€andÐ €Ð Ðaccess€to€educational€manifestations€with€international€character.Ð l¼ ÐÌ35.à  àA€few€festivals€and€manifestations€of€international€importance€dominate€in€Bosnia€andÐ D!” ÐHerzegovina,€and€these€are€accepted€by€participants,€artists,€audience€and€public.Ð 0"€  ÐÌ36.à  àMESS€is€an€international€theatre€festival€with€a€long€tradition.€The€festivalððs€programmeÐ $X" Ðconcept€includes€diversity€of€the€latest€trends,€programmes€and€theatre€arts€in€the€world€and€nationalÐ ô$D # Ðproduction.€Besides€the€theatre€performances,€it€organizes€accompanying€programmes€such€asÐ à%0!$ Ðexhibitions,€concerts,€round€tables,€etc.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ37.à  àThe€ð ðSarajevo€Winterðð€international€festival€is€a€traditional€meeting€point€for€national€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinternational€artists.€In€its€20-year€long€existence,€this€festival€has€brought€together€artists€andÐ )à$( Ðvisitors€from€all€parts€of€the€world.€The€programmes€are€organized€in€all€major€towns€in€Bosnia€andÐ |*Ì%) ÐHerzegovina.€Some€programmes€are€dedicated€to€youth€through€competitions€for€students€and€otherÐ h+¸&* Ðactivities.€The€youth€programmes€of€this€festival€are€selected€by€the€association€of€the€Biennale€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðthe€Youth€of€Europe.€Moreover,€in€Sarajevo,€the€capital€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€a€rich€culturalÐ @-(, Ðmanifestation€is€organized€during€the€summer€(from€concerts€to€exhibitions,€theatre€plays)€called€Ð ° Ðð ðBascarsija`s€Nightsðð.€Ð œì ÐÌ38.à  àThe€Sarajevo€Film€Festival€is€the€most€prestigious€festival€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€ItÐ tÄ Ðinvolves€commercial€film€works,€the€best€feature€and€documentary€films€from€international€filmÐ `° Ðfestivals,€regional€programmes,€video€projects€and€children€programmes€with€the€latest€blockbusters.Ð L œ ÐIn€the€framework€of€the€festival€accompanying€programmes€take€place,€such€as€workshops,€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðseminars€for€film€critics€(on€digital€technology,€documentaries,€etc).Ð $ t ÐÌ39.à  àThe€ð ðARS€AEVIðð€Project€is€the€most€relevant€international€project€in€the€field€ofÐ ü L  Ðcontemporary€art€in€Europe€and€in€the€world.€During€its€10-year€existence,€the€project€has€grown€intoÐ è 8  Ða€unique€international€cooperation€of€artistic€and€cultural€institutions,€administration€of€towns€andÐ Ô$  Ðregions,€artists€and€intellectuals€from€Europe€and€the€world.€Ð À  ÐÌ40.à  àThe€aim€of€the€project€is€to€create€in€Sarajevo€a€complex€of€architectonic€urban€attractions,Ð ˜è  Ðdesigned€by€well-known€architects€of€our€times,€and€where€the€most€prestigious€living€artists€willÐ „Ô  Ðproduce€a€collection€for€a€Sarajevo-based€contemporary€arts€museum€ARS€AEVI.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ41.à  àFor€the€time€being,€the€collection€has€more€than€100€works€of€art,€and€is€growing€into€aÐ H˜ Ðunique€project€prompting€the€enthusiasm€of€artists,€directors€of€well-known€European€museums,Ð 4„ Ðmayors€of€cities€and€a€broad€range€of€intellectuals€contributing€to€the€idea€and€its€realization.Ð  p ÐÌ42.à  àMulticultural€seminars,€museum€courses,€exhibitions€and€presentations€of€architectonicÐ øH Ðprojects,€educational€programmes,€workshops,€etc.€are€part€of€the€activities€within€the€project.Ð ä4 ÐÌò òD.€Educationó óÐ ¼  ÐÌ43.à  àThe€right€to€education€is€an€integral€part€of€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€theÐ ”ä Ðrelevant€section€of€which€reads:€ð ðRights€and€freedoms€set€forth€in€the€European€Convention€for€theÐ €Ð ÐProtection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms€and€its€Protocols€shall€apply€directly€inÐ l¼ ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina.€These€shall€have€priority€over€all€other€laws.€All€persons€in€the€BiHÐ X ¨ Ðterritory€enjoy€human€rights€and€freedoms,€which€includes€the€right€to€educationðð.Ð D!” ÐÌ44.à  àAt€the€State€level,€an€adequate€Ministry€covering€the€field€of€education€does€not€exist.€TheÐ #l! ÐMinistry€of€Civil€Affairs€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€is€responsible€for€the€coordination€of€activities,Ð $X" Ðthe€harmonization€of€plans€of€individual€Entity€authorities€and€defining€a€strategy€in€the€internationalÐ ô$D # Ðplan€for€the€field€of€education€in€the€country.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ45.à  àAccording€to€the€Constitution,€organization€and€managing€the€system€of€education€areÐ ¸'#& Ðdecentralized€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€at€the€level€of€Entities€and€in€Brcko€District.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ46.à  àBy€signing€the€Provisional€Agreement€on€the€Realization€of€the€Needs€and€Rights€and€ofÐ |*Ì%) ÐChildren€of€Returnees€(in€March€2002)€and€adoption€of€the€Framework€Law€(in€2003),€the€competentÐ h+¸&* Ðeducational€authorities€made€a€significant€step€towards€full€realization€of€rights€on€education€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðpupils€refugees€and€returnees€by€guarantees€that:Ð @-(, Їà0  à-à ` àEqual€access€to€education,€without€discrimination,€is€provided€for€these€children,€interÐ ° Ðalia,€through€the€obligation€of€the€local€authorities€to€provide€freedom€of€movementÐ œì Ðrespecting€their€right€to€selection€of€residence,€through€principle€of€equality€of€educationalÐ ˆØ Ðpapers,€regardless€of€the€part€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€where€they€were€acquired€(art.€13),Ð tÄ Ðenabling€them€to€continue€education€without€conditions€€relating€to€certain€programmes,Ð `° Ðensuring€the€possibility€for€teaching€and€passing€additional€subjects€for€other€educationalÐ L œ Ðprogrammes;Ð8 ˆ(#(# Ðà0  à-€Children€who€are€returnees€from€abroad€are€enabled€to€continue€education€based€on€foreignÐ $ t Ðeducational€papers,€with€prior€ranking/validation€according€to€the€regulations€in€force;Ð `(#(# Ðà0  à-€Legal€decisions€on€the€equality€and€use€of€languages€and€alphabets€of€constituent€peoplesÐ ü L  Ðin€the€educational€process€are€also€directed€towards€the€elimination€of€discrimination€of€thisÐ è 8  Ðcategory€of€pupils;ÐÔ$ (#(# Ðà0  à-€Harmonization€of€the€ethnic€composition€of€school€boards€will€be€carried€out,€accordingÐ À  Ðto€the€structure€of€children/parents/staff/local€community,€in€the€way€it€reflects€the€moment,Ð ¬ü  Ðbased€on€the€1991€census.Иè (#(# ÐÌ47.à  àAll€principles€determined€by€the€Framework€Law€and€worked€out€in€detail€at€the€lower€levelsÐ pÀ Ðare€to€realize€and€protect€of€the€€rights€to€€education€of€all€children,€including€children€of€refugeesÐ \¬ Ðand€returnees:Ð H˜ Ðà0  à-€This€law€explicitly€prescribes€that€schools€are€obliged€to€provide€all€possible€assistanceÐ 4„ Ðpertaining€to€enrolment€to€school,€attending€classes€and€continuation€of€further€education,Ð  p Ðto€provide€conditions€for€realisation€of€this€right,€particularly€for€children€refugees,€displacedÐ  \ Ðchildren€and€returnees;ÐøH(#(# Ðà0  à-€The€aim€of€the€principle€of€equality€of€educational€documents€over€the€entire€territory€ofÐ ä4 ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€is€to€protect€children€returnees€and€refugees;ÐÐ (#(# Ðà0  à-€With€a€view€to€protecting€the€national€and€cultural€identity€of€children€of€Bosnia€andÐ ¼  ÐHerzegovina€citizens€living€abroad,€support€is€provided€for€organization€of€supplementaryÐ ¨ø Ðclasses€€in€the€ð ðnational€groupðð€of€subjects;Дä(#(# Ðà0  à-€The€aim€of€activities€undertaken€within€implementation€of€the€Interim€Agreement€onÐ €Ð ÐRealization€of€Special€Needs€and€Rights€of€Children€Returnees€is€to€protect€children€and€toÐ l¼ Ðsupport€their€sustainable€return.€By€this€Agreement,€educational€authorities€are€obliged€toÐ X ¨ Ðimplement€certain€activities€which€will€fully€realize€the€defined€aims.ÐD!”(#(# ÐÌ48.à  àThe€aims€set€out€are€the€following:Ð #l! Ð-€Aim€1€-€to€enable€children€returnees€to€study€the€so-called€ð ðnational€group€of€subjectsðð€based€onÐ $X" Ðthe€curriculum€they€choose;€Ð ô$D # Ð-€Aim€2€-€to€increase€employment€of€teacher€returnees;Ð à%0!$ Ð-€Aim€3€-€to€supervise€and€collect€data€on€children€returnees;Ð Ì&"% Ð-€Aim€4€-€to€harmonize€national€system€of€school€boards;Ð ¸'#& Ð-€Aim€5€-€to€provide€adequate€textbooks,€and€to€remove€inappropriate€names€and€school€symbolsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðetc.;Ð )à$( Ð-€Aim€6€-€to€provide€instructions€for€implementation€of€the€Agreement.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ49.à  àDisplaced€children€and€children€living€in€the€collective€centres€are€given€assistance€byÐ T,¤'+ Ðeducational€authorities€depending€on€available€possibilities€(textbooks€free€of€cost,€free€meals).Ð @-(, ÐNumerous€NGOs€are€active€in€this€area.Ð ° ÐÌ50.à  àPositive€outcomes€and€results€of€implementation€of€the€Framework€Law€and€of€the€InterimÐ ˆØ ÐAgreement€in€practice€have€included:Ð tÄ ÐÌà0  à-€An€increased€number€of€pupils€who€are€returnees€to€pre-war€places€of€residence;ÐL œ(#(# Ðà0  à-€An€increased€number€of€employed€returnee€teachers,€as€well€as€home€teachers€from€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðminority€groups;Ð$ t(#(# Ðà0  à-€In€more€than€25€schools€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€organized€education€from€the€so-calledÐ  ` Ðð ðnational€groupðð€of€subjects€under€the€curriculum€is€chosen€by€pupilsðð€€parents;Ðü L (#(# Ðà0  à-€Revision€of€textbooks€carried€out,€inappropriate€contents€removed€from€the€textbooks;Ðè 8 (#(# Ðà0  à-€Instructions€for€writing€history€and€geography€textbooks€have€been€established;ÐÔ$ (#(# Ðà0  à-€ð ðPrototypesðð€have€been€drawn€up€of€the€Rulebook€on€the€Establishment€and€Work€ofÐ À  ÐSchool€Boards€(in€accordance€with€provisions€of€the€Framework€Law),€and€of€the€RulebookÐ ¬ü  Ðon€Criteria€for€Names€of€Schools,€Symbols€and€the€Organization€of€School€ManifestationsÐ ˜è  Ð(based€on€which€Republika€Srpska,€Brcko€District€and€three€to€six€Cantons€in€the€FederationÐ „Ô  Ðhave€already€adopted€their€own€bylaws).ÐpÀ(#(# ÐÌ51.à  àThe€Council€of€Ministers€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€established€a€commission€for€theÐ H˜ Ðelaboration€of€a€curriculum€for€supplementary€classes€for€children€living€abroad.€According€to€theÐ 4„ Ðlatest€information,€the€commission€has€completed€its€work€on€elaboration€of€the€curriculum:Ð  p ÐÌà0  à-€A€system€is€not€yet€established€for€continuous€study€of€the€national€group€of€subjects,€inÐ øH Ðareas€where€the€number€of€students€is€below€educational€standards.€There€is€still€the€practiceÐ ä4 Ð(which€is€not€yet€eliminated)€of€pupils€being€transported€to€schools€outside€their€area,€while€Ð Ð  Ðwith€the€aim€of€a€one-nation€school€system,€the€school€boardsðð€practice€is€not€yet€fullyÐ ¼  Ðimplemented,€the€collective€and€transit€centres€still€exist,€and€it€is€difficult€to€integrate€theirÐ ¨ø Ðschool€population€into€a€regular€educational€process.€Finally,€procedures€for€recognition€ofÐ ”ä Ðforeign€school€documents€are€still€complex€and€lack€uniformity;€Ð€Ð(#(# ÐÌà0  à-€An€example€of€the€continuing€discrimination€facing€pupils€in€practice€(including€childrenÐ X ¨ Ðrefugees€and€returnees)€is€theexistence€of€the€many€so-called€ð ðtwo€schools€under€one€roofððÐ D!” Ð(out€of€52€schools€in€the€Federation€€to€date,€administratively€and€legally€united€schoolsÐ 0"€  Ðinclude€two€secondary€schools€in€Zepce,€Vares€and€the€secondary€school€in€Mostar.€ThereÐ #l! Ðare€some€explicit€examples€of€non-implementation€of€the€decision€of€the€High€RepresentativeÐ $X" Ðin€Herzegovina-Neretva€Canton,€Central€Bosnia€Canton,€Zenica-Doboj€Canton;€after€theÐ ô$D # Ðharmonization€of€laws,€it€is€expected€that€the€necessary€preconditions€will€be€created€for€theÐ à%0!$ Ðunification€of€all€schools€by€the€beginning€of€the€school€year).ÐÌ&"%(#(# ÐÌò òE.€Work€and€unemploymentó óÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÌ52.à  àAt€the€State€level,€there€is€neither€a€framework€law€covering€work€and€employment€issuesÐ |*Ì%) Ðnor€a€portfolio€Ministry.€The€Ministry€of€Civil€Affairs€is€responsible€for€coordination€of€activities,Ð h+¸&* Ðfor€harmonization€of€plans€of€the€Entity€authorities€and€for€defining€an€international€strategy€for€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðfield€of€work€and€employment.Ð @-(, Ї53.à  àAccording€to€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€the€organization€and€managingÐ ° Ðsystem€of€legal€protection€at€work€are€decentralized€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€to€the€level€of€itsÐ œì ÐEntities€and€Brcko€District.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ54.à  àSpecific€categories€face€the€same€problems€as€all€other€unemployed€persons€in€obtainingÐ `° Ðemployment.€These€are,€first€of€all,€the€devastated€economy,€lack€of€job€vacancies,€and€the€hugeÐ L œ Ðnumber€of€highly€qualified€persons€registered€as€unemployed€at€employment€offices.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌ55.à  àProcedures€for€gaining€employment€rights€are€the€same€for€all€unemployed€persons,Ð  ` Ðregardless€their€pre-war€place€of€residence.€The€law€requires€that€an€unemployed€person€gains€his/herÐ ü L  Ðrights€during€a€period€of€unemployment€at€an€employment€bureau,€according€to€place€of€residence.Ð è 8  ÐWhile€an€unemployed€person€who€left€his/her€place€of€residence€due€to€the€war€gains€his/her€rightsÐ Ô$  Ðduring€unemployment€at€an€employment€bureau€according€to€their€temporary€place€of€residence.Ð À  ÐÌò òF.€Equality€and€the€fairness€principle€in€employmentó óÐ ˜è  ÐÌ56.à  àAccording€to€the€Law€on€Mediation€in€Employment€and€Social€Security€of€UnemployedÐ pÀ ÐPersons,€no€person€can€be€put€into€a€less€favourable€position€on€the€grounds€of€race,€colour,€sex,Ð \¬ Ðlanguage,€belief,€political€or€other€opinion,€national€or€social€origin,€property€conditions,€birth€orÐ H˜ Ðother€circumstances,€membership€or€not€belonging€to€a€political€party€or€trade€union,€or€of€physicalÐ 4„ Ðand€mental€impairments.Ð  p ÐÌ57.à  àFinancing€of€employment€is€done€through€insurance€deductions€for€unemployment€paid€byÐ øH Ðemployers€and€employees,€and€through€employment€programmes€determined€in€accordance€withÐ ä4 Ðjob-market€needs.Ð Ð  ÐÌ58.à  àTo€carry€out€the€above-mentioned€programmes,€announcements€regarding€employment€areÐ ¨ø Ðmade€in€the€media,€and€in€this€way€funds€are€made€available€to€all€legal€and€natural€persons€meetingÐ ”ä Ðthe€announcementsðð€requirements.Ð €Ð ÐÌ59.à  àThe€responsible€employment€services€are€bound€to€achieve€mutual€cooperation,€to€coordinateÐ X ¨ Ðtheir€work€and€to€exchange€information€contained€in€their€official€records.€Employment€services€areÐ D!” Ðbound€to€submit€reports€to€the€employment€bureaux,€which€collect€them€and€make€summary€recordsÐ 0"€  Ðin€the€field€of€work€and€employment€They€are€responsible€for€proposing€measures€and€the€necessaryÐ #l! Ðmeans€for€the€development€and€functioning€of€the€unified€information€system.€Ð $X" ÐÌ60.à  àPeriodically,€the€employment€bureaux€evaluate€the€jobs€market€(according€to€BureauÐ à%0!$ Ðinstructions)€with€the€aim€of€getting€and€providing€information€on€developments€in€job€markets,€andÐ Ì&"% Ðcarrying€out€mediation€in€employment€aimed€towards€connecting€unemployed€persons€with€potentialÐ ¸'#& Ðemployers,€or€connecting€persons€who€are€looking€for€another€job€with€potential€employers.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌ61.à  àAccording€to€the€Law€on€Mediation€in€Employment€and€Social€Security€of€UnemployedÐ |*Ì%) ÐPersons,€unemployed€persons€are€registered€at€the€employment€service€with€the€aim€of€looking€forÐ h+¸&* Ða€job€and€realizing€their€rights€to€receive€compensation€during€unemployment,€and€their€right€toÐ T,¤'+ Ðhealth€care,€pension€and€disability€benefits€in€cases€defined€by€law.€Ð @-(, Ї62.à  àThere€is€a€good€cooperation€between€Entity€bureaux,€Brcko€District€Bureau,€the€CantonalÐ ° ÐBureau,€and€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Work€and€Employment€Agency.Ð œì ÐÌ63.à  àIt€is€necessary€to€clear€up€the€records€of€unemployed€persons€in€order€to€define€the€group€ofÐ tÄ Ðthose€persons€who€are€looking€actively€for€a€job,€and€those€who€are€on€the€records€just€to€justifyÐ `° Ðsome€other€rights€(insurance,€childððs€allowance,€etc).Ð L œ ÐÌ64.à  àProgrammes€of€work€are€defined€for€each€new€calendar€year€with€the€aim€of€improving€theÐ $ t Ðsituation€in€the€field.€Entity€governments€agree€about€the€employment€programmes€offered€byÐ  ` Ðemployment€bureaus.Ð ü L  ÐÌò òG.€Social€protectionó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌ65.à  àDisplaced€persons€and€refugees€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€are€entitled€to€social€protectionÐ ¬ü  Ðunder€the€same€conditions€as€other€citizens€and€in€accordance€with€its€Constitution,€which€prescribesÐ ˜è  Ðthat€Entities,€cantons€and€Brcko€District€are€competent€in€the€area€of€social€protection.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ66.à  àThe€main€obstacles€to€the€application€of€the€above-mentioned€rights€of€displaced€persons,Ð \¬ Ðregulated€by€law€in€the€field€of€social€protection,€are€as€follows:Ð H˜ ÐÌÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£¸àÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝThe€operations€of€the€system€of€social€protection€in€both€Entities€are€not€balancedÐ  p Ðand€they€continually€give€preference€to€the€certain€groups€and€special€categories€€(forÐ  \ Ðexample,€soldiers,€disabled€persons),€providing€them€privileged€status€with€regard€to€Ð øH Ðdisplaced€persons;݃ 3£¸àñàÝŒÐä4` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£ÓâÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝLack€of€financing€of€social€protection€by€the€State€is€transferred€to€the€Entities€which,Ð Ð  Ðtogether€with€insufficient€coordination,€means€there€is€no€harmonization€betweenÐ ¼  ÐEntities€on€the€issue€of€categories€of€beneficiaries,€as€well€as€the€scope€and€level€ofÐ ¨ø Ðcompensations€for€the€persons€that€need€social€protection;݃ 3£Óâ ã݌Дä` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÝ"‚ 3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£åÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝLimited€funds€for€social€protection€or€weak€financing€by€Entities€cause€transfer€ofÐ €Ð Ðcompetences€to€the€cantons€in€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€andÐ l¼ Ðmunicipalities€in€Republika€Srpska,€which€additionally€marginalizes€households€ofÐ X ¨ Ðdisplaced€persons;€Ýƒ 3£åOåÝŒÐD!”` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÝ"‚ 3£ "ÝÝ  Ýà0  àÝ‚ 3£ çÝÔ2/ÕÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#àÝ  ÝEntities€and€cantonal€ministries€often€do€not€achieve€or€are€not€able€to€achieveÐ 0"€  Ðproclaimed€goals€of€social€policy€and€to€fulfil€obligations€prescribed€by€laws€in€theÐ #l! Ðfield€of€social€protection.݃ 3£ çYçÝŒÐ$X"` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌ67.à  àOn€the€other€hand,€there€are€a€relatively€small€number€of€displaced€families€which€haveÐ à%0!$ Ðsufficient€earnings€to€meet€even€their€minimum€social€needs;€most€of€them€live€in€poverty.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌ68.à  àCurrent€laws€which€regulate€the€issue€of€social€protection€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthose€at€Entity,€cantonal€and€the€level€of€municipalities€are€insufficient€for€returneesðð€access€to€theÐ )à$( Ðrights€in€the€sphere€of€social€protection,€making€these€rights€especially€difficult.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ69.à  àFor€example,€with€the€change€of€their€residence€i.e.€the€return€to€their€former€place€ofÐ T,¤'+ Ðresidence,€the€displaced€person€should€cancel€his/her€registration€at€the€current€place€of€residence,Ð @-(, Ðwhich€causes€the€loss€of€social€protection€at€the€place€of€return.€In€order€to€have€access€to€socialÐ ° Ðprotection€at€the€place€of€return,€the€person€must€be€registered€at€the€ð ðnewðð€address€for€a€period€ofÐ œì Ðbetween€6€to€12€months,€depending€on€the€Entity€or€canton.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ70.à  àDisplaced€persons€and€returnees€are€exposed€to€specific€circumstances,€as€follows:€daily,Ð `° Ðweekly€or€monthly€ð ðseasonal€working€migrationsðð,€change€of€composition€of€household€and€the€largeÐ L œ Ðnumber€of€so-called€womenððs€and€old€manððs€households,€instability€of€earnings€and€weakÐ 8 ˆ Ðaccessibility€to€the€mechanisms€of€the€social€protection€in€regards€to€the€rest€of€population.€Ð $ t ÐÌ71.à  àBecause€of€the€above€and€other€factors,€it€is€highly€likely€that€displaced€persons€and€refugeesÐ ü L  Ðwill€be€more€in€social€need€than€the€rest€of€the€population.€Ð è 8  ÐÌ72.à  àAccording€to€the€data€of€a€panel€study,€ð ðòòZivjeti€u€BiHóóðð€(ð ðLiving€in€B-Hðð)ò òòò€1óóó ó,€most€householdsÐ À  Ðof€displaced€persons€live€at€the€edge€of€poverty,€with€little€waves€of€ð ðanxietyðð€at€the€bottom€of€theÐ ¬ü  Ðsociety.€€Even€the€minimum€of€the€social€assistance€guaranteed€by€the€domestic€and€internationalÐ ˜è  Ðregulations€is€not€ensured.Ð „Ô  ÐÌ73.à  àIn€the€field€of€social€protection,€human€rights€are€largely€violated€since€certain€forms€of€theÐ \¬ Ðsocial€assistance€are€not€available€to€all€categories€of€citizens.€€€Ð H˜ ÐÌ74.à  àDisplaced€persons€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€10€years€after€the€war,€still€survive€on€theÐ  p Ðmargins€of€the€society,€exposed€to€social€exclusion.€Ð  \ ÐÌ75.à  àAt€the€same€time,€almost€all€key€recommendations€and€assumptions€for€optimal€socialÐ ä4 Ðprotection€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€like€commitments€to€social€cohesion,€solidarity,€equality€andÐ Ð  Ðinclusion€-€are€yet€to€be€realized,€which€€automatically€leads€to€neglect€and€less€concern€for€theÐ ¼  Ðprotection€of€all€vulnerable€groups,€including€displaced€persons€and€refugees.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ76.à  àThe€rights€to€social€protection€include€an€active,€intervening€role€of€the€State.€Those€rightsÐ €Ð Ðare€based€on€a€philosophy€about€what€a€ð ðgood€societyðð€is€composed€of€and€how€the€State€canÐ l¼ Ðcontribute€to€such€a€society€in€the€best€possible€way.Ð X ¨ ÐÌ77.à  àIn€the€context€of€the€full€sustainability€of€return€and€reintegration€of€returnees,€specialÐ 0"€  Ðattention€should€be€paid€to:€reconstruction€of€the€social,€health€and€cultural€infrastructure€as€well€asÐ #l! Ðreconstruction€of€the€mosques,€churches€and€other€religious€sites,€which€is€a€permanent€priority€ofÐ $X" Ðthe€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees.Ð ô$D # ÐÌ78.à  àThe€last€census€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€was€conducted€in€April€1991,€in€accordance€withÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€Law€on€Census€of€Population,€Households,€Dwellings€and€Agricultural€Holdings€in€1991Ð ¸'#& Ð(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€the€Socialist€Federative€Republic€of€Yugoslavia€(SFRY),€No.€3/90)€and€the€LawÐ ¤(ô#' Ðon€the€Organization€and€Performance€of€the€Census€of€Population,€Households,€Dwellings€andÐ )à$( ÐAgricultural€Holdings€in€1991€and€Resources€for€the€Census€Funding€(Ibid.,€No.€22/90).Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ79.à  àBosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€been€familiarized€with€the€principle,€i.e.€the€United€NationsÐ T,¤'+ Ðrecommendation€that€censuses€of€population€be€conducted€each€10€years€in€a€year€ending€with€0€orÐ @-(, Ð1.€However,€the€last€census€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€was€conducted€in€April€1991.€Ð ° ÐÌ80.à  àThere€has€been€no€new€census€to€date€of€population€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€since€theÐ ˆØ Ð1991€census;€hence,€there€are€no€new€statistical€data.Ð tÄ ÐÌ81.à  àIn€February€1999€the€Statistics€Agency€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€Entity€StatisticsÐ L œ ÐBureaus€established€a€Working€Group€for€preparation€for€2001€census€of€population.€The€opinionÐ 8 ˆ Ðon€postponing€the€population€census€by€the€OHR€and€the€Organization€for€Security€and€CooperationÐ $ t Ðin€Europe€(OSCE)€prevailed.€Namely,€it€was€suggested€that€the€planned€census€be€postponed€forÐ  ` Ðmany€reasons:€fragility€of€the€political€situation€in€the€country,€lack€of€adequate€legislation,Ð ü L  Ðparticularly€at€the€State€level,€the€existence€of€numerous€minefields€and€the€uncompleted€process€ofÐ è 8  Ðreturn€of€refugees€and€displaced€persons.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌò òH.€Roma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovinaó óÐ ¬ü  ÐÌ82.à  àIt€is€clear€from€a€review€of€the€1991€census€that€there€are€minorities€which€may€be€calledÐ „Ô  Ðð ðtraditionalðð€and,€so€to€speak,€ð ðnewðð€minorities€which€are€the€result€of€the€dissolution€of€the€formerlyÐ pÀ Ðcommon€State€(Montenegrins,€Macedonians€and€Slovenians).€€Regardless€of€their€origin€or€theirÐ \¬ Ðnumber€(from€133€to€10,048€categories),€article€3€of€the€Law€on€the€Protection€on€the€Rights€ofÐ H˜ ÐPersons€Belonging€to€National€Minorities€defines€a€national€minority,€in€the€sense€of€this€law€is€ð ðaÐ 4„ Ðpart€of€the€population€of€citizens€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€that€does€not€belong€to€one€of€threeÐ  p Ðconstituent€peoples€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(Bosniaks,€Croats,€Serbs),€and€that€consists€of€theÐ  \ Ðpeople€of€the€same€or€similar€ethnic€origin,€same€or€similar€tradition,€customs,€religion,€culture,€andÐ øH Ðspirituality,€and€close€or€related€history€and€other€featuresðð.€Ð ä4 ÐÌ83.à  àThe€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€to€National€Minorities€was€passedÐ ¼  Ðand€entered€into€force€in€May€2003€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€No.€12/2003).€ItÐ ¨ø Ðwas€adopted€after€a€two-year€discussion,€debate€and€the€harmonization€of€several€versions€of€the€law,Ð ”ä Ðand€after€approval€(in€the€form€of€an€opinion)€was€received€from€the€so-called€Venice€CommissionÐ €Ð Ðof€the€Council€of€Europe.€€This€states€that€the€bill€fulfils€the€minimum€criteria€to€be€enacted€andÐ l¼ Ðentered€into€force.€A€long€procedure€of€legislative€adoption€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€is€the€firstÐ X ¨ Ðobjective€factor€of€legal-political€situation€in€the€country,€which€may€not€be€ignored€when€consideredÐ D!” Ðare€adoption€and€implementation€of€laws.€After€being€adopted,€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€RightsÐ 0"€  Ðof€Persons€Belonging€to€National€Minorities€was€published€in€the€three€official€languages€in€theÐ #l! ÐòòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€and€thus€made€available€to€all€organs€and€institutionsÐ $X" Ðof€authority,€as€well€to€other€Entities€using€such€publications.€Then€it€was€translated€into€the€EnglishÐ ô$D # Ðand€Romani€languages.€We€consider€the€first€translation€of€a€law€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€into€theÐ à%0!$ ÐRomani€language€as€extremely€important€for€the€emancipation€of€the€Roma€national€minority€inÐ Ì&"% ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina;€we€consider€it€a€positive€example€of€recognition€of€Roma.€It€has€beenÐ ¸'#& Ðpublished€in€a€special€booklet€of€1,000€copies,€also€distributed€at€various€addresses.€Therefore,€anyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðauthority€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€no€justification€or€alibi€for€ignorance€of€the€contents€of€theÐ )à$( Ðlaw.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌ84.à  àInformation€at€the€disposal€of€the€Ministry€for€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€of€Bosnia€andÐ T,¤'+ ÐHerzegovina,€a€portfolio€Ministry€within€the€Council€of€Ministers€for€national€minority€rights,Ð @-(, Ðsuggests€that€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Entities,€namely€Republika€Srpska€and€the€Federation€ofÐ ° ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina,€started€at€the€end€of€2003€activities€for€the€adoption€of€their€respectiveÐ œì ÐLaws€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€to€National€Minorities.€They€were€bound€toÐ ˆØ Ðdo€this€in€accordance€with€the€State-level€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€toÐ tÄ ÐNational€Minorities.€The€National€Assembly€of€Republika€Srpska,€as€the€highest€executive€organ€atÐ `° Ðthe€end€December€2004€enacted€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€toÐ L œ ÐNational€Minorities€in€RS€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Republika€Srpska,€No.€2/2005).€This€law€establishedÐ 8 ˆ Ðand€worked€out€in€detail€certain€provisions€of€the€State-level€Law.€The€Parliamentary€Assembly€ofÐ $ t Ðthe€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€still€has€not€finalized€this€activity,€although€there€haveÐ  ` Ðbeen€intensive€efforts€towards€this€aim.€Neither€Canton€has€enacted€its€law€on€national€minoritiesÐ ü L  Ðas€a€special€law,€which€to€a€certain€extent€makes€it€difficult€to€solve€problems€faced€by€Roma€in€theirÐ è 8  Ðterritories€and€under€their€competence.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ85.à  àThe€Law€on€the€Amendments€to€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€BelongingÐ ¬ü  Ðto€National€Minorities€was€adopted€in€October€2005€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€Ð ˜è  ÐNo:€76/05)€has€foreseen€establishment€of€this€body€more€precisely€and€in€exact€deadline€of€60€daysÐ „Ô  Ðfrom€the€date€of€adoption€of€this€Law.€Finally,€the€Decision€on€the€Establishment€of€the€Council€ofÐ pÀ ÐNational€Minorities€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€within€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€andÐ \¬ ÐHerzegovina€was€adopted€and€published€in€May€2006€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó,€No:€38/06).€This€stated€thatÐ H˜ Ðthe€advisory€body€is€to€be€constituted€as€soon€as€possible.€This€is€under€way,€and€there€is€hope€thatÐ 4„ Ðthe€Council€of€National€Minorities€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€within€the€Parliamentary€AssemblyÐ  p Ðwill€finally€be€established€by€the€end€of€2007.€Ð  \ ÐÌ86.à  àWe€consider€execution€of€this€legal€obligation€to€be€very€important€from€the€perspective€ofÐ ä4 Ðawareness-rising€about€the€significance€of€establishment€of€such€a€body€for€the€promotion€andÐ Ð  Ðprotection€of€rights.€It€also€addresses€questions€regarding€all€national€minorities€and€especially€theÐ ¼  ÐRoma,€since€they€are€the€most€numerous€and€most€vulnerable€national€minority€in€the€territory€ofÐ ¨ø ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina.Ð ”ä ÐÌ87.à  àIn€the€last€two€to€three€years€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€there€has€been€regular€informationÐ l¼ Ðto€citizens€on€members€of€national€minorities.€Information€on€minority€communities`€problems,€theirÐ X ¨ Ðculture,€customs,€particularities€of€individual€minority€communities,€activities€of€NGOs€gatheringÐ D!” Ðminorities€have€regularly€been€presented€in€public€TV€broadcasts.€Radio-Television€of€RepublikaÐ 0"€  ÐSrpska€has€regular€weekly€broadcast€dedicated€to€minorities,€while€TV€of€Bosnia€and€HerzegovinaÐ #l! Ðand€of€the€Federation€occasionally€prepare€broadcasts€on€the€topic.Ð $X" ÐÌ88.à  àLikewise,€within€the€general€policy,€more€intensive€cooperation€of€NGOs€and€other€minorityÐ à%0!$ Ðassociations€with€their€ethnic-kin€States€is€facilitated.€Overseas€communication€is€carried€out€withoutÐ Ì&"% Ðformalities€or€other€legal€barriers.€In€other€words,€all€minority€communities,€except€the€Romani€one,Ð ¸'#& Ðhave€established€contacts€and€cooperation€with€their€kin€States€without€any€conditions€and€barriers.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐParticularly€intensive€cooperation€is€that€of€NGOs€of€Slovenians,€Czechs,€Ukrainians,€Italians,Ð )à$( ÐHungarians,€Macedonians€and€others€in€the€field€of€culture,€education,€mother-tongue€learning,Ð |*Ì%) Ðinforming,€etc.€Active€non-governmental€organizations€have€succeeded€in€identification€of€theirÐ h+¸&* Ðneeds€and€have€developed€various€modalities€of€cooperation€in€fulfilling€the€needs€in€the€mentionedÐ T,¤'+ Ðfields,€through€cooperation€with€Embassies€of€their€kin€States.Ð @-(, Ї89.à  àNumerous€associations€are€active€in€the€territory€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€in€theÐ ° Ðframework€of€the€non-governmental€sector.€They€contribute€to€the€promotion€and€protection€ofÐ œì Ðhuman€rights€(Helsinki€Committee,€Centre€for€Human€Rights,€Link€Diversity,€etc.),€as€well€as€to€theÐ ˆØ Ðpreservation€of€the€ethnic€and€cultural€heritage€of€the€minority€communities€(for€example,€CzechÐ tÄ ÐBeseda,€an€association€of€Czechs€in€Republika€Srpska;€Taras€Schevcenko,€an€association€ofÐ `° ÐUkrainians€in€Republika€Srpska;€Lira,€the€Cultural€Association€of€Jews,€etc).Ð L œ ÐÌ90.à  àWithin€this€general€policy,€it€is€important€to€emphasize€that€in€the€last€two€years€severalÐ $ t Ðdiscussions€on€issues€concerning€the€position€of€minorities€have€been€held€(analysed€later€in€thisÐ  ` Ðreport).€These€round€tables,€with€participation€of€representatives€of€minority€communities,€NGOsÐ ü L  Ðdealing€with€the€protection€of€minority€rights,€representatives€of€international€organizations€andÐ è 8  Ðcompetent€State,€Entity,€Cantonal€and€municipal€ministries,€have€been€covered€by€the€media€at€aÐ Ô$  Ðhigh€professional€level,€which€has€certainly€contributed€to€improvement€of€the€climate€of€toleranceÐ À  Ðand€understanding€of€the€position€of€minorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌ91.à  àThe€fact€that€proposals€for€the€above-mentioned€changes€to€the€Constitution€of€Bosnia€andÐ „Ô  ÐHerzegovina€relating€to€the€position€of€minorities€were€accepted€with€the€least€difficulties,€andÐ pÀ Ðaccepted€in€public€as€a€necessary€minimum€enabling€political€affirmation€and€adequateÐ \¬ Ðrepresentation€of€interests€of€minority€groups€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€has€to€be€interpreted€in€theÐ H˜ Ðlight€of€a€general€policy€towards€minorities.Ð 4„ ÐÌ92.à  àAlthough€it€has€been€stated€above€that€there€has€been€improvement€of€position€of€nationalÐ  \ Ðminorities€as€a€whole,€the€position€of€the€Roma€community€is€still€very€difficult€and€unsatisfactory.Ð øH ÐThe€general€policy€of€the€authorities€is€support€for€all€minority€communities,€particularly€the€Roma.Ð ä4 ÐHowever,€the€needs€of€the€Roma€in€the€field€of€housing,€employment,€health€care€and€social€welfareÐ Ð  Ðare€huge€and€exceed€capabilities€of€impoverished€and€conflict-broken€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€TheÐ ¼  Ðproblem€in€these€areas€is€poverty,€not€discrimination€by€majority€groups€or€the€community€as€aÐ ¨ø Ðwhole.Ð ”ä ÐÌ93.à  àTwo€months€after€adoption€of€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€toÐ l¼ ÐNational€Minorities,€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€enacted€the€FrameworkÐ X ¨ ÐLaw€on€Primary€and€Secondary€Education.€In€a€section€concerning€education€of€members€of€nationalÐ D!” Ðminorities,€complementary€to€the€Law€on€the€Protection€of€Rights€of€Persons€Belonging€to€NationalÐ 0"€  ÐMinorities,€certain€provisions€work€out€in€detail€the€obligation€of€the€authorities€in€this€field€and€theÐ #l! Ðmanner€of€their€realization.€Entities€and€Cantons€have€enacted€their€Laws€on€Primary€and€SecondaryÐ $X" ÐEducation.€Unfortunately,€a€framework€law€on€preschool€education€has€not€been€enacted€yet,€whichÐ ô$D # Ðwould€regulate€the€issue€of€treatment€of€members€of€national€minorities,€particularly€Roma,€inÐ à%0!$ Ðpreschool€education.€The€Entity€and€Cantonal€laws€also€treat€issue€of€fulfilling€educational€needs€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðmembers€of€national€minorities.€However,€the€Ministry€of€Education€and€Culture€of€RepublikaÐ ¸'#& ÐSrpska€has€prepared€a€concrete€Instruction€on€Implementation€of€this€Law,€elaborating€contents€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmanner€of€execution€of€obligations€concerning€national€minorities.€Ð )à$( ÐÌ94.à  àConcerning€education€of€members€of€national€minorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€it€isÐ h+¸&* Ðimportant€to€emphasize€that€the€Bosnian€authorities€adopted€in€February€2004,€with€mediation€of€theÐ T,¤'+ ÐMission€of€the€OSCE€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€the€Action€Plan€for€Fulfilling€Educational€NeedsÐ @-(, Ðof€Roma€and€Members€of€Other€National€Minorities.€It€has€been€certified€by€signatures€of€portfolioÐ ° ÐMinisters€of€Education.€Its€implementation€is€under€way€and€is€yielding€results.€Indicators€for€thisÐ œì Ðare,€among€other€things,€the€conclusions€and€recommendations€of€an€expert€conference€organizedÐ ˆØ Ðby€the€Ministry€for€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€in€Vogosca€in€JulyÐ tÄ Ð2005.€It€was€solely€dedicated€to€evaluation€of€implementation€of€this€Action€Plan.€On€20€FebruaryÐ `° Ð2006€the€Conference,€called€ð ðTwo€years€of€implementation€of€the€Action€Plan€for€FulfillingÐ L œ ÐEducational€Needs€of€Roma€and€Members€of€Other€National€Minorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina:Ð 8 ˆ ÐExperiences€and€Challengesðð€was€held€in€the€Joint€Institutions€Building.€These€conferences€gatheredÐ $ t Ðalmost€all€portfolio€ministries€of€education€and€most€representatives€of€NGOs€bringing€togetherÐ  ` Ðnational€minorities,€members€of€the€Council€of€Roma,€members€of€the€Roma€Committee€with€theÐ ü L  ÐCouncil€of€Ministers€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€other€Roma€leaders€and€representatives€ofÐ è 8  Ðinternational€organisations.€The€conclusion€of€these€conferences€was€that€the€Action€Plan€had€stillÐ Ô$  Ðbeen€current,€that€it€should€not€be€changed€or€amended€in€its€textual€part€and€in€the€sense€of€meaning,Ð À  Ðbut€only€to€be€more€firm€in€its€implementation,€particularly€concerning€obligations€of€educationalÐ ¬ü  Ðand€local€authorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€This€Action€Plan€is€not€flawless,€particularlyÐ ˜è  Ðbecause€it€has€not€defined€precisely€Entities€for€monitoring€of€its€implementation.€However,€it€hasÐ „Ô  Ðyielded€positive€results,€particularly€concerning€Roma,€which€is€evident€in€the€number€of€RomaÐ pÀ Ðchildren€who€enrol,€regularly€attend,€do€not€drop€out€and€complete€primary€school.€Likewise,€everyÐ \¬ Ðday€there€are€more€Roma€children€attending€secondary€school.€At€the€moment€there€are€almost€30Ð H˜ ÐRoma€students€at€one€of€the€universities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€The€responsibility€of€society,Ð 4„ Ðparticularly€competent€education€authorities,€for€providing€textbooks,€school€supplies,€transportation,Ð  p Ðwarm€meals€for€poor€Roma€pupils,€the€inclusion€of€Roma€assistant€lecturers€in€teaching€processes,Ð  \ Ðetc,€has€also€increased.€The€above€was€confirmed€at€a€conference€organized€jointly€by€the€MinistryÐ øH Ðfor€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€the€Roma€Committee€together€with€theÐ ä4 ÐCouncil€of€Ministers€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€the€Council€of€Europe€(Office€in€Sarajevo),€inÐ Ð  ÐDecember€2005.€The€Conference€discussed€the€position€of€national€minorities€in€Bosnia€andÐ ¼  ÐHerzegovina€in€the€light€of€implementation€of€recommendations€of€the€Council€of€EuropeððsÐ ¨ø ÐAdvisory€Committee€of€the€Framework€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€National€Minorities.Ð ”ä ЀÌ95.à  àWe€would€also€like€to€stress€the€existence€of€the€problem€of€ð ðtwo€schools€under€one€roofððÐ l¼ Ðin€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€since€the€end€of€the€war.€From€todayððs€point€of€view,Ð X ¨ Ðnothing€important€has€been€solved€in€the€issue€ð ðtwo€schools€under€one€roof€ð ð.€Ð D!” ÐÌ96.à  àThe€reason€for€this€could€be€in€the€fact€that€all€constitutional€authority€on€educational€issuesÐ #l! Ðin€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€remains€with€the€Cantons.€At€the€level€of€theÐ $X" ÐFederation€and€at€the€State€level€for€several€€months,€there€have€been€coordinating€bodies€composedÐ ô$D # Ðof€ministers€of€education.€This€body€should€propose€a€solution€for€this€problem.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌ97.à  àIt€is€worth€recalling€that€the€Education€Department,€together€with€the€OSCE,€two€Entities€andÐ ¸'#& ÐBrcko€District€have€also€been€included€in€the€educational€system€reform€process€in€Bosnia€andÐ ¤(ô#' ÐHerzegovina.€So,€changes€during€solution€of€the€ð ðtwo€schools€under€one€roofðð€problem€are€more€ofÐ )à$( Ða€ð ðcosmeticðð,€and€less€of€substantial,€nature.€They€refer€to,€for€example,€the€administration€that€hasÐ |*Ì%) Ðbeen€united€in€a€small€number€of€schools,€but€where€pupils€are€still€divided,€etc.€Among€a€series€ofÐ h+¸&* Ðactions€on€educational€system€reform€process€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€are€removal€of€negativeÐ T,¤'+ Ðcontents€from€textbooks,€school€names€and€some€signs€from€school€premises.€We€also€need€toÐ @-(, Ðmention€inadequate€implementation€of€common€cores€of€curricula,€which€would€solve€someÐ ° Ðdilemmas.€There€are€two€curricula€in€schools€of€the€Federation€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina:€BosnianÐ œì Ðand€Croatian€curricula.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ98.à  àA€few€more€words€about€Roma€and€the€Roma€Strategy€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€TheÐ `° Ðcrucial€year€for€Roma€in€terms€of€a€more€organized€and€serious€approach€to€resolving€their€problems,Ð L œ Ðat€least€from€the€point€of€view€of€Bosnian€€authorities,€is€the€year€of€2001€and€the€conference€of€22Ð 8 ˆ ÐRoma€NGOs€registered€at€that€time€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€which€took€place€in€Vogosca€underÐ $ t Ðthe€auspices€of€the€OSCE.€The€first€Council€of€Roma€in€B-H€was€established€then€as€the€supremeÐ  ` Ðrepresentative€body€of€Roma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€After€that,€in€mid-2001,€the€NationalÐ ü L  ÐAdvisory€Board€on€Roma€was€established€under€the€Council€of€Ministers€as€a€partner€advisory€bodyÐ è 8  Ðfor€the€supreme€executive€authorities€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€Both€these€bodies,€which€have€anÐ Ô$  Ðidentical€makeup€in€terms€of€representation€of€the€Roma€minority,€have€had€a€number€of€significantÐ À  Ðactivities,€actions,€initiatives€and€presentations,€both€in€the€country€and€abroad,€with€the€financialÐ ¬ü  Ðsupport€of€some€international€organizations,€primarily€the€OSCE,€but€also€of€the€Bosnia€andÐ ˜è  ÐHerzegovina€institutions€(e.g.€the€Roma€members€of€the€National€Advisory€Board€on€Roma€withinÐ „Ô  Ðthe€Council€of€Ministers€have€on€several€occasions€travelled€abroad,€to€Strasbourg,€Budapest,Ð pÀ ÐBrussels,€Vienna,€Bucharest,€Seville,€etc.€to€various€conferences,€round€tables€and€workshops).€BothÐ \¬ Ðthe€Council€of€Roma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€the€National€Advisory€Board€on€Roma€haveÐ H˜ Ðcontributed€to€the€drafting€of€the€Law€on€Protection€of€Members€of€National€Minorities,€as€well€asÐ 4„ Ðto€the€adoption€of€the€National€Education€Action€Plan€for€Roma€and€other€minorities€and€theÐ  p Ðimplementation€thereof.€This,€of€course,€to€the€extent€to€which€these€are€being€implemented€inÐ  \ Ðpractice,€but€a€major€contribution€of€these€bodies€in€resolving€the€problems€of€Roma€in€Bosnia€andÐ øH ÐHerzegovina€is€their€significant€involvement€in€raising€the€awareness€among€the€public€and€allÐ ä4 Ðrelevant€social€players,€primarily€the€national€authorities,€on€Roma€and€Roma€problems€and€theÐ Ð  Ðnecessity€to€deal€with€them€€€according€to€the€needs€of€this€national€minority€and€in€compliance€withÐ ¼  ÐEuropean€standards.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ99.à  àThe€awareness€and€commitment€of€relevant€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€authorities,€primarilyÐ €Ð Ðof€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees,€to€resolve€the€problems€that€have€been€identifiedÐ l¼ Ðamong€the€Roma€population,€to€make€all€efforts€to€emancipate€this€national€minority,€to€ensure€theÐ X ¨ Ðfull€equality€of€its€members€and€to€make€them€equal€in€their€rights€and€duties€with€otherÐ D!” Ðconstitutional€peoples,€is€the€ð ðcoreðð€of€the€Roma€Strategy,€which€is€designed€to€resolve€the€RomaÐ 0"€  Ðproblem.€A€driving€force€behind€this€Strategy€is€a€strong€motivation€to€define€all€the€problems€andÐ #l! Ðchallenges€that€Roma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€are€facing€at€the€beginning€of€the€third€millennium,Ð $X" Ðto€develop€guidelines€and€determine€the€approaches€as€to€how€to€address€the€problems,€as€well€asÐ ô$D # Ðto€identify€addresses,€institutions,€civil€society€bodies€and€authorities€which€are€empowered€andÐ à%0!$ Ðobliged€to€deal€the€Roma€issues€in€order€to€resolve€them.€The€Strategy€identified€15€areas€with€theÐ Ì&"% Ðmost€numerous€challenges€for€Roma€population€and€which€require€concrete€and€operational€activityÐ ¸'#& Ðplans.€The€implementation€of€these€plans€can€bring€about€nothing€less€than€improved€social€statusÐ ¤(ô#' Ðfor€the€Roma€minority.€There€is€almost€no€vital€question€that€has€not€been€addressed€by€the€Strategy;Ð )à$( Ðall€the€problems€that€Roma€are€having€here€and€now€have€been€identified€in€this€document€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðaddressed€through€the€commitment€to€overcome€the€hurdles€that€Roma€are€faced€with€as€theyÐ h+¸&* Ðprogress€towards€the€full€social€affirmation€and€equality.€That€is€exactly€why€there€have€been€asÐ T,¤'+ Ðmany€as€15€areas€identified,€which€is€far€more€than€in€any€other€similar€strategy€or€an€action€planÐ @-(, Ðaddressing€the€Roma€issues€in€the€countries€of€the€region,€and€far€more€than€required€for€accessionÐ ° Ðto€the€Roma€Decade.Ð œì ÐÌ100.à  àFinally,€the€17€vital€areas€in€which€Roma€are€facing€problems€include:€education;Ð tÄ Ðemployment;€housing;€health€care;€social€security;€civil€registration€and€identification€documents;Ð `° Ðthe€census;€participation€in€and€partnership€with€authorities;€organization€and€networking€of€RomaÐ L œ Ðand€other€NGOs€dealing€with€Roma€issues;€information;€maintenance€and€improving€culturalÐ 8 ˆ Ðidentity€and€tradition,€customs,€religion,€learning€the€Roma€language,€history,€art€and€culture€andÐ $ t Ðestablishing€religious€and€cultural€institutions€and€associations;€cooperation€and€exchange€ofÐ  ` Ðexperience€with€Roma€and€other€NGOs€from€neighbouring€and€other€countries€and€internationalÐ ü L  Ðorganizations;€demographic€and€population€policy;€family€relations;€gender€equality;€childrenððsÐ è 8  Ðrights;€non-discrimination€and€raising€awareness€on€the€necessity€of€Roma€inclusion€in€all€socialÐ Ô$  Ðprocess€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.Ð À  ÐÌ101.à  àAs€mentioned€above,€the€Bosnian€authorities€have€already,€at€different€organizational€levelsÐ ˜è  Ðand€even€without€the€concrete€action€plans,€carried€out€a€number€of€activities€aimed€at€improvingÐ „Ô  Ðthe€legal-political€and€the€socio-economic€and€infrastructure€position€of€the€Roma€minority.€I€wouldÐ pÀ Ðlike€once€more€to€underline€that€the€experience€with€the€Education€Action€Plan€can€and€should€beÐ \¬ Ðedifying€and€applicable.€Apart€from€that,€successful€activities€which,€of€course,€could€not€solve€allÐ H˜ Ðthe€problems,€have€been€carried€out€to€date€in€the€area€of€civil€registration€and€identificationÐ 4„ Ðdocuments€--€which€include€identity€cards,€health€booklets,€driving€licences€and€similar€documents.Ð  p ÐOther€activities€included€the€mapping€of€the€housing€situation€and€accommodation€needs€of€RomaÐ  \ Ðpopulation,€examining€the€employment€opportunities,€small€business€opportunities,€and€loanÐ øH Ðprospects€for€Roma€population.€However,€a€lot€of€these€activities€were€sporadic,€spontaneous€andÐ ä4 Ða€matter€of€understanding€and€goodwill€of€individuals,€local€and€lower-ranking€officials€in€theÐ Ð  Ðgovernance€structures€and€public€companies€and€services.€In€order€to€overcome€these€unstructuredÐ ¼  Ðand€ad-hoc€activities€and€not€to€leave€everything€to€the€will€of€current€governing€structures€andÐ ¨ø Ðunderstanding€of€individual€ministers€or€local€politicians,€it€is€necessary€to€adopt€action€plans€whichÐ ”ä Ðwould€serve€as€concrete€operational€reminders€for€steps€and€measures€to€be€undertaken€in€particularÐ €Ð Ðspheres€of€life€in€order€to€improve€the€position€of€the€Roma.€In€other€words,€it€is€necessary€toÐ l¼ Ðestablish€a€system,€to€set€the€rules€and€determine€the€obligations€of€authorities€and€deadlines€for€theirÐ X ¨ Ðcompletion,€to€name€those€in€charge€and€monitor€the€implementation€of€the€plans€on€a€regular€basis.Ð D!” ÐÌ102.à  àIn€order€to€successfully€complete€the€drafting€of€the€action€plans€and€to€secure€the€supportÐ #l! Ðof€relevant€authorities,€notably€that€of€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Council€of€Ministers,€it€isÐ $X" Ðnecessary€that€these€activities€be€coordinated€by€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€withÐ ô$D # Ðthe€support€provided€by€the€Entity€ministries,€offices,€funds€and€agencies€dealing€with€the€issues€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðemployment,€housing,€health€care€and€other.€As€these€action€plans€are,€inter€alia,€needed€forÐ Ì&"% Ðaccession€to€the€Roma€Decade,€they€needed€to€be€drafted€and€adopted€by€the€end€of€2007.€It€shouldÐ ¸'#& Ðbe€kept€in€mind€that,€if€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€wishes€to€accede€to€the€Roma€Decade,€all€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdocuments€not€only€need€to€be€in€place€in€good€time,€but€also€published€and€made€publicly€availablyÐ )à$( Ðand€that€their€implementation€commence,€and€the€will€of€all€Bosnian€authorities€clearly€demonstratedÐ |*Ì%) Ðand€expressed€in€terms€of€their€commitment,€ability€and€capacity€to€successfully€resolve€someÐ h+¸&* Ðspecifically€Roma-related€problems.€Ð T,¤'+ ÐÐ @-(, Ð103.à  àIn€order€to€empower€these€action€plans,€and,€once€they€are€adopted,€to€facilitate€theirÐ ° Ðimplementation,€eliminating€thus€the€difficulties€that€Roma€are€facing€nowadays€in€the€areasÐ œì Ðmentioned,€it€has€been€foreseen€that€the€Council€of€Ministers€adopt€€the€plans,€and€their€formalÐ ˆØ Ðproponent€should€be€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees.€They€should€also€be€published€inÐ tÄ Ðthe€òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€in€special€brochures,€as€well€as€publiclyÐ `° Ðpresented€to€the€authorities,€public€offices,€companies,€NGOs€and€all€other€addressees€indicated€inÐ L œ Ðthe€action€plans€as€responsible€for€the€formulation€and€implementation€of€particular€actions:Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà0  à-à0` (#(#àThe€round€table€ð ðRoma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€society:€translating€policy€intoÐ  ` Ðpracticeðð€was€held€on€11€April€2007.€Support€was€expressed€for€the€action€planððsÐ ü L  Ðworking€groups€and€the€need€to€innovate€in€the€Education€Action€Plan€for€Roma€andÐ è 8  Ðother€national€minorities,€which€was€adopted€in€February€2004,€was€stressed;ÐÔ$ ` (#` (# ÐÌà0  à-à0` (#(#àIn€May€2007,€the€Agreement€on€Funding€of€the€Action€Plan€on€Housing€of€Roma€wasÐ ¬ü  Ðsigned€between€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€and€the€SwedishÐ ˜è  ÐInternational€Development€Agency€(SIDA).€The€Agreement€covers€the€period€fromÐ „Ô  Ð1€April€2007€to€1€October€2008,€during€which€it€is€expected€that€the€plan€would€beÐ pÀ Ðdrafted€and€that€its€implementation€and€monitoring€would€begin;€Ð\¬` (#` (# ÐÌà0  à-à0` (#(#àThe€signing€of€the€agreement€with€NGO€World€Vision€was€expected€by€June€2007.Ð 4„ ÐIrrespective€of€the€agreements€with€international€organizations€and€their€signing,€theÐ  p Ðactivities€on€the€development€of€the€action€plans€have€commenced€and€are€goingÐ  \ Ðahead€as€planned;€ÐøH` (#` (# ÐÌà0  à-à0` (#(#àMeanwhile,€the€two€meetings€of€the€Health€Care€Working€Group€were€held€inÐ Ð  ÐFebruary€and€May€2007.€The€first€meeting€of€the€Housing€Working€Group€isÐ ¼  Ðexpected€to€take€place€in€June€and€the€meeting€of€the€Employment€Working€GroupÐ ¨ø Ðis€also€probable.€A€joint€meeting€with€the€majors€of€municipalities€with€significantÐ ”ä ÐRoma€population€has€also€been€planned.ЀÐ` (#` (# ÐÌ104.à  àMoreover,€we€consider€that€positive€results€have€also€been€achieved€in€terms€of€meeting€theÐ X ¨ Ðinformation€needs€of€national€minorities.€Several€electronic€media,€including€the€Republika€SrpskaÐ D!” ÐRadio€Television€(RTRS)€and€some€other€regional€and€local€radio€and€TV€stations,€have€for€twoÐ 0"€  Ðyears€been€broadcasting€programmes€for€national€minorities€and€on€the€life€and€work€of€theirÐ #l! Ðmembers.€Several€local€radio€stations€periodically€broadcast€programmes€in€the€Roma€language,€andÐ $X" Ðupon€the€initiative€and€with€the€financial€support€of€the€National€Advisory€Board€on€Roma€of€theÐ ô$D # ÐCouncil€of€Ministers,€a€special€education€course€implemented€by€the€Media€Plan€Sarajevo€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðcompleted€at€the€end€of€2005.€The€course€was€intended€for€young€Roma€and€provided€the€trainingÐ Ì&"% Ðin€the€filed€of€journalism€and€other€media-related€jobs.€It€can€be€expected€that€the€11€young€RomaÐ ¸'#& Ðwho€completed€the€course€can€already€now€significantly€contribute€to€information€for€the€Roma€andÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€rest€of€the€public€about€the€Roma€and€their€life.€The€work€on€preparation€of€the€action€plans€wasÐ )à$( Ðpresented€to€the€public€across€the€country€at€a€press€conference€held€in€March€2007.€In€addition,€oneÐ |*Ì%) Ðschool€in€Bijeljina€publishes€a€bilingual€childrenððs€newspaper,€in€Serbian€and€in€the€Roma€language,Ð h+¸&* Ðwhich€is€important€from€the€point€of€studying€the€Roma€language€in€regular€schools.€In€Banja€Luka,Ð T,¤'+ Ðin€which€the€Republika€Srpska€National€Minority€Council€has€been€active€for€three€years,€a€bulletinÐ @-(, Ðof€this€association€is€being€regularly€published.€The€bulletin€addresses€the€problems€of€the€RomaÐ ° Ðnational€minority€and€the€work€of€their€associations€and€NGOs.€Similar€results€have€been€achievedÐ œì Ðin€the€areas€of€culture,€art€and€strengthening€the€identity€of€national€minorities,€including€Roma.€€ButÐ ˆØ Ðin€this€sphere,€especially€when€it€comes€to€studying€of€a€mother€tongue,€there€is€still€quite€a€lot€toÐ tÄ Ðbe€done€by€all€relevant€players€in€terms€of€improving€the€social,€cultural€and€religious€position€ofÐ `° Ðnational€minorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€especially€the€position€of€Roma,€because€withoutÐ L œ Ðstudying€and€speaking€their€own€language,€their€existence€would€be€in€question,€they€would€loseÐ 8 ˆ Ðdistinctiveness€and€thus€become€uninteresting€to€anyone.€Ð $ t ÐÌ105.à  àWithin€the€regulations€adopted,€national€minorities€have€not€been€discriminated€against€inÐ ü L  Ðexercising€their€rights€in€the€fields€of€labour,€social€policy,€displaced€persons€and€refugees.Ð è 8  ÐÌ106.à  àBeing€aware€of€a€number€of€unresolved€issues,€primarily€those€in€the€area€of€housing,Ð À  Ðeducation,€employment,€social€security€and€health€care,€we€have€been€making€efforts€to€find€theÐ ¬ü  Ðsolution€to€these€problems€within€the€framework€of€existing€legislation€and€available€resources.€WeÐ ˜è  Ðwould€like€to€emphasize€that€the€work€of€the€following€Roma€associations€that€are€operational€inÐ „Ô  ÐSarajevo€Canton€have€been€co-financed€by€a€number€of€one-off€co-financing€arrangements€for€them:Ð pÀ Ðð ðOur€Futureðð,€ð ðRoma€Prosperityðð,€ð ðRoma€and€Friends€Associationðð€from€Ilijas,€ð ðRoma€Brothersðð,Ð \¬ Ðwhich€deal€with€Roma€issues€and€commonly€seek€solutions€to€their€problems.€Further€to€that,€uponÐ H˜ Ðthe€initiative€of€these€associations,€assistance€is€being€provided€through€free€books€and€schoolÐ 4„ Ðaccessories€and€payment€of€extraordinary€exams€for€those€Roma€children€who€are€not€covered€byÐ  p Ðregular€education,€as€well€as€through€the€funding€of€school€excursions€for€Roma€and€givingÐ  \ Ðrecommendations€for€their€employment.€It€is€to€be€stressed€that,€under€the€Social€HousingÐ øH ÐConstruction€Programme,€six€Roma€families€have€been€allocated€flats€in€Otes.€€Ð ä4 ÐÌ107.à  àIt€should€also€be€mentioned€that€members€of€minorities€and€the€Roma€population€exerciseÐ ¼  Ðtheir€rights€in€the€areas€of€social€security,€the€protection€of€civil€victims€of€war€and€protection€ofÐ ¨ø Ðfamilies€with€children€under€the€same€conditions€as€all€other€citizens€of€Sarajevo€Canton.€€€€€€€€Ð ”ä ÐÌ108.à  àIn€cooperation€with€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Council€of€Roma,€the€Ministry€of€HumanÐ l¼ ÐRights€and€Refugees€prepared€a€document€entitled€ð ðThe€B-H€Strategy€for€Solving€Roma€Issuesðð.Ð X ¨ ÐAfter€months€of€discussion€in€Entity€and€Cantonal€governments,€as€well€as€discussions€with€NGOsÐ D!” Ðinvolved€in€minority€issues,€the€Strategy€was€adopted€by€the€Council€of€Ministers,€whereupon€it€wasÐ 0"€  Ðpublished€in€the€òòOfficial€Gazetteóó,€No.€67/05€of€27€September€2005.€The€adoption€of€this€documentÐ #l! Ðimplies€the€implementation€of€15€separate€programmes€in€various€areas€of€life€and€is€expected€toÐ $X" Ðsubstantially€improve€the€overall€condition€of€the€Roma€population€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€(inÐ ô$D # Ðterms€of€education,€employment,€housing,€social€security€and€health€care,€creation€of€census€data€onÐ à%0!$ ÐRoma€population,€etc).€The€Strategy€is€the€first€serious€and€comprehensive€document€in€the€State€ofÐ Ì&"% ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina€or€any€of€its€Entities€in€which€Roma€issues€are€addressed€and€strategiesÐ ¸'#& Ðproposed€for€their€articulation€and€solution.€The€scope€and€nature€of€activities€defined€therein€cannotÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbe€found€in€the€Draft€Work€Plan€of€the€Board€of€Roma€from€2002€or€in€the€Platform€for€Roma€drawnÐ )à$( Ðup€by€the€Roma€Council€as€an€umbrella€organization€of€nongovernmental€Roma€organizations€inÐ |*Ì%) ÐBosnia€and€Herzegovina.Ð h+¸&* ÐÌ109.à  àNotwithstanding€the€fact€that€the€Strategy€was€officially€published€in€the€òòOfficial€GazetteóóÐ @-(, Ðcited€above,€the€Council€of€Roma€within€the€Council€of€Ministers€of€Bosnia€and€HerzegovinaÐ ° Ðdecided€to€publish€the€strategy€in€the€form€of€a€booklet€in€English,€Romani€and€the€three€officialÐ œì Ðlanguages€of€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ110.à  àThe€growing€number€of€NGOs€addressing€minority,€particularly€Roma,€issues€and€theirÐ `° Ðnetworking€on€the€country€level€has€continued.Ð L œ ÐÌ111.à  àOn€27-28€June€2006,€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Council€of€Roma€organized€in€Banja€LukaÐ $ t Ðthe€Assembly€of€Roma€Non-Governmental€Organizations€and€Associations.€€Participants€in€theÐ  ` ÐAssembly€were€representatives€of€Romani€NGOs€and€associations€from€throughout€Bosnia€andÐ ü L  ÐHerzegovina,€and€a€new€Roma€Council€was€elected.€Members€of€the€Council€are€localÐ è 8  Ðnon-governmental€Roma€organizations,€which€took€part€in€the€Inaugural€Assembly€and€others€whoÐ Ô$  Ðhave€signed€the€declaration/application€and€who€respect€and€protect€the€interests€of€the€RomaÐ À  ÐCouncil€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina.€Decisions€on€the€appointment€of€new€members€are€made€by€theÐ ¬ü  ÐCouncilððs€bodies:€the€Assembly€and€the€Management€Board.€The€Management€Board€has€nineÐ ˜è  Ðmembers.€The€appointed€members€of€the€Council€are€required€to€protect€the€interests€of€the€RomaniÐ „Ô  Ðpopulation,€and€to€represent€and€defend€the€interests€of€the€Council€organizationsðð€members,€unlessÐ pÀ Ðthey€are€contrary€to€the€Constitution€and€applicable€laws.€Ð \¬ ÐÌ112.à  àThe€implementation€of€the€ð ðAction€Plan€on€educational€needs€of€Roma€and€other€nationalÐ 4„ Ðminorities€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovinaðð,€which€was€adopted€in€February€2004,€is€being€activelyÐ  p Ðpursued.€In€the€school€year€2005/06,€most€Romani€students€as€well€as€those€from€other€nationalÐ  \ Ðminorities€have€enrolled€educational€programmes€at€all€levels€of€schools€and€universities€(oftenÐ øH Ðunder€the€principle€of€ð ðpositive€discriminationðð).€Within€the€capacities€of€the€relevant€municipalities,Ð ä4 ÐCantons,€and€Entities,€the€students€were€provided€with€textbooks,€school€gear€and€financial€supportÐ Ð  Ðfor€transportation€and€meals.€Ð ¼  ÐÌ113.à  àBelow€is€a€list€of€major€conferences,€meetings,€and€educational€projects€dealing€with€issuesÐ ”ä Ðof€national€minorities,€in€particular€Roma:Ð €Ð ÐÌà0  à€-€Seminar€on€the€implementation€of€the€Framework€Convention€for€the€Protection€ofÐ X ¨ ÐNational€Minorities,€organized€by€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€and€Refugees€and€supportedÐ D!” Ðby€the€Council€or€Europe€(Sarajevo,€5-6€December€2005);Ð0"€ (#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€Conference€on€the€implementation€of€the€Action€Plan€on€Educational€Needs€of€Roma€andÐ $X" ÐOther€National€Minorities,€organized€by€the€Ministry€of€Human€Rights€of€Bosnia€andÐ ô$D # ÐHerzegovina€and€the€Advisory€Board€of€Roma€within€the€Council€of€Ministers,€andÐ à%0!$ Ðfinancially€supported€by€the€OSCE€Mission€in€Bosnia€(Vogosca,€5€July€2005);ÐÌ&"%(#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€Seminar€on€meeting€the€educational€needs€of€Roma,€organized€by€the€Ministry€ofÐ ¤(ô#' ÐEducation€and€Culture€of€Republika€Srpska€(Banja€Luka,€22€November€2005);Ð)à$((#(# ÐÌà0  à-€A€three-week€project€ð ðEducating€Roma€for€work€as€media€assistants€or€journalists€ð ð,€whichÐ h+¸&* Ðwas€completed€on€16€November€2005;ÐT,¤'+(#(# ÐÐ @-(, Ðà0  à€-€A€conference€on€the€preparation€of€Action€Plans€for€the€implementation€of€the€ð ð€BosniaÐ ° Ðand€Herzegovina€Strategy€for€solving€Roma€problemsðð,€organized€by€the€Ministry€for€HumanÐ œì ÐRights€and€Refugees,€UNHCR€and€the€Council€of€Europe€€(Mostar,€19-20€June€2006);ЈØ(#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€TheCouncil€of€Roma€inaugurated€and€organized€the€Assembly€of€Roma€non-governmentalÐ `° Ðorganizations€and€associations€(Banja€Luka,€27-28€June€2006);ÐL œ(#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€Training€in€monitoring€and€evaluation€techniques€organized€within€the€project€Equal€rightsÐ $ t Ðand€treatment€of€Roma€in€Eastern€Europe,€in€cooperation€with€the€Council€of€EuropeÐ  ` Ð(Sarajevo,€4-6€December€2006);Ðü L (#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€A€meeting€related€to€the€Council€of€Europeððs€ð ðEnough!ðð€campaign€€in€autumn€2006;ÐÔ$ (#(# ÐÌà0  à€-€A€round€table€ð ðRoma€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€society:€putting€politics€to€practiceððÐ ¬ü  Ð(Sarajevo,€11€April€2007);Иè (#(# ÐÌà0  à-€And€many€other€similar€events€have€taken€place.ÐpÀ(#(# ÐÌ114.à  àBased€on€the€above,€our€opinion€is€that€the€situation€of€national€minorities€in€Bosnia€€andÐ H˜ ÐHerzegovina€is€improving€through€political,€administrative,€and€social€changes€that€have€beenÐ 4„ Ðintroduced€i€over€the€past€few€years.€This€is€also€due€to€the€fact€that,€as€a€result€of€new€legislationÐ  p Ðand€political€circumstances,€minorities€have€begun€to€assume€a€higher€degree€of€responsibility€forÐ  \ Ðtheir€own€position.€In€this€regard,€and€in€addition€to€obligations€undertaken€by€the€State€and€by€localÐ øH Ðauthorities€to€improve€on€the€existing€legislation€and€ensure€that€the€applicable€laws€on€nationalÐ ä4 Ðminority€rights€are€duly€implemented,€there€is€a€need€to€define€common€grounds€for€social€actionÐ Ð  Ðof€minority€councils,€representatives,€and€organizations€in€the€aim€of€strengthening€the€minorityÐ ¼  Ðposition€in€the€future.Ð ¨ø ÐÌ115.à  àThese€should€primarily€be€the€activities€which€strengthen€the€role€of€national€minorityÐ €Ð Ðcouncils,€representatives,€and€non-governmental€organizations,€and€increase€their€level€ofÐ l¼ Ðparticipation€in€the€government€bodies€at€the€State,€entity,€cantonal,€and€municipal€levels.€CommonÐ X ¨ Ðactivities€and€cooperation€between€national€minority€associations€as€well€as€non-governmentalÐ D!” Ðorganizations€is€extremely€important€for€the€protection€of€minority€rights€and€the€promotion€of€aÐ 0"€  Ðdemocratic€and€civil€society.€In€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€it€is€necessary€to€undertake€public-orientedÐ #l! Ðactivities€in€order€to€eliminate€entrenched€stereotypes€about€national€minorities.€Ð $X" ÐÌ116.à  àActivities€are€needed€in€order€to€develop€the€political€culture€and€raise€the€tolerance€level,Ð à%0!$ Ðso€that€sensitive€issues€regarding€a€multi-ethnic€and€multicultural€society€may€be€discussed€withoutÐ Ì&"% Ðnationalistic€passion€and€euphoria.€In€this€context,€it€would€be€necessary€to€incorporate€as€a€part€ofÐ ¸'#& Ðeducational€reform€the€principles€of€multi-ethnic€and€multicultural€life€into€all€aspects€of€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðeducational€system.Ð )à$( ÐÌ117.à  àThe€enactment€of€the€Law€on€Protection€of€Members€of€National€Minorities€has€provided€aÐ h+¸&* Ðformal€foundation€for€the€expansion€of€minority€rights,€particularly€following€the€enactment€of€theÐ T,¤'+ Ðensuing€implementing€legislation€and€ratification€of€basic€international€documents€governing€theÐ @-(, Ðprotection€of€national€minorities.€Particularly€important€in€this€respect€are€the€FrameworkÐ ° ÐConvention€on€Protection€of€National€Minorities,€the€European€Convention€on€Human€Rights,€andÐ œì Ðthe€European€Charter€for€Regional€or€Minority€languages.Ð ˆØ ÐÌ118.à  àOverall,€the€present€political€and€social€situation€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina,€with€the€workÐ `° Ðof€the€current€composition€of€the€Council€of€Ministers,€has€been€getting€better€in€the€area€of€minorityÐ L œ Ðrights.€We€are€aware€that,€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€some€other€countries€of€the€region,€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðposition€of€national€minorities,€particularly€Roma,€is€still€inadequate.€However,€recent€times€haveÐ $ t Ðseen€increased€efforts€being€made€to€improve€on€that€situation.€In€this€context,€great€efforts€are€beingÐ  ` Ðmade€in€addressing€the€problems€regarding€the€return€of€refugees€and€displaced€persons€as€well€asÐ ü L  Ðthe€problems€of€securing€their€legal€status€and€ensuring€sustainable€return.€It€is€to€be€expected€that,Ð è 8  Ðas€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€moves€closer€to€full€European€integration€and€the€benefits€that€theÐ Ô$  Ðintegration€process€entails,€the€status€of€national€minorities€will€be€further€improved.Ð À  ÐÌ119.à  àSince€there€are€neither€records€kept€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€on€racial€discrimination€casesÐ ˜è  Ðnor€there€is€a€methodology€in€place€for€their€monitoring,€we€have€presented€data€on€the€status€andÐ „Ô  Ðprotection€of€Roma€population€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€for€the€sake€of€illustration.Ð pÀ ÐÌ120.à  àIn€May€2006€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Parliamentary€Assembly€adopted€and€announcedÐ H˜ Ðits€decision€to€establish€the€Council€of€National€Minorities€at€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€of€BosniaÐ 4„ Ðand€Herzegovina€(òòOfficial€Gazetteóó€No.38/2006).€Ð  p ÐÌ121.à  àThe€establishment€of€the€Council€at€the€Parliamentary€Assembly€has€now€reached€its€finalÐ øH Ðstage€and€is€being€jointly€implemented€by€the€Commission€for€Human€Rights,€Immigration,Ð ä4 ÐRefugees€and€Asylum€of€the€House€of€Representatives€and€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€Ministry€ofÐ Ð  ÐHuman€Rights€and€Refugees.€The€establishment€of€the€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€National€MinorityÐ ¼  ÐCouncil€will€create€better€conditions€for€systematic€realization€of€minority€rights.€The€laws€have€beenÐ ¨ø Ðbased€on€agreements€and€consensus€among€the€political€parties,€which€provides€a€guarantee€thatÐ ”ä Ðthere€is€enough€political€will€for€the€implementation.Ð €Ð ÐÌÌ_______________________Ð D!” ÐÌ1/€€The€sample€of€the€panel€study€ð ðLiving€in€B-Hðð€is€a€sub-sample€of€the€Life€Standard€MeasurementÐ #l! ÐSample€(LSMS)€conducted€by€the€World€Bank€in€cooperation€with€statistical€institutions€in€2001.Ð $X" ÐAlmost€half€of€households€from€LSMS€study€were€selected€and€transferred€to€the€panel€study.€TheÐ ô$D # Ðsame€households€were€interviewed€in€September€2003€and€for€the€fourth€time€in€November€2004.Ð à%0!$ ÐThe€study€was€conduced€by€the€Statistical€Institute€of€RS,€Federal€Statistical€Institute€and€B-HÐ Ì&"% ÐStatistical€Agency€in€cooperation€with€Birks€Sinclair€(BSAL),€Independent€Bureau€for€HumanitarianÐ ¸'#& ÐIssues€(IBHI)€and€the€Institute€for€Social€and€Economic€Research€in€Essex€(ISER).€€€€€€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔUS.,CE.,´Ô