The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms. Mary Lawlor, is on a multi-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled from June 10 to June 20, 2025. As part of her visit, today she was at the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, where she spoke with Executive Director Branko Todorović about the human rights situation in BiH, with a particular focus on the implementation of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by consensus on December 9, 1998, by the UN General Assembly.
The Helsinki Committee stated that restrictive laws in Republika Srpska have significantly hindered the work and status of journalists, media, and human rights defenders, and that there is an obvious need for all levels of government to respect the international obligations under the UN Declaration. The Ministry of Human Rights of BiH bears special responsibility in this regard, as the Helsinki Committee assessed that it has not shown visible activity in supporting the development and protection of human rights.
During her stay in BiH, the Special Rapporteur will meet with government representatives, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, environmental activists, trade unionists, journalists, human rights lawyers, as well as representatives of the international community and other relevant actors.
The purpose of this visit is to assess the situation of human rights defenders in the country in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue, to recognize positive progress as well as existing challenges, and to analyze the extent to which authorities respect the principles and obligations contained in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The Special Rapporteur will present her report on the visit to the UN Human Rights Council at its 61st session in March 2026. The report will include an analysis of the collected information and recommendations addressed to various actors, including the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For the purpose of preparing her visit, the Special Rapporteur has invited human rights defenders and other interested parties to submit information related to national laws and policies affecting the work of human rights defenders and civil society, their implementation, positive examples of support, obstacles, threats, and restrictions they face. Special attention will be given to the challenges faced by women human rights defenders, as well as those advocating for specific rights or belonging to vulnerable communities. Examples where business activities pose a threat to human rights defenders are also being sought.
The Special Rapporteur has also requested recommendations on which institutions, organizations, and individuals she should meet during the visit, as well as which regions and rural areas outside major cities should be visited. All submitted information will be used exclusively for the preparation of the visit and the drafting of the report and will not be made public.
Written by our correspondent D.I.
