Member of the House of Representatives and Joint Committee on European Integration of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mia Karamehić-Abazović, Holds Meeting with UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

Mia Karamehić-Abazović, Member of the House of Representatives and the Joint Committee on European Integration of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH PA), held a meeting today with Mary Lawlor, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, who is currently on a multi-day working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Special Rapporteur Lawlor, whose mandate includes promoting the effective implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders through constructive dialogue with state institutions and civil society, as well as highlighting challenges related to the right to promote and protect human rights, expressed interest in the situation of human rights defenders and relevant legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the meeting, she also inquired about specific cases of human rights violations against defenders in the country, particularly regarding controversial laws adopted at lower levels of government that restrict the freedoms and rights of representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society.

The discussion further addressed the situation of human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina working in areas such as women’s rights, environmental and natural resource protection, and the rights of persons with disabilities. Karamehić-Abazović informed the Special Rapporteur about the responsibilities and activities of the Committee, its cooperation with the BiH Parliament and civil society representatives, and outlined the existing mechanisms for human rights protection at the state level, as well as the division of competencies among various levels of government concerning human rights protection.

Special Rapporteur Lawlor announced that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be included in the upcoming regional report on the situation of human rights defenders, which will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. (end)