A/HRC/44/42/Add.2 Annex Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants on his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe González Morales, conducted an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 24 September to 1 October 2019, at the invitation of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main objective of the visit was to assess existing laws, policies and practices in relation to migration governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their impact on the human rights of migrants of all categories, including asylum seekers and migrants in an irregular situation. 2. During his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with the relevant government authorities, representatives from the judiciary, Ombudspersons, the United Nations country team, the delegation of the European Union, representatives of civil society organizations, volunteers and migrants. In Sarajevo, the Special Rapporteur met with the Minister of Security, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Coordination Body for Migration and judges from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also had the opportunity to meet with the Ombudspersons. In Banja Luka, he met with representatives of the Ministry of the Interior of Republika Srpska and members of the coordination body for monitoring the movement of migrants. In Bihać, he met with the Prime Minister and Police Commissioner of Una-Sana Canton and the Mayor of Bihać. 3. In addition to meetings with interlocutors in relevant areas, the Special Rapporteur conducted visits to facilities for migrants, including the immigration detention centre in Sarajevo, the asylum centre in Delijaš, the Ušivak temporary reception centre, the Miral temporary reception centre, the Bira temporary reception centre, the Sedra temporary reception centre, the Borići temporary reception centre and the Vucjak site. During those visits, he met and spoke in private with migrant women, men, girls and boys. 4. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation for the cooperation extended to him by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina prior to, during and after the visit. He thanks the United Nations country team for their valuable support and assistance. He also extends his gratitude to every migrant who shared his or her personal testimony with him during the visit. II. General background information 5. The conflicts in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995 resulted in large population movements and demographic changes. Currently, the country is experiencing a demographic decline, with a high rate of emigration. In the absence of accepted State-wide census results, an estimate of the total population of Bosnia and Herzegovina as at 2016 is approximately 3.5 million.1 Based on available official data of relevant statistical agencies of countries hosting citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and diplomatic and consular representations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is estimated that at least 2 million persons have emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina, representing approximately 56.6 per cent of the total population of the country.2 6. Following the closure of the “Western Balkan route”3 in 2018, the number of migrants, including asylum seekers, arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina increased significantly. 1 2 3 2 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Statistics, “Bosnia and Herzegovina in numbers, 2016”, Official Gazette, No. 60/16. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry of Security, “Migration profile for the year 2018”, June 2019. In 2015, mixed migration flows, which include asylum seekers, began to follow an irregular migration pattern, through Greece by way of North Macedonia, through Serbia into Hungary, then towards Western European countries.