A/HRC/44/42/Add.2
governmental organization funded by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR).
B.
Services provided to asylum seekers
49.
State-level institutions are responsible for migration issues, whereas education, health
care and other basic services are under the responsibility of the cantonal and municipal
authorities. Although individuals who have expressed the intention to seek asylum in Bosnia
and Herzegovina are entitled by law to accommodation, primary health-care and free legal
aid services and access to the labour market, among other things, in practice, the enjoyment
of those rights is often dependent upon where they are accommodated and the willingness of
the authorities in charge of the relevant services at the entity, cantonal or municipal levels to
provide them.
50.
As mentioned above, Vaša Prava Bosnia and Herzegovina provides free legal
information, legal counselling and legal assistance services to asylum seekers. Its staff are
frequently present at a number of reception centres in the country.
51.
The Special Rapporteur acknowledges the challenges faced by Bosnia and
Herzegovina in providing health care to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, while its
health care system is already stretched in its capacity to meet the needs of its own citizens.
Medical assistance at reception centres is facilitated by the Danish Refugee Council, with
funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the
European Union. Working closely with the relevant United Nations agencies, such as IOM,
UNHCR, the World Health Organization and UNICEF, the Danish Refugee Council assists
with access to primary and secondary health-care services, including psychosocial and mental
health services, for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. By providing financial support to
direct health-care responders, the Danish Refugee Council enhances the capacity of local
hospitals to attend to the needs of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Each reception
centre that the Special Rapporteur visited had a medical centre equipped with basic
equipment for check-ups and a pharmacy. Doctors and nurses visit the facilities regularly.
The Danish Refugee Council also facilitates specialized treatment or hospitalization, when
required, and contributes to enhancing the overall protective environment and to the
identification of individuals with protection needs, among other things.
52.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative, a non-governmental organization
and one of the partner organizations of UNHCR, provides psychosocial support,
interpretation and transportation services and recreational and vocational activities to asylum
seekers and refugees at reception centres.
53.
The Special Rapporteur noted that staff of United Nations agencies and civil society
organizations worked closely with one another at all reception facilities that he visited. On
the one hand, that demonstrates the openness of Bosnia and Herzegovina to cooperate and
work with the international community and civil society organizations; on the other hand, it
shows that, while the State should be primarily responsible, Bosnia and Herzegovina has
been heavily relying upon the international community and civil society to provide essential
services to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
C.
Access to education
54.
The Law on asylum provides that asylum-seeking children have the right to
elementary and secondary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Special Rapporteur was
pleased to learn that, since January 2019, all asylum-seeking children between 6 and 15 years
of age have been enrolled in the formal education system in Sarajevo and Una-Sana Cantons.
That is a clear manifestation of the goodwill of the Government and the excellent
collaboration among the competent authorities, the relevant United Nations agencies and
civil society organizations.
55.
The enrolment of asylum-seeking children in formal education does not seem to be a
countrywide practice, however, partly due to the complex and highly fragmented education
system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was brought to the Special Rapporteur’s attention that
asylum-seeking children accommodated in the Salakovac refugee and asylum centre in
10