BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Ministarstvo za ljudska prava i izbjeglice Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees No. 01-39-2-2897-4/16 Sarajevo, 10 January 2017 RESPONSES to questions raised in the Report on the Country Visit A/HRC/22/49/Add.l – Recommendations under Chapter VIII (paragraphs 78 through 106) of the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Rita Izsak-Ndiaye Question 1. l. Please provide all information relating to the implementation of the recommendations under the Report A/HRC/22/49/Add.l. In this regard, I am particularly interested to learn about specific laws, policies and programmes that have been applied since my visits, specifically tackling minority rights issues. 2. In case that specific recommendations have been implemented, please indicate to what extent the Government of Your Excellency believes these to be efficient to improve the position of minorities. Please provide evidence in support. General Recommendations (number 78 through 84) – Responses: Recommendation (78-80) The Anti-Discrimination Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of BiH, No. 59/09) protects all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina against discrimination in all spheres of life, including: employment, welfare and health care, judiciary and administration, housing, public information, education, sport, culture, science, economy, etc., from all forms of harassment, sexual harassment, mobbing, segregation or incitement to discrimination. According to this Law, all public authorities and governments have an obligation and a duty to combat discrimination and refrain from it, eliminating obstacles that may directly or indirectly result in discrimination. Institutions are also required to actively create and facilitate conditions for equal treatment through amendments to the existing and adoption of new laws, policies and practices. Amendments were made to the Anti-Discrimination Law, adopted at the 21st session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina held on 14 July 2016. According to the amended Law, possible discrimination grounds were now expanded to also include disability, age and sexual orientation. Bosnia and Herzegovina has incorporated the postulates of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in its criminal legislation, prescribing criminal penalties for all forms of racial discrimination. Sarajevo, Trg Bosne i Hercegovine 1, Phone/Fax: 033/206-655