Dramatic Human Rights Situation in B&H
“The situation with human rights in these parts is appalling. The really sad thing is that human rights are discussed and mentioned only on December 10, the International Human Rights Day. It would be better if we talked about human right every day, for they are violated on daily basis,” said Branka Kolar, the Ombudsperson of the Republic of Srpska for OneWorld SEE.
Children account for one third of the total population of B&H. Every other child isn’t covered by the healthcare system. All competent sources estimate the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina at about four million (lacking a proper census), and simple math leads us to the conclusion that about half a million children in B&H lacks healthcare coverage. In addition, 5-6% of the children doesn’t go to school, and 18% of the children are forced to do hard physical labour. One in four children is subjected to violence. Most common victims of left-over mines and other explosives are the children. ”When we talk about violations of children rights, we also think of children trafficking and narcotics-abuse... Also, there is the problem of juvenile delinquency correction measures, which the children cannot serve in conditions that would be recommendable and acceptable for them. Currently, the juvenile delinquents are located in the prisons in Foca and Sokolac. They are stationed there with prisoners that are much older, and in condition totally unsuitable to their age. The saddest thing is that it just can’t succeed in the attempt to reeducate and re-socialize these yount men and that the sanction is not as effective as intended,” emphasized Branka Kolar. With the goal to improve the situation in the field of human rights, the Helsinki Committee offers free legal assistance to people that need such help. “In any given year, we receive between four and seven thousand complaints about violations of human rights, submitted by the citizens. We provide free legal assistance to all people that come to us, and I have to say that we have a rather high ratio of positively solved cases. Under the activities to celebrate and mark the International Day of Human Rights, we will publish a release designed to attract the attention of proper authorities and public opinion on the dramatic situation with children rights and their observance in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says Pandzic. Branka Kolar lists the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman doesn’t have any enforcement instruments. “The institution of Ombudsman works through recommendations, and we work in a society in which the people are inclined to respect something only if it comes in the form of decree or order. Only now, four years after the Office was established, our recommendations find a way through, in terms of them being respected and actions taken to change or regulate the issue on which we issued them.” |
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