E/C.12/BIH/CO/2
10.
The Committee is concerned that the complex system of administration in the State
party has resulted in disparities in the level of enjoyment of economic and social rights, in
particular regarding social protection, social services and access to health care between
Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brčko District, as
well as between Cantons within the Federation (arts. 2, para. 2; 9 and 12).
The Committee urges the State party to intensify its efforts to address disparities in
the level of enjoyment of economic and social rights, in particular social protection,
social services and access to health care between Republika Srpska, the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brčko District, as well as between Cantons within the
Federation.
11.
The Committee is concerned that refugees and internally displaced persons,
especially those belonging to ethnic minorities, are still facing discrimination resulting in
difficulties in access to economic, social and cultural rights, thereby impeding their
sustainable return despite the State party’s efforts in elimination of discrimination against
returnees, especially in terms of restitution of property (arts. 2, para. 2; 6 and 9-14).
The Committee urges the State party to intensify its efforts, including through the
adoption at State level of the draft law on amendments to the Criminal Law of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which expands the definition of a hate crime,
to ensure the sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their
home communities by ensuring their equal enjoyment of Covenant rights, especially in
the field of social protection, health care, education and employment.
12.
The Committee is concerned that Roma continue to face difficulties in equal access
and enjoyment of rights in the area of employment, social and health protection (arts. 2,
para.2 ; 6; 9 and 11-12).
The Committee recommends that the State party revise the current Action Plan of
Bosnia and Herzegovina for addressing issues of Roma in the area of employment,
housing and health care in order to better reflect the needs of the Roma population.
The Committee also urges the State party to comprehensively implement the Roma
Health Care Action Plan. The Committee further urges the State party to continue its
efforts in the registration of all Roma and issuance of identity documents, including
those in refugee camps.
13.
The Committee is concerned about the limited human and financial resources of the
Gender Equality Agency and the Gender Centre of the Entities impeding implementation of
the Law on Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Gender Action Plan (art.
3).
The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the Gender Equality
Agency’s involvement in the assessment of legal documents, from a gender equality
perspective, proposed for the adoption by the State party’s Council of Ministers. The
Committee also recommends that the State party provide the national machinery in
the field of gender equality with the necessary human and financial resources to
improve its effective functioning.
14.
The Committee is concerned about the low employment rate of women, a
disproportionately high rate of unemployment of women and the prevalence of
occupational segregation by gender, both horizontal and vertical, which all reflect the
stereotypical perception of roles of men and women in the family and society. The
Committee is also concerned about the underrepresentation of women in the elected
national and local government bodies (arts. 3 and 6).
The Committee urges the State party to effectively enforce gender equality legislation,
in particular to implement article 15 of the Law on Gender Equality, which provides
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