On Friday, June 20, in Sarajevo, Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, warned on a serious deterioration regarding the defense and promotion of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the statement, at the end of her ten-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, during which she reviewed the human rights situation, Lawlor emphasized that human rights defenders are exposed to stigmatization due to legal uncertainty and political tensions.
The Special Rapporteur noted that the Law on a Special Register and Transparency of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations in the Republic of Srpska could be used to further demonize and undermine the work of civil society organizations that benefit from foreign funds.
The UN Rapporteur stressed that the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a duty to protect those who promote and protect human rights, as well as to prosecute those responsible for attacks and counter negative narratives about their work.
The UN Special Rapporteur visited BiH from 9 to 20 June, and will present a full report on her visit to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.
Her preliminary report can be viewed at this link: Preliminary Findings and Recommendations
