Press Releases
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its Extraordinary Session
10/10/2019
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, at its extraordinary phone session, a Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after consideration of a BIH Report for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights, drafted in accordance to the UN Human Rights Committee resolution 16/21 Annex paragraph 5.
The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will provide the Universal Periodic Review on Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Geneva-based UN Human Rights Committee, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH.
The Report indicates that a certain level of preparedness for implementation of the European legal standards (acquis) was reached, although the challenge remain with the harmonisation of the BIH Constitution and election legislation.
The anti-discriminatory framework was improved, and BIH institutions are prepared to some degree for combating corruption and organised crime, where the adopted strategies are in implementation. In the matter of legislation, particularly relevant are amendments made of the Criminal Procedure Code, as harmonised with international standards, directed to increase institutional capacities for solving serious organised crime cases, corruption and other challenges to the rule of law.
It adds that there is a certain improvement in terms of human rights and monitory rights protection, while processes connected to protection of journalists and human rights advocates progress somewhat slower, requiring completion of certain activities.
The legislation connected to gender-based violence and especially family violence was improved, and the main issue in this area is a more effective application of relevant regulations.
When it comes to civil society, a certain progress was made in establishing institutional mechanisms for cooperation between governments and civil society organisations.
The 2015-2018 Children Action Plan is in implementation, while the cooperation system of all relevant institutions, including the civil society, is planned to be improved.
TECHNICAL AMENDMENT OF PLATFORM FOR ACCESSING MAC
The Council of Ministers defined an amended of text form for reservations and notifications, as integral part of a Proposal Platform for Accessing to Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAC), defined by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina at its 177th session of September 19, 2019.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the amended text reservations and notification, the integral part of the Proposal Platform for Accessing to Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAC), to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further procedure.
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