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OSCE demands adequate level of funding for Ombudsmen
SARAJEVO 31 January 2002
SARAJEVO, 31 January 2002 - In October 2001 the Federation and the OSCE completed a Memorandum of Understanding whereby responsibility for funding the Ombudsmen Institution was transferred to the Federation authorities. Minimal funding levels were stipulated following five years of direct funding by the OSCE. Given the state of the current parliamentary debate on the 2002 Federation budget the OSCE BiH expresses its concerns at the decreasing support expressed by the Federation parliament for this Human Rights institution.
The OSCE believes that the Federation authorities must uphold their obligation to support the human rights institutions in view of constitutional provisions, legally binding agreements and comparable international standards. To divert from this would undermine the fragile state of human rights and rule of law in this country.
The protection and promotion of human rights are among key commitments that BiH has undertaken to honour following accession to the Council of Europe. The list contains specific commitments including ensuring adequate funding of the human rights institutions and full compliance with the decisions and recommendations of the Human Rights Chamber and Human Rights Ombudsmen
The OSCE Mission, under its human rights mandate, will continue to work with the authorities in BiH to ensure unrestricted governmental and parliamentary support to the human rights institutions, respect for their authority and independence, and compliance with their decisions and recommendations. The Mission expects BiH authorities to live up to their commitments.
The OSCE believes that the Federation authorities must uphold their obligation to support the human rights institutions in view of constitutional provisions, legally binding agreements and comparable international standards. To divert from this would undermine the fragile state of human rights and rule of law in this country.
The protection and promotion of human rights are among key commitments that BiH has undertaken to honour following accession to the Council of Europe. The list contains specific commitments including ensuring adequate funding of the human rights institutions and full compliance with the decisions and recommendations of the Human Rights Chamber and Human Rights Ombudsmen
The OSCE Mission, under its human rights mandate, will continue to work with the authorities in BiH to ensure unrestricted governmental and parliamentary support to the human rights institutions, respect for their authority and independence, and compliance with their decisions and recommendations. The Mission expects BiH authorities to live up to their commitments.