Publications

Research results: The presence of principles and policies of gender equality in political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from support for female candidates, through appointments to the representation of women in legislative governmental bodies after the 2022 General Election and to visible and invisible obstacles during their term of office.

In line with its mandate and relevant OSCE commitments, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) supports Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in improving governance of its defense and security sectors by strengthening democratic control and parliamentary oversight of the BiH Armed Forces (AF BiH) as well as of the security and intelligence agencies in BiH. To this end, the Mission assists the authorities, civil society and other stakeholders in sustainably increasing their capacities for overseeing the overall performance of the sectors’ actors, advance accountability, and promote transparency. This particularly includes support to State-level parliamentary oversight bodies in their work on setting the legal parameters, adopting the budget, overseeing security activities, and protecting human rights of the AF BiH service members.

The Mission supports Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in ensuring open and secure borders. This includes attaining an integrated border security and management system that effectively prevents all forms of cross-border crime and threats while still enabling the unhindered movement of persons, goods, services and commerce. Such assistance is framed by the OSCE Border Security and Management Concept which entails a whole-of-government approach and promotes co-operation among all relevant agencies as well as international co-operation.

Security Sector and Governance Reform (SSG/R) is a nationally led process of improving the provision, governance and oversight of security and justice, principally in terms of ensuring democratic control, accountability, rule of law, and respect for human rights and gender equality. It complements parallel political, economic, and social developments within the broader context of stabilization and democratization. By increasing the capacity of a society to deal with complex threats to national and human security, and by garnering public trust and confidence in the legitimacy and ability of institutions and decision makers, such good governance engenders peace and stability

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) facilitates a comprehensive and co-operative approach to counterterrorism (CT) as well as to prevention and countering of violent extremism and radicalisation that lead to terrorism (P/C VERLT). The Mission provides policy guidance and expertise, conducts tailored capacity building, and facilitates the exchange of best practices. It also promotes and applies human rights-based and whole-of-society approaches to strengthen co-operation, non criminal interventions, and rehabilitation and re-integration programmes.

n line with its mandate, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) supports Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in developing a reliable disaster preparedness and management system in accord with its OSCE commitments and the Framework Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Property from Natural and Other Disasters. The Mission assists authorities, civil society and other stakeholders to increase resilience to natural and other hazards and to reduce the susceptibility of people and property to disaster risk. With its comprehensive approach to security, the Mission is in a unique position to advance co-operation and co-ordination among all relevant ministries and agencies on emergency/crisis management and recovery. These efforts complement implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) works to enhance the ability of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to prevent and respond effectively to security threats emanating from cyberspace in accordance with its commitments as an OSCE participating State. The Mission’s comprehensive approach entails a spectrum of support, ranging from strategic to operational. These efforts involve support to development of a harmonized strategic cybersecurity framework, establishment of Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), and cybersecurity co-operation.

In line with its mandate and relevant OSCE commitments, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Mission) works closely with institutional partners in developing a better-governed security and defense sector capable of more effectively responding to contemporary and emerging threats and challenges to national and human security. Such Mission support includes assistance in decreasing the risk of accidental explosion, theft and proliferation of weapons, ammunition, and explosives in BiH. It also includes support to ensuring BiH compliance with and timely reporting on OSCE arms control commitments.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina developed, and, during the period from October 2019 to March 2022, implemented the project “Quality Education through Curriculum Reform”, funded by the governments of the Kingdom of Norway and the Italian Republic. The Project aimed to support education authorities in answering to an urgent need for change (PISA 2018, TIMSS 2019, and the struggles of online teaching amidst the COVID-19 pandemic) by improving inclusivity and quality of education through reforming curricula in line with the BiH Common Core Curriculum based on Student Learning Outcomes. This factsheet contains brief summary of project results.

By supporting activities aimed at increasing the capacity of executive and legislative structures to work in the interest of citizens, ensure legislative oversight, and assist the country to achieve its reform policy goals, the Mission contributes to promoting stability and reconciliation in BiH by developing systems of governance. The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina works on safeguarding the main principles of democratic governance at all levels of authority and ensuring that institutions and governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina adhere to good governance standards to ensure that they are responsive, transparent, effective, representative of and accountable to citizens.