United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Chlid published List of issues in relation to the combined Fifth and Sixth periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Before 15 May 2019, the country is requested to submit in writing additional, updated information that will also include information on further legal and awareness-raising measures taken to combat discrimination against children in line with its 2009 Law on Protection from Discrimination, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and children of parents belonging to that community. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to explain plans to eliminate discrimination against children in exercising their rights and in their access to various services based on their place of residence.
In addition, the Committee requested updates on the measures taken to assess the impact and results of the Action Plan for Children of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2015–2018, the impact, remaining gaps and renewal of the strategy for preventing and combating violence against children for 2012–2015, as well as on any measures taken or envisaged to address peer violence, including bullying in schools and violence through the Internet.
Public opinion polls have shown that LGBTI persons, along with Roma persons, are the least accepted minority group in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The vast majority of the citizens of BiH continue to see homosexuality as a disease and support criminal prosecution and punishment of LGBTI persons. The vast majority of families would not accept an LGBTI family member and would reject and exclude them solely by reason of their different identity and personal characteristics.
ERA, in close partnership with its members from Bosnia and Herzegovina: CURE Foundation and Tuzla Open Centre, submitted Written Contribution on the position of LGBTI children and children of LGBTI parents in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on 31 October 2018, highlighting main issues these children face. We urged the Committee to ask Bosnia and Herzegovina what measures and activities related to protection of LGBTI children and children of LGBTI parents have been taken or are currently being taken in the country and provided nine strategic recommendations to be taken into consideration.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reviewed by the the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in September 2019.