National Human Rights Systems: Bosnia and Herzegovina
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47078/2026.1.333-368Keywords:
Human rights protection system, Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, The Constitutional Court of BiH, the institution of the Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and HerzegovinaAbstract
The provisions of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: the Constitution of BiH), inter alia, regulate the catalogue of human rights and freedoms, as well as the right to access the exercise of rights through institutions whose primary task is to protect human rights in the country.
The basic issue concerning the effective protection of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reflected in the legal nature of the Constitution of BiH; however, it is also reflected in the relationship between the Constitution of BiH and ratified international instruments for the protection of human rights—primarily the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter: the European Convention). In other words, the provisions of the Constitution of BiH address the effective institutional protection of human rights and freedoms in the material sense of the phrase.
In addition to the judicial authorities, which certainly represent the most important institutions in resolving disputes, the institution of the Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Constitutional Court of BiH and the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH play a key role in the process of protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
One particularly important issue is the trust of citizens in state institutions whose primary task is to protect human rights.
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