Sarajevo, September 5, 2024 - The Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, express their concern about the position of the persons with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially those with intellectual and mental disabilities, who are oftentimes not involved enough in policy making concerning their rights and well-being.

According to the latest Report of the BiH Ombudsman, which has been presented in Sarajevo today, persons with disabilities face numerous challenges in exercising their basic human rights, including the need for better government care services, reduced discrimination and the greater freedom of movement. Persons with intellectual and mental disabilities are particularly affected, who often face the consequences of being deprived of legal capacity, which further complicates their integration into society.

UNFPA reminds that the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by international standards, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasizes the right to full participation and equal access to all aspects of social life. Although domestic laws and regulations are on the right track, there is still a need for further efforts to ensure full compliance with international standards, thereby improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities.

The European Commission’s Report 2023 also indicated the need to take more specific steps to solve the issues of discrimination and deprivation of legal capacity, as well as the importance of improving the collection of data on persons with disabilities. The BiH Human Rights Ombudsman invite the competent institutions to explore the possibility of creating a central register that would enable more precise monitoring and analysis of the needs of this vulnerable group.

“It is very important to monitor the exercise of the rights of persons with intellectual and mental disabilities placed in institutions, who are protected by international conventions, which is actually the objective of this Report. The Report focuses on the situation in care institutions, with a special emphasis on the economic, social and cultural rights of this group of the population that is virtually invisible in society”, said Ombudsman Nives Jukić.

Ombudsman Dr. Nevenko Vranješ pointed out that the authorities should apply international standards in providing various types of support to persons with intellectual and mental disabilities, especially bearing in mind the personal autonomy, independence and integrity of this group of people.
Ombudsman Dr. Jasminka Džumhur added, “In order to improve the protection of the rights of persons with intellectual and mental disabilities, the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Hadzimajli et al. v. Bosnia and Herzegovina case from 2015 should be a priority of the entity authorities. This Report has another additional significance as it can also be used by other monitoring bodies when visiting institutions in BiH”.

“All relevant stakeholders should be working together to improve the rights of persons with disabilities”, emphasized Marina Riđić, UNFPA assistant representative for BiH. “Every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and to participate in social life without obstacles. Special attention should be given to the mental health of persons with intellectual disabilities, because taking care of their mental health reflects a wider social approach to mental health and well-being, which is crucial in the process of building a tolerant society that embraces differences”.

The Human Rights Ombudsman of BiH and UNFPA will continue working with partners and relevant institutions to ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard and their rights are respected.