Newsroom
Ombudsman Office releases first annual report in Republika Srpska
BANJA LUKA 6 April 2001
BANJA LUKA, 6 April 2001 - OSCE Head of Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert L. Barry, congratulated the Republika Srpska Ombudsmen Office on its first year of operation of a multiethnic ombudsmen institution in the Republika Srpska and on the release of its first annual report.
"The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has repeatedly stressed the importance of a coherent structure of ombudsmen institutions in both entities and their important role for the protection of human rights, refugee return and reconciliation," Barry stated. "The first annual report of the new multi-ethnic RS Ombudsmen presented today strongly supports this view and highlights the excellent work of this office."
In the period from November 2000, when the RS Ombudsmen began receiving individual cases, to February 28 2001, 973 cases were received. Of these, 134 cases have been completed, the majority involving property and return-related issues. The number of applications received clearly demonstrates the need for an independent and multi-ethnic ombudsmen institution in the Republika Srpska.
The OSCE will continue to support the important work of the RS Ombudsmen in the future, with a view to completing its task of establishing sustainable and independent ombudsmen institutions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures.
The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
"The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has repeatedly stressed the importance of a coherent structure of ombudsmen institutions in both entities and their important role for the protection of human rights, refugee return and reconciliation," Barry stated. "The first annual report of the new multi-ethnic RS Ombudsmen presented today strongly supports this view and highlights the excellent work of this office."
In the period from November 2000, when the RS Ombudsmen began receiving individual cases, to February 28 2001, 973 cases were received. Of these, 134 cases have been completed, the majority involving property and return-related issues. The number of applications received clearly demonstrates the need for an independent and multi-ethnic ombudsmen institution in the Republika Srpska.
The OSCE will continue to support the important work of the RS Ombudsmen in the future, with a view to completing its task of establishing sustainable and independent ombudsmen institutions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures.
The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.