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Home Where we are Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina What we do
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

What we do

The Mission is involved in a wide variety of activities, ranging from arms control, security sector reform, war crimes processing and the fight against trafficking in human beings, to political and education reform, gender equality, programmes to support good governance, media reform, and civil society and human rights initiatives.
Arms control
The Mission works closely with security sector institutions to decrease the risk of accidental explosion, theft and onward proliferation of weapons and ammunition stockpiles in BiH. Safer and more secure storage, handling and disposal of unstable and surplus ammunition is being attained through upgrades to physical security infrastructure at ammunition and weapons storage sites and improved ammunition and weapons life cycle management.
Combating human trafficking
The Mission works alongside domestic institutions and with international partners to enhance the legislative and policy framework for the prevention and prosecution of trafficking in human beings. It monitors individual cases and advocates for harmonization of the country’s anti-trafficking legislation with international standards.
Conflict prevention and resolution
Conflict prevention and resolution are at the centre of the Mission’s work. The Mission engages with government institutions and civil society to reduce potential drivers and sources of conflict, for examples hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents. It also mediates between various political and civic actors to increase communication to support greater community cohesion, especially in returnee areas and divided communities.
Countering terrorism
In line with the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism, the Mission assists authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in preventing and combating terrorism in a manner that upholds the rule of law and ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Democratization
In the thematic area of democratization, the Mission works on safeguarding the main principles of democratic governance at all levels of authority and ensuring that institutions and governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina are responsive, transparent, effective, representative of and accountable to citizens.
Education
Working with education authorities, elected officials, school management, teachers, parents and students, the Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has the lead responsibility in the international community for supporting education authorities in ensuring inclusive and quality primary and secondary education for all children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Elections
The Mission’s initial focus on conducting elections originated with the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, before being transferred to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Central Election Commission in 2002. The Mission continues to work on broader election-related initiatives today.
Environmental activities
Air pollution, limited water and waste management capacities and uncontrolled construction compromise the living standards, health and security of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and are an obstacle to sustainable development. In close co-ordination with the authorities, civil society and wider public, the Mission contributes to increased awareness and promotes collective action toward tackling environmental problems.
Gender equality
In order to combat gender inequality, the Mission actively integrates a gender perspective into all aspects of its political and programmatic work concentrating on promoting women’s political participation and eradicating gender-based violence.
Human rights
The Mission works to advance understanding of and respect for human rights. It works with an extensive network of counterparts, including public officials at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), on a range of human rights topics relevant to BiH’s international human rights commitments. Activities are focused on the promotion of fundamental freedoms – freedom of assembly, media, and religion or belief, the right to non-discrimination, economic and social rights, and rights of Roma and other minorities, persons and groups in situations of vulnerability.
Media freedom and development
The Mission strives to promote a safe working environment for all journalists and media professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reform and co-operation in the security sector
Bosnia and Herzegovina can further gain from a greater degree of public trust in its security sector and increased capabilities to effectively and adequately deal with contemporary and emerging security challenges and threats.
Roma and Sinti
Recognizing the issues hindering the inclusion of Roma, the Mission works to increase the access of Roma citizens to governmental authorities and human rights institutions. With respect to access to social rights, and due to the fact that Roma communities and other people in situations of vulnerability continue to face obstacles in accessing social protection, healthcare and health insurance, the Mission works to ensure individuals have access to their rights without discrimination.
Rule of law
The Mission supports the development of an independent justice system that upholds human rights and possesses the capacity and commitment to effectively investigate, prosecute and adjudicate serious crimes, including war crimes, hate crimes, trafficking in human beings, terrorism-related offenses, corruption, organized crime, and domestic violence.
Tolerance and non-discrimination
The Mission works to strengthen human rights-based practices and to combat discrimination by partnering with national legislative and governmental institutions, the judiciary, the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman, national minority representatives, and civil society organizations.