The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomed, on Wednesday, the decision by the UN Committee Against Torture requiring Bosnia to “provide all forms of redress to victims of war crimes, including sexual violence”.

It is the duty of the authorities to adequately act and ensure that survivors receive justice and that they can access key services and support Allowing those injured by war crimes to claim non-material damages is an important advancement in guaranteeing victims’ rights in Bosnia.

The UN Committee’s decision is in line with the Mission’s recommendations provided in the report “Towards Justice for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Progress before Courts in BiH 2014–2016“ published in June 2017.

In this report, the Mission noted the positive development of an increasing number of nonmaterial damage claims awarded to victims of sexual violence during war crimes proceedings. However, the Report also recognized significant enforcement challenges.

The OSCE Mission urged the authorities in Bosnia to implement the decision of the UN Committee and to consider the recommendations given in the above Report.