Bosnia and Herzegovina

Victim Assistance

Last updated: 01 October 2019

Survivor assistance action points

  • Ensure that mine/ERW survivors receive sufficient financial support to purchase prosthetic devices that are adapted to their specific needs.
  • Increase efforts for the economic inclusion of mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) survivors and their families.
  • Make adequate assistance available to all persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.
  • Identify sustainable resources for assistance.
  • Speed up the establishment of a mine/ERW victim database in the Republic of Srpska.
  • Ensure that mine/ERW survivors are aware of the simplified procedure to access their right to 14 days rehabilitation in a spa.
  • Improve accessibility of public buildings.

Survivor assistance planning and coordination

Government focal point

BiH Mine Action Center (BHMAC)[1]

Coordination mechanisms

Coordinating Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for Assistance to Victims of Mines, Cluster Munitions, and Explosive Remnants of War.[2]

Coordination regularity/frequency and outcomes/effectiveness

An official victim assistance coordination body was established in May 2018. Two coordination meetings were held in 2018.[3] The Coordinating Body plans to hold quarterly meetings.[4]

Plans/strategies

A new mine survivor assistance strategy for the period 2018–2025 was ratified by the Council of Ministers in 2018.[5]

Disability sector integration

The BiH Council of Persons with Disabilities is included in the victim assistance coordination body.

The National Council of Persons with disabilities does not recognize mine victims as a particular affected group.

The victim assistance coordination body made efforts to raise awareness of the needs of mine/ERW survivors among relevant organizations in relation to human rights instruments, including the Council of Persons with Disabilities.[6]

Survivor inclusion and participation

Mine/ERW survivors and their representative organizations were included in the Victim Assistance Coordinating Body. The co-deputy chairman of the Coordination Body is a mine survivor.[7] Survivors are also included in the provision of victim assistance services through NGOs.[8] The Coordinating Body planned to engage more mine survivors on survivor assistance issues.[9]

Reporting (Article 7 and statements)

Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

BiH delivered a statement on survivor assistance at the Mine Ban Treaty’s 17th Meeting of States Parties in Geneva, in November 2018.

 

International commitments and obligations

BiH is responsible for significant numbers of mine/ERW survivors

Mine Ban Treaty

Yes

Convention on Cluster Munitions

Yes

Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol V

Yes

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Yes

 

Laws and policies

Since 2017, all eligible mine/ERW survivors in the Republic of Srpska should be able to receive financial support for the purchase of prosthetic devices every three years, although this financial support was not sufficient to purchase adequate prosthetic devices for those who were very active. Mine/ERW survivors are also entitled to 14 days rehabilitation in a spa, through a simplified procedure.[10]

The Federation of BiH has a 2016–2021 strategy for the advancement of the rights and status of persons with disabilities. In April 2017, the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska adopted a 2017–2026 strategy for improving the social conditions of persons with disabilities.[11]

While the law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities, discrimination in employment, social and health protection, and delayed payments of disability allowance continued.[12] Despite laws requiring increased accessibility to buildings for persons with disabilities, authorities rarely enforced the requirement.[13] Human rights NGOs continued to report that many new public buildings continued to be constructed without being made accessible for persons with disabilities.[14]

Major Developments in 2018–2019

Overall, physical rehabilitation, psychological support, and economic inclusion were reported to have improved since 2017.[15] An improvement in the quality of prosthetic devices provided in the Republic of Srpska was also reported for 2018.[16] Civil society, however, reported that service providers and financial support remained at 2017 levels, and that complicated procedures hindered full access to guaranteed rights.[17] There was no improvement to accessibility in the survivors’ physical environment.[18]

A three-year project funded by the European Union (EU), launched in November 2018, and implemented by the Organization of Amputees of Republic of Srpska (Organizacija amputiraca Republike Srpske, UDAS) aims to build the capacity of survivors and women with disabilities, to raise awareness of disability issues among civil society organizations and local authorities, and to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities.[19]

Needs assessment

BHMAC reported that its casualty database was regularly updated and was available to interested stakeholders.[20]

Medical care and rehabilitation

In 2018, BiH continued to have 60 community-based rehabilitation (CBR) centers for mental and physical rehabilitation.[21] In addition to these CBR centers, some additional local rehabilitation centers also provide services to mine/ERW survivors, such as making and fitting prostheses.[22]

ITF Enhancing Human Security resumed its rehabilitation project for mine/ERW survivors, which ran from August to December 2018. As part of the project, mine/ERW survivors received prostheses and assistive devices at the Miracle Centre[23] and prostheses at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Slovenia.[24] Patients also received psychosocial support at the Miracles Centre for Prosthesis and Care.[25] UDAS assisted mine/ERW survivors in applying for new prosthetics by providing legal support and advice and by referring survivors to relevant service providers, including prosthetic workshops and rehabilitation centers.[26] In 2018, the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) provided mine/ERW survivors with prosthetics and physical rehabilitation services, within the framework of its Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS).[27]

In 2018, there was one center providing psychological support in the BiH and one similar center in the Republic of Srpska.[28] A joint World Vision and UDAS project aims at promoting peer support, including through a workshop held in June 2018 for staff of mental health centers and physical rehabilitation centers and through efforts to establish peer support groups. The project is being implemented in 11 municipalities of BiH: Doboj, Stanari, Zvornik, Čajniče, Konjic, Lukavac, Donji Vakuf, Travnik, Bihać, Velika Kladuša, and Bosanska Krupa.[29] The project was due to end on 31 July 2019.[30]

Socio-economic and psychosocial inclusion

The EU is funding a two-year socio-economic inclusion project for mine/ERW survivors in BiH. Through World Vision and UDAS, survivors received support in setting up income-generating activities.[31] By April 2019, 60 survivors had received such support,[32] including children and widows of people killed by mine/ERW.[33] Under this project, staff of mental health centers and CBR centers received training in 2018.[34] Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) also operated an EU-funded socio-economic inclusion project to support mine survivors by providing business training and business grants to mine victims or members of their families.[35] ITF awarded scholarships to 19 survivors for the academic year 2017–2018.[36]

At the end of 2018, the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Republic of Srpska issued a call for economic empowerment of persons with disabilities through the launch of new businesses or the expansion of existing ones.[37]

Cross-cutting

It was reported that relevant institutions did not recognize the special needs of the children and family members, including widows and windowers, of people injured or killed by mines/ERW.[38]

Survivor assistance providers and activities

Name of organization

Type of activity

Government

Ministry of Health, Federation of BiH

Public health services; CBR[39]

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republika Srpska

Public health services; CBR[40]

Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Republika Srpska

Employment and training[41]

Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Federation of BiH

Employment and training[42]

Ministry of Refugees and Displaced Persons of BiH

Resolving housing problems of mine victims

Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Federation of BiH

Employment and training[43]

Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

 

The rights of victims and the implementation of conventions related to mine victims

Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Republika Srpska

Financial support for orthopedic devices and spa treatment[44]

National

Interdepartmental Body of the Government of the Republika Srpska for the Persons with Disabilities

Improving the living conditions of persons with disabilities

Organization of amputees UDAS Republic of Srpska

Social and economic inclusion with cultural and sport activities, information services, peer support, advocacy, empowerment of mine survivors and women with disability, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and legal advice[45]

Eco Sport Group (Eko sport grupa)

Scuba diving, psychological/physical rehabilitation, social integration

Posavina Without Mines (Posavina Bez Mina)

Awareness raising[46]

STOP Mines, Pale

Economic inclusion

International

Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB)

Income generation and socio-economic inclusion[47]

Hope 87

Social inclusion; education and training

International Trust Fund: Enhancing Human Security (ITF)

Prosthetics,[48] rehabilitation,[49] assistive devices,[50] psychosocial support,[51] socio-economic inclusion,[52] inclusive sport[53]

Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI)

Prosthetics and physical rehabilitation[54]

Miracles Center for Prosthesis and Care, Mostar

Prosthetics

World Vision

Social inclusion; education and training[55]

 



[1] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[2] The coordination body has 23 members. Members include representatives of the Ministry of Civilian Affairs of BiH, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska, Ministry of Labor and Veterans of the Republic of Srpska, Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministry for Veterans and Disabled Veterans Issues of the Federation of BiH, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Federation of BiH, Ministry of Veterans of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Republic of Srpska Red Cross, Federation of BiH Red Cross, BiH Red Cross, BiH Mine Action Center (BHMAC), BiH Council of Persons with Disabilities, Organization of Amputees Republic of Srpska (Organizacija amputiraca UDAS Republike Srpske, UDAS), World Vision, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, STOP Mines Pale, ECO Sport Group Sarajevo, and Posavina Without Mines Brcko. Email from Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 31 May 2018.

[3] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[4] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[5] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[8] The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska supports UDAS’ activities through a three-year agreement, from 2017 to 2019. Moreover, a mine survivor has been designated as the national coordinator to improve the healthcare of persons with disabilities for the Republic of Srpska. Interview with Andreja Subotić Popović, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, 31 March 2017; and response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 3 May 2018.

[9] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[10] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[11] Ibid., 3 May 2018.

[12] United States (US) Department of State, “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018: Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Washington, DC, 13 March 2019.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[16] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid.

[20] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019; BHMAC, “Izvještaj O Protivminskom Djelovanju Za 2018. Godinu” (“Mine Action Report for the Year 2018”), undated, p. 20; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[21] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[22] Interview with Amir Mujkić, President, Association of Veterans with Disabilities Zavidovići, Orthopedic Workshop, Zavidovići, 30 March 2017.

[23] ITF “Annual report 2018,” Ljubljana, 8 March 2019, p. 44.

[25] ITF, “Annual report 2018,” Ljubljana, 8 March 2019, p. 44.

[26] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019; and Amir Mujanovic, “Landmine survivors: recovery and reintegration in Bosnia and Herzegovina twenty two years after the war,” 13 July 2018.

[27] US State Department, “To Walk the Earth in Safety,” 3 April 2019, p. 34.

[28] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019.

[29] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019; BHMAC, “Izvještaj O Protivminskom Djelovanju Za 2018. Godinu” (“Mine Action Report for the Year 2018”), undated, p. 20; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[30] BHMAC, “Izvještaj O Protivminskom Djelovanju Za 2018. Godinu” (“Mine Action Report for the Year 2018”), undated, p. 21; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[31] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[33] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[34] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Esher Sadagić, BHMAC, 4 March 2019; and BHMAC, “EU improves lives of landmine victims in BiH,” 3 November 2017.

[35] Arbeiter Samariter Bund, “To Earn, Not To Get,” 21 March 2019.

[36] ITF, “Annual Report 2018,” Ljubljana, 8 March 2019, p. 45; and ITF, “Annual Report 2017,” 19 March 2018, p. 51.

[37] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[38] Ibid.

[39] Response to Monitor questionnaire by BHMAC, 27 April 2018.

[40] Ibid.

[41] Ibid.

[42] Ibid.

[43] Ibid.

[44] BHMAC, “Izvještaj O Protivminskom Djelovanju Za 2018. Godinu” (“Mine Action Report for the Year 2018”), undated, p. 21; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[45] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.

[46] BHMAC, “Izvještaj O Protivminskom Djelovanju Za 2018. Godinu” (“Mine Action Report for the Year 2018”), undated, p. 21; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[47] Arbeiter Samariter Bund, “ASB in Bosnia and Herzegovina awarded mine victims with large cattle,” 6 June 2019; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for calendar year 2018), Form J.

[48] ITF “Annual report 2018,” Ljubljana, 8 March 2019, p. 44.

[49] Ibid.

[50] Ibid.

[51] Ibid.

[52] Ibid., p. 45.

[53] Ibid., p. 43.

[54] US State Department, “To Walk the Earth in Safety,” 3 April 2019, p. 34.

[55] Response to Monitor questionnaire by Zoran Jesic, UDAS, 4 March 2019.