It is important to know what is a hate crime. When a hate crime is committed, one or more perpetrators target the victim, which can be one or more people or property, because of a protected aspect of the victim's identity, such as religion or ethnicity, race, sexual orientation or disability. Similarly, a hate incident is an act of hostility motivated by prejudice or bias that does not necessarily reach the threshold of a criminal offence, or the criminal nature of which is yet to be determined. A hate crime is any crime where the perpetrator is driven by prejudice or bias.

BANJA LUKA, 24 February 2026 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission), Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, conducted a two-day visit to Banja Luka, engaging with senior Republika Srpska (RS) officials, political representatives, institutions, civil society and media. 

BANJALUKA, 19 February 2026 - Public safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) received a major boost today with the official opening of the Verification Centre for Deactivated Firearms at Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior Training Center in Zalužani.Established through the OSCE project “Addressing Security and Safety Risks of Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of SALW and Their Ammunition in BiH,” the Centre represents a significant step toward further strengthening regional security.