OSCE Mission Monitoring Highlights Persistent Gaps in Responses to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents

9 June 2026, SARAJEVO - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s long-term monitoring continues to show a significant gap between the frequency of hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents and the effectiveness of institutional responses, particularly in cases involving ethnic and religious bias.

These findings were highlighted during a thematic session of the security committees of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on hate crimes, bias-motivated incidents, and hate speech, which was organized with the support of the OSCE Mission to BiH held in Sarajevo today. The session brought together members of parliament, representatives of the police and judiciary, Federation institutions and municipalities, religious communities, civil society organizations, and the media to discuss ways to strengthen prevention and response mechanisms.

Participants discussed measures to ensure more consistent application of hate crime legislation, strengthen co-ordination among relevant institutions, support early prevention mechanisms, and improve the identification and tracking of trends that can help prevent escalation.

“Thirty years after the war, these incidents continue to pose a serious security challenge across the country, undermining trust in institutions, generating fear within and between communities, and eroding social cohesion,” said Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. He emphasized that tackling hate crimes and hate speech requires sustained political leadership, stronger institutional co-operation, and responsible public communication.

The Ambassador also stressed the importance of proactive action ahead of the upcoming elections, noting that periods of heightened political tension are often accompanied by increased inflammatory rhetoric and incidents targeting minority communities. He noted that effective prevention and response are essential to reducing tensions and strengthening long-term stability and security.

The thematic session concluded with a set of conclusions and recommendations calling on the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and competent institutions to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for preventing violence, hate crimes, and discrimination, including through improved legislation and enhanced co-ordination among key actors. The recommendations also urge more consistent enforcement, stronger victim protection, improved prevention and data systems, and enhanced training and accountability in line with international standards. In addition, they call for broader societal engagement, including responsible public discourse, education, media responsibility, and co-operation with civil society, to prevent hate speech and strengthen social cohesion.