Our work on the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues. During the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva Andrzej speaks about violations on economic, cultural and social rights. The statement was delivered in very close collaboration with people working in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Link to the video on UN website (No. 43, from 01:20:52)
Oral statement at the 37th regular session of the Human Rights Council
Item 3: General debate – promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
March 9, 2018
Mr. President,
VIVAT International would like to express its concern about the human rights situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina related to civil, social, cultural and economic rights.
In our previous statements, we drew the Council’s attention to the human rights situation of the people in the region of Banja Luka and in the western part of the country, in Glamoč.
Recent information coming out of these parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina brings hope and opens up the possibility for a constructive dialogue. We welcome also the efforts that the government has undertaken to protect the social and cultural rights of the people.
The Secretary General of the United Nations in the last report on the role of economic, social and cultural rights in building sustainable and resilient society for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/HRC/37/30) said: “The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that States are obliged to work progressively to fully realize those rights for everyone. The principle of progressive realization does not mean that the implementation of the Covenant rights can be indefinitely postponed.”
Therefore, we hope that the efforts of the government will not stop at the initial steps.
However, we are deeply concerned that there is still a number of state employees whose economic and social rights are not respected. In some cases, in spite of having several court rulings in their favor, there are still up to 50 salaries outstanding for each employee.
Therefore, VIVAT International recommends that the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Uphold transparency in fulfilling the obligations coming from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regards to the remuneration of its employees and comply to these rights for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Thank you, Mr. President.