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The situation for the homosexuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Written question No. 554 to the Committee of Ministers | Doc. 11738 | 03 October 2008

Signatories:
Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC
Thesaurus

In connection with a festival for homosexuals in Sarajevo on 25 September 2008 some of the participants were exposed to violent attacks by demonstrators. The festival was the first of its kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the organizers decided after day one to close the festival according to the many violent attacks.

It seems as if many Bosnians this very day consider homosexuality as a disease. It also includes members of different political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I note that the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Protocol no. 12 to the Convention, in which Article 1 reads as follows:

“The enjoyment of any right set forth by law shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.”

In the light of these facts, it would be of a great interest to know if the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina intends to take any measur to:

1 avoid similar episodes of attacks on homosexuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
2 secure equal rights of homosexuals in society?
3 protect homosexuals against discrimination?
4 inform the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina about the rights of homosexuals?

Therefore, I ask the Committee of Ministers to request the relevant information on those matters from the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to inform me about it.

Signed:

JENSEN Mogens, Denmark, SOC