Workshop on Global Migration Crisis in Bosnia And Herzegovina

On June 8-9, 2023, AIPG's Mediterranean Basin Programs (MBP) organized a workshop entitled "Strengthening Human Rights Protection Capacities during a Global Migration Crisis: Challenges and Best Practices from Bosnia and Herzegovina" as part of the project "Atrocity Prevention during a Global Migration Crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

The workshop complemented two online training programs organized at the intersection of atrocity prevention and immigration policy for working-level and leadership-level employees of all governmental institutions involved in decision-making on migrants, asylum seekers, and refugee protection policies, as well as for civil society organizations and academia working in the field. The online trainings, "Foundations in Atrocity Prevention" and “Migration and Atrocity Prevention,” took place between March and May 2023 and laid the groundwork for more specific discussions on the opportunities and challenges encountered during the management of the migration phenomenon in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This workshop provided around 30 participants (course participants and other guest experts) an opportunity to identify best practices, as well as frequent blockages and remaining challenges in managing migration flows in Bosnia and Herzegovina after participants had the opportunity to meet previously in a virtual environment during the online courses. The event was also a unique opportunity for participants to discuss their work experiences in the field of migration and exchange ideas on how they can collaborate to create new opportunities and tools that strengthen human rights protection capacities.

Among the participants were working and leadership-level representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Service for Foreigners' Affairs, Prosecutor's Office, the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsperson, Government of Canton Sarajevo, and security sector institutions (State Investigation and Protection Agency, Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ministries of Internal Affairs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Canton Sarajevo, Police of Brčko District), involved in decision-making on migrant, asylum seeker, and refugee protection policies. They were joined by members of academia from the University of Sarajevo and the civil society sector (“Vaša prava BiH,” Daily Integration Center - INTERGreat, ICRC, Danish Refugee Council, the NGO “Alternative,” “Network for Building Peace”) working directly in the field with vulnerable groups.

Several experts set the framework for the two-day debate to identify best practices, and remaining systemic challenges in managing migration flows in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discussion topics focused on the impact of the Schengen space on the management of the migration phenomenon in the country, asylum and temporary residency conditions for people on the move, and security policies and human rights.

Ms. Majda Kovač, who represented the Federal Administration of Civil Protection, delivered a presentation on the Strategy in the Area of Migration Asylum and the Action Plan for 2021-2025. She underscored the significance of enhanced cooperation and exchanging information and data to establish effective mechanisms of protection and accurate migration statistics.

Professor Dr. Eldan Mujanović from the Faculty of Criminalistics, Criminology, and Security Studies at the University of Sarajevo shed light on the implications of Bosnia and Herzegovina sharing a border with the EU, particularly after Croatia entered into the Schengen area. He emphasized the necessity of forging closer collaborations with neighboring countries like Croatia and Montenegro to foster mutually beneficial partnerships.

Mr. Mersudin Pružan, Prosecutor at the BiH Prosecutor's Office, delivered a comprehensive presentation on adopting an atrocity prevention perspective in institutional strategies and the development of reporting mechanisms to address identity-based violence against people on the move. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of providing specialized training to individuals involved in migration-related work.

The keynotes were followed by moderated panel discussions on collaborative responses to remaining systemic challenges: the need to simultaneously address security issues and human rights, the obstacles encountered in the fields of asylum policies and temporary residency, etc. All participants engaged in vivid discussions and stressed the importance of sustained education, training, awareness campaigns, and better coordination between the different stakeholders involved in the management of the migration process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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