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Press statement | 16.05.2017

The Ombudsmen published Special Report on the use of official language and script in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Languages, IllustrationLanguages, Illustration

The Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of received complaints, but also ex officio, launched an investigation procedure (W-BL-01-622 / 13 Ž-SA-01-977 / 13 Ž-SA-04-1114 / 13 , F-SA-06-1133 / 13, F-SA-1152/13, F-LI-06-226 / 14, F-SA-05-500 / 15, F-SA-06-615 / 15, F -SA-06-854 / 15 Ž-SA-06-13 / 16 Ž-BL-06-359 / 16 Ž-BR-06-225 / 16) regarding the use of official language and script in the primary schools and ways of entering the title of school subject "Bosnian-Bosniak language" in testimony and grade reports of primary school students in the Republic of Srpska. Acting in these cases, and in view of the act of Vice President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, number 02-10-356-01/15 of 10.14.2015, requesting preparation of the Report on the use of official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or in both entities and cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ombudsmen started its production.

Through their Special Report the Ombudsmen pointed competent authorities to the duty to take measures, with the aim of every child in any part of Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoy equal access to education, and which is especially related to areas with significant returnee populations, in both entities, and remind them that any failure in this regard, according to the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, raises the question of misdemeanor and civil liability. The Ombudsmen reminded that the best interest of the child requires all the bodies responsible for the processes of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina to undertake efforts that will result in the establishment of an environment that supports the personality of students, with the absence of any form of discrimination.

The Ombudsmen sent a recommendation to the competent authorities (the Government of the Republic of Srpska and the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federation Ministry of Education and Science, the governments of all cantons and cantonal ministries of education, as well as the Government of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Department of Education ) to immediately take all necessary measures in order to all primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina or its entities and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure equitable and equal treatment of children in terms of teaching the official languages of the constituent peoples.

The Ombudsmen also recommended to the competent authorities to immediately take all necessary measures so that children in all primary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina or its entities and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina learn scripts that are in official use in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Latin and Cyrillic.

Special Report download link.



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