Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) experienced a substantial increase in mixed movement arrivals from 2018 (over 75,000 to date). Considering the challenges of the mixed movement situation in the country, UNHCR maintains a co-leading role of the Migrant and Refugee Working Group with the participation of relevant UN agencies and international NGOs with a focus on protection coordination to establish proper referral mechanisms for children, persons at risk, survivors of Gender-Based Violence, LGBTIQ+ individuals, and other groups with even further focus on asylum-seekers and refugees.
UNHCR in BiH promotes access to the asylum system for people in need of international protection from proper identification and referral upon entry to support durable solutions, including local integration for those granted refugee status and those granted subsidiary protection. This support is provided through capacity building, advocacy, and partnerships with key partners within the Ministry of Security (MoS), Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees (MHRR), Service for Foreigners’ Affairs (SFA), the Border Police, and the Judiciary.
UNHCR supports the Ministry of Security’s Sector for Asylum (SA) and MHRR in providing accommodation and assistance for asylum-seekers, refugees, and persons granted subsidiary protection as well as securing the rights of these individuals under international law and relevant national legislation.
With support from the European Union and in partnership with UN agencies, national and international civil society, and local authorities and institutions, UNHCR coordinates and implements projects aimed at strengthening access to free legal aid for asylum-seekers, identification, referral to appropriate services and institutions, integration, and recreational/occupational activities for vulnerable asylum-seekers. Furthermore, UNHCR runs an information centre in Sarajevo for arriving asylum-seekers.
UNHCR’s work to assist persons lacking proof of nationality focuses on supporting authorities at the State and local levels to strengthen mechanisms that will ensure identification, prevention and reduction of statelessness. UNHCR supports birth registration and issuance of nationality documents which requires the dedicated work of Vaša Prava BiH, a free legal aid NGO, until these persons are fully supported by local free legal aid offices where they exist, to ensure that individuals are assisted in registering birth and nationality in municipal books.
The Representation remains engaged in supporting the implementation of Annex VII DPA by providing legal support for the access to basic rights to vulnerable internally displaced persons in addition to the supporting role in the Regional Housing Programme, which provides reconstruction assistance and social housing for vulnerable returnees and IDPs.