UNHCR works to improve access to asylum, especially for individuals who are interested in asylum in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are likely to be granted refugee status. We work to improve the quality of the asylum procedure through the regional roll-out of the Quality Initiative, and capacity building and support to the Ministry of Security (MoS) through staffing and training for asylum and registration officials as well as strategic support in the working group for the new Migration and Asylum Strategy. Up to recently, any proposed initiative that could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process was contested and not implemented.
In support of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Global Refugee Forum pledges, we assist the authorities to enhance durable solutions for refugees, people granted subsidiary protection, and persons benefitting from the Regional Housing Programme.
UNHCR works with BiH authorities towards the country’s commitments at the High-Level Segment to end statelessness by 2024. UNHCR cooperates with the key State institutions (Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, Ministry of Security, entity-level authorities, municipal registry offices, and other actors) to improve the legal framework in law and practice.
The Representation remains engaged in supporting the implementation of Annex VII DPA by providing legal support for the access to basic rights for a selected group of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in addition to the supporting role in the Regional Housing Programme, which provides reconstruction assistance and social housing for vulnerable returnees and IDPs.