Bosnia and Herzegovina’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers was scrutinised during its review at the UN Universal Periodic Review in January. The GDP, Border Violence Monitoring Network, and Collective Aid submitted evidence to the UPR detailing concerns regarding Bosnia’s treatment of non-nationals. Key detention-related issues raised in the submission are reflected in member state recommendations, including from the Gambia, which recommended that Bosnia “Ensure humane and lawful treatment of migrants and refugees, with special attention to ending the immigration detention of children and improving conditions in border areas.”
Several other countries also issued recommendations concerning Bosnia’s treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. These included:
Niger: Strengthen access to quality education at all levels, especially for children with disabilities, Roma, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and prevent school dropout;
Mexico: Strengthen and improve mechanisms for identification, protection and assistance to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, including training of officials in possible cases of human trafficking, adopting a rights-based approach, focused on victims and guaranteeing the best interests of children;
Uruguay: Ensure that refugees applicants are able to register a claim, and those who qualify are granted refugee status allowing them to gain access to travel documents, family reunification and local integration pathways.
