GENEVA (4 June 2025) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, will conduct a country visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 9 to 20 June 2025.
During her visit, the Special Rapporteur will assess the environment for people seeking to exercise the right to defend human rights in the country, and the extent to which they can do so freely and without fear.
She will look at the risks faced by human rights defenders, including in specific cases, and examine laws, policies and practical measures that affect the exercise of the right to defend human rights.
The Special Rapporteur will meet with state-level authorities, authorities at the entity level, and cantonal and municipal authorities, as well as a wide range of human rights defenders, including members of civil society, grassroots organisations, environmental activists, lawyers and journalists.
Lawlor will begin her visit in Sarajevo before traveling throughout the country, including to Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Prijedor, Bihać, and other areas. The visit is taking place at the invitation of the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Special Rapporteur will present her preliminary findings and recommendations in a press conference on 20 June at 11:00 local time in Sarajevo. The press conference will take place at the UN House Congress Hall (Zmaja od Bosne bb). Access will be strictly limited to accredited journalists.
The Special Rapporteur will present her report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.
ENDS
Mary Lawlor is the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
