Within the framework of the Action “Strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman to fight discrimination” – a part of the joint programme between the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey”, the Council of Europe organised a third co-ordination meeting between the Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other relevant institutions on implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations on 25 April in Bihac.

The participants agreed and adopted the following conclusions:

1) Foster further cooperation and direct contact between the Ombudsman institution and the public institutions to which the recommendations are addressed in order to ensure their implementation;

2) The annual reports to the Ombudsman should be disseminated to cantonal assemblies and governments, as well as local governments;

3) Programs for raising awareness and education on human rights and discrimination should be initiated for general and expert public;

4) Increase the role of the Ombudsman institution in the process of adopting new legislation, through providing comments, from the aspect of human rights, on the legislative proposals and participation in public debates.

The European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey (Horizontal Facility) is a three-year programme (May 2016 – May 2019), focusing on three themes: ensuring justice; fighting corruption, economic crime and organised crime; as well as combating discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.