On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Bosnia and Herzegovina LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Bosnia and Herzegovina COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Bosnia and Herzegovina is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is party to the 1951 Refugee Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina is party to both the 1954 Statelessness Convention and the 1961 Statelessness Convention.
The Government has the responsibility to process asylum claims and to decide whether somebody can be granted refugee status in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina will examine your application and will make a decision in accordance with The Asylum Law established in 2016.
To learn more about the provisions on the Asylum Law, visit the UNHCR’s pages on the Rights and Obligations of Asylum Seekers and Where to Seek Help.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Address: Bravadžiluk bb, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33 237-240
Email: info@fld.ba
The Foundation of Local Democracy is a local non-governmental organization. The primary focus of our work is the advancement of human rights, especially rights of victims of violence.
Since 2010, FLD, with the support of UNHCR, has been providing free legal aid to persons seeking international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through the provision of free legal aid, FLD is helping to improve the asylum procedure in BiH.
Website
Address: Dolina 1, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina
Tel: +387 33 200 051
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded on 11 February, 1995. It is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization. Since 1999 it has covered the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. BiH provides free legal aid to refugees, mostly in the form of recommendations, counseling, and performing before the courts and administration. They also (in some cases) represent clients in the court.
Website
Facebook
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Address: Safeta Hadžića 66A, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33 789 105
Email: sarajevo@vasaprava.org
Vaša Prava is a UNHCR partner which has been operating since 1996 as a free legal aid service provider for refugees. It is currently the largest legal aid provider in Bosnia and Herzegovina and over the years it has assisted 400,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. Vaša Prava has a team of 5 staff in 15 different offices across the country, and provides counseling and public outreach programmes as well as legal aid. Each office covers a different area of the country (see list of locations with addresses and contact information here).
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Facebook
Address: Fra Andjela Zvizdovica 1, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33 295 418
Email: info@bhwifoundation.ba
The Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative (BHWI), or BHWI Fondacija, is an NGO and one of UNHCR’s partners which offers a range of services to asylum seekers and refugees, including Psychosocial support; Interpretation and transportation services for official services and institutions; and Recreational and vocational activities.
BHWI are present in a number of the reception centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Salakovac Refugee Reception Centre, the Delijaš Asylum Centre, and the Ušivak Transit/Reception Centre. You can also meet BHWI staff at the UNHCR Information Centre in Sarajevo.
Website
Facebook
Address: Nedima Filipovića 9, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33 645-746
Email: sjediste@ckfbih.ba
The Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina offers various types of assistance to asylum seekers and refugees and works in collaboration with IOM, UNHCR, the government, and other actors on the ground. The Red Cross is present countrywide but have increased focus on support for asylum seekers and migrants in key locations, such as in Una-Sana Canton.
Restoration of family links
If you have lost contact with your family members, the worldwide Family Links Network of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and International Committee of Red Cross may help you to locate them and get back in contact with them.
For more information:
- Visit the Family Links website and consult the Trace the Face website to see if your family members are looking for you;
- Approach the closest office of Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina to inform them about your inquiry and ask for advice.
Bosnia and Herzegovina LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina COI
Find Bosnia and Herzegovina Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023