IFS-EMMAUS is a leading civil society organisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina fighting against trafficking in human beings and online child abuse and exploitation. The mission of IFS-EMMAUS is assistance to vulnerable individuals, through rehabilitation, repatriation and reintegration. Its key activities include prevention and suppression of trafficking in human beings with particular focus on children, as well as online child abuse and exploitation. IFS-EMMAUS also manages the European Resource Center for the Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings and other Forms of Exploitation, focusing on training and capacity building, awareness raising and prevention, as well as research and information sharing.
Contact: Ms. Amela Efendic
Phone: +387 33 263 385
Address: Head Office: Duje, 74 207 Klokotnica, Doboj East
Email:
sarajevo@mfs-emmaus.ba
Website: https://mfs-emmaus.ba/
Bosnian girls are trafficked for sexual purposes within the country’s borders in private residences, motels and gas stations. They are also trafficked across Europe to countries including Croatia, France, Serbia, Slovenia and Austria.
Vulnerable groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina include Roma girls, who are forced into marriages and subsequently trafficked to Paris and forced to pickpocket, as well as Roma children whose difficulties in accessing education due to prevailing discrimination makes them vulnerable to exploitation.
Family violence against children is an issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Agency for Gender Equality estimating that one in five families experience domestic abuse. Social workers often lack resources to provide housing for children who have fled abuse or require removal from abusive homes.
No
Age of sexual consent is 14 years. The national legislation does not provide for a close-in-age exemption
ECO Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2018
No
In BiH and FBiH active and passive extraterritoriality is provided for SEC crimes but only if the offender is found within their respective territories.
FBiH additionally provides for universal jurisdiction for SEC crimes punished with at least 5 years of imprisonment, covering only some offences. It is unclear whether the double criminality principle applies in these instances.
RS and BD also recognize active and passive extraterritoriality for SEC crimes and require double criminality.
Extradition is provided for SEC related crimes but it requires double criminality, can only be decided by the Court of BiH and can be denied under several circumstances (acquittal, pending proceedings…)
ECO Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2018
Partial
The Criminal Code of BiH does not contain provisions that deal with offences related to online child sexual exploitation.
The Criminal Codes of FBiH and BD do criminalise some CSAM-related offences but there is no clear definition of what constitutes CSAM which seems to only cover visual material (video and photo).
The Criminal Code of RS provides a definition of CSAM in line with international standards.
ECO Bosnia, 2018
Not Yet Assessed
Partial
Bosnia and Herzegovina has ratified the CRC, the OPSC, the OPIC, the Trafficking Protocol and the ILO Convention No. 182.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has also ratified the Council of Europe’s Lanzarote and Budapest Conventions.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has not ratified the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics
ECO Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2018
Not Yet Assessed
No
There is no dedicated national police unit that specifically includes SEC in its mandate.
ECO Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nov-18
Not Yet Assessed
Partial
National data on cases of trafficking in human beings is published on a yearly basis and is disaggregated by form of exploitation, age, gender and nationality. It is unclear whether these reports provide information on compensation sought by child victims.
There is no public case date for other SEC manifestations beyond UNICEF reports on child marriage.
ECO Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nov-18