Why not approved march against violence against LGBT people

From Sarajevo Open Center for Tomorrow have announced a protest rally on the occasion of denial of the right to public assembly or and violence against LGBT people.

Specifically, as stated in the invitation, instead of the planned march for human rights of LGBTI person who is supposed to be organized on 13 May 2017 in Sarajevo will be held a protest rally on the same day to the Ministry of Transport of Canton Sarajevo on the occasion of denial of the right to public assembly and against violence against LGBT people.

"Open Center has complied with the current regulations to report the march, however, in addition to the many calls and proposals of meetings with the Ministry of Transport of Canton Sarajevo, it was never in any way advertise on our request from, which are denied by the Constitution and international documents with the right to public assembly .

Given that the Ministry of Transport of Canton Sarajevo did not timely respond to the submitted application, SOC can not comply with the laws in BiH regulated procedures, nor maintain the announced march on the selected route, which passes traffic, which has been detained for many similar events, and even and manifestations of less importance than the protection of human rights of citizens / to Bosnia and Herzegovina without any hassle " , announced from the Sarajevo open center.

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Due to administrative silence of the Ministry of Transport, the allegations, which lasted for nearly a month, was completely stopped and disabled statutory procedures organization of the march and violated the right to freedom of assembly for LGBT people in the Sarajevo Canton.

Protest rally will be held at 11: 45-12.30 in front of the Ministry of Transport KS (park between the building of the Canton of Sarajevo and the Presidency).

On the denial of the right to public assembly, and violence against LGBT people advertise they are the ambassadors of Sweden, the Republic of Italy, the United Kingdom, the head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain and the Federal Republic of Germany in Sarajevo

"We were participating in the march against violence against LGBT people which was planned to take place on 13 May, organized by the Sarajevo Open Center. As organizers, unfortunately, not in time to get all the necessary permits, the march can not be held as planned . We believe that it should be possible to organize this kind of event in a country where there is freedom of assembly and which was established by the European Convention on human rights.

We want to show our greatest solidarity with the Sarajevo open Center and the LGBT community in Bosnia and Herzegovina. it should be possible to people are free to live their lives without threats of violence, regardless of their ethnicity, creed or sexuality, " according to a statement signed by the ambassadors Anders Hagelberg, Nicola Minasi, Edward Ferguson and Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, as well as charges d'affaires Javier Blanco and Christian Sedat.

"We hope and expect that the march would soon be organized and we will be glad to attend and express our true support," the statement said.

Turn to the Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina

With the case were introduced to the Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On this occasion, Deputy Ombudsman Emina Halilovic, together with predstavnicicima OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina held a meeting with Muammar Kukan, the Assistant Minister of Transport of Canton Sarajevo, in order to achieve insight into the subject of the Sarajevo Open Center opened on the occasion of the above requirements.

"During the meeting are as follows: 1. the Ministry of Transport of Sarajevo Canton received a request from the Sarajevo Open Center days, 04.12.2017., The second to the Open Center its request asked for" temporary total suspension of traffic in the street Marshal Tito, in order to maintain protest march "3 to the Ministry of transport of Canton Sarajevo on, 11.05.2017., issued a Decision No. 04-27-5089 / 17 hp, which is at the request of the Sarajevo open center granted" temporary change driving style, the day 05.13 2017 in the period 12:00 to 13:00 hours, in order to maintain the protest march, "reads the statement of the Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ombudsmen of Bosnia and Herzegovina considered that the conduct of the Ministry at the request of the Sarajevo Open Center on the thirtieth day after the submitted request is in accordance with the law, but that in this case there is a legal consequence of the impossibility of organizing the protest march, and thus the impossibility of exercising the right to peaceful assembly. Ombudsmen of the Ministry considered unusual especially in view of the practice of the Ministry that after similar demands decision brought within only 3-5 days.

Ombudsmen are continuing the investigation in this case, certainly in light of the provisions of Article 11 (right to peaceful assembly) of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination and full respect for human rights and social inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersexual (LGBTI) persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina and shall timely inform the public.

BiH Ombudsmen remind that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the right guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and to expect that the event passed without incident in the spirit of peace and tolerance.
At the same time, BiH Ombudsmen invite all relevant institutions, especially the Ministry of Interior of the Sarajevo Canton to take all necessary measures to ensure the announced protest passed without incident.

• 12 May, 2017
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