In December 2008, Amnesty International delegates visited Bosnia and Herzegovina to conduct field research on the legacy of war crimes of sexual violence. They interviewed survivors of war crimes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support survivors and authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Similar meetings were conducted in March 2009. Whose Justice? The Women of Bosnia and Herzegovina Are Still Waiting is a result of this investigation. It details the shortcomings of the judicial system currently in place in Bosnia and Herzegovina to prosecute crimes during the 1992-1995 war, and the lack of measures by the state to ensure reparation for survivors of these horrific crimes.

Survivors of sexual violence suffer in poverty and silence. Many have lost family members, have been displaced, and cannot get or keep a job because of the psychological effects of the abuse. They cannot afford basics like much needed medicines, and those who do receive compensation are discriminated against compared to military victims of war. Victims who choose to fight for justice have limited protection, if any at all, and there is a lack of support before, during and after the trial process. The light penalties imposed by the courts in many cases make survivors believe that judicial recourse is not worth it.

Apart from justice, survivors also lack means for reparation, restitution and rehabilitation, without which most are barely surviving. Amnesty International calls upon the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina to:

  • To ensure adequate reparation for survivors of sexual violence
  • To provide women survivors of sexual violence with access to justice
  • To challenge and reduce the stigmatization and discrimination of rape survivors within the society in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Read the report Whose Justice? The Women of Bosnia Herzegovina are Still Waiting (pdf 1.03MB)