World Refugee Day marked in BiH

On June 20 each year, the world commemorates the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees. On World Refugee Day 2016 the world thinks of 65 million people around the world who have been forcibly displaced by violence and conflict.  Among them are almost 100,000 people who are still listed as internally displaced in BiH, and who, 20 years after the war, still need a real solution: secure and reliable access to rights, services, livelihoods and decent accommodation, as well as continuing support to assist wherever possible their return to their communities of origin.

Commemorating the WRD 2016, the BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and UNHCR Representation in BiH co-organized a conference in Sarajevo today, under the motto “Together for the most vulnerable”. Key national and international actors involved in joint efforts to help find durable and sustainable solutions for the remaining displaced population in BiH gathered to exchange their views and experiences on the progress to date, but also to share ideas on how to ensure that the people with the most critical needs are helped as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Opening the conference, BiH Minister for Human Rights an Refugees Semiha Borovac said that although huge efforts taken at all levels in BiH with the international community’s great contribution have undoubtedly yielded real and important results, numerous challenges in terms of securing access to rights still remain.

In order to address these challenges,” Minister Borovac said, “the Ministry will reinforce coordination at all levels, including at the State ministerial level, to ensure timely closure of the chapter of displacement in BiH. In that respect, additional assistance of our international partners is necessary”.

In his keynote address, Head of the Delegation of the EU to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark emphasized that in the past 25 years, the EU assisted many of two million refugees and displaced persons from Bosnia and Herzegovina to go back to their homes. But, Ambassador Wigemark added, “this work is not finished and will not be as long as there is a single family that wants to return but has not yet been able to. One of the biggest obstacles to the return process today is a lack of economic opportunity. We must see much more of reforms that will help in creating new jobs and help ensure that every measure we take is sustainable in the long run.

UNHCR Regional Representative for South Eastern Europe and UNHCR Representative in BiH Andrew Mayne reminded that major projects are currently in operation in BiH that will eventually assist some 34,000 returnees, refugees and internally displaced people.  “What is needed now is a concerted joint effort to complete the implementation of the Annex VII Revised Strategy within an agreed time frame – so that people no longer need to be displaced. Stronger coordination by authorities at all levels, field-based teamwork and improved data sharing among partners are key to ensuring that all major remaining problems are put on track to a solution by mid-2017.

As part of the WRD 2016 commemoration, an exhibition of quality photographs will be introduced, illustrating activities and achievements of various Annex VII-related projects, but also the remaining needs and challenges.  The exhibition will be displayed on the plateau in front of the Parliamentary Assembly in Sarajevo from 20 to 26 June.

Europa.ba