Bosnia and Herzegovina families face obstacles marking mass graves

Families of victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to face systemic and administrative obstacles when attempting to mark mass grave sites, according to the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

At a conference in Sarajevo, BIRN Director Denis Džidić reported that while the Law on Missing Persons has mandated the marking of these sites for over two decades, local authorities, particularly in Republika Srpska, frequently block these efforts. The project aims to increase institutional pressure and seek a ruling from the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish that local communities are violating state law by obstructing memorialization.

Organizers noted that families must obtain certification from the Institute for Missing Persons before requesting approval from local communities. The conference, supported by the Government of Canada, highlighted the need to elevate this issue within the context of European integration and the enforcement of Constitutional Court decisions.