The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) strongly condemns the recent femicide in Sarajevo and extends sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.
The Mission calls on the competent authorities to ensure a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation.
This killing is a stark reminder that gender-based violence, including its most extreme form - femicide - remains a serious and persistent threat in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This femicide once again underscores the urgent need to strengthen preventive mechanisms, including early risk assessment, effective and closely monitored protection measures for women at risk, and coordinated institutional responses to all reports of domestic and gender-based violence.
The Mission reiterates the importance of full alignment with international human rights standards, including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).
Effective prevention of violence against women requires not only human rights compliant (by)laws, but also concrete and systematic implementation that translates legal frameworks into immediate and effective protection for victims. We call for effective judicial procedures and proportionate penal and other measures against all perpetrators.
The Mission remains active and committed in supporting authorities in strengthening victim centred system responses to all forms of domestic and gender based violence.
