22 December marks the first anniversary of the Sejdic-Finci judgement by the European Court of Human Rights. This judgement established that provisions of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina are in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Ambassadors of the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board (PIC SBA) note the stated assurance of the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina that they are committed to changes that will bring their Constitution into line with the ECHR. The PIC SBA are concerned however that in the year since the judgement little progress has been made on tackling this matter and indeed that on many occasions the Working Group tasked with preparing the necessary constitutional amendments has been unable to operate.

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Sejdic-Finci judgement, the PIC SBA strongly urges the authorities and political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to work with urgency and in a constructive manner to bring the country’s Constitution and its electoral arrangements into line with the judgement and the European Convention on Human Rights.