INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA II SUMMARY In 2019 Ombudspersons registered the highest number of complaints in the area of civil and political rights including the judiciary and administration, followed by the economic and social rights. Lodged complaints indicate the aggravated access of citizens to the efficient judiciary, employment, or social rights, all mentioned phenomena being often linked to the high level of poverty 7, corruption and migrations. When it comes to migrations, there is an increased number of indicators that young and educated people are mostly leaving the country which demands urgent measures to be taken in order to halt this process 8. Bosnia and Herzegovina is still facing a huge influx of irregular migrants as a country of transit 9, which requires taking of efficient measures by the authorities in order to improve the situation in this field. Data available to Ombudspersons indicate that most vulnerable group of population in the current period are youth due to their lack of employment, and also pensioners 10, persons with disabilities, single--parent families, children, in particular in some specific situations, such as conflict divorces, and employees in some industries with extremely low income, such as hospitality, trade, some production branches etc. According to the database of the Ombudsman, in 2019 registered was 3,218 complaints. In the reporting period it was issued 304 recommendations in 374 cases, out of which 105 was fully implemented, 9 partially implemented and 77 in which some form of cooperation with the Ombudsman was established. The most important recommendations of the Ombudsman to the authorities at all levels of government and relevant institutions related to the necessity of taking urgent additional (in particular pro-natalist) measures aimed at keeping the young and educated people in Bosnia and Herzegovina 11. Some recommendations cannot be implemented quickly as they are time 7 As a consequence of high unemployment rate, low pensions, average salary far below the official consumer basket, the same VAT charged basic goods and most expensive luxury goods, social gap between the most population and a small group of citizens with extremely high income, inequality in social benefits depending on the place of residence etc. 8 In addition to that, there are issues linked to a total depoliticizing of employment process, and urgent educational sector reforms, as well as support and assistance to undeveloped municipalities. 9 The UNHCR Spokesman for SEE Neven Crvenković defined the migrants and refugees who entered the country in an irregular way, without necessary permissions or documents required according to the legislation governing the immigration issues as irregular rather than illegal migrants since the second term has certain, not accurate “criminal” connotation. The term irregular migrant is preferred by the agencies and bodies of the UN, the Council of Europe, and EU. For most of these persons in their Special report on Situation in Area of Migrations Ombudspersons adopted the term irregular migrants since in most cases they are foreign nationals who entered into Bosnia and Herzegovina without any identification documents at places not foreseen to be the state border crossings, in violation of the applicable legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is not in accordance with the procedures of the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding entry of a foreign national into the country. 10 Trend of youth leaving the country will be detrimental for pensioners at a later stage as the pension funds become more empty. 11 Allocation of additional funds for the employment of young people, or support to their employment, housing, more favorable environment for parental benefits, support for families with two or more children, increased children allowance/child benefit for families with more children, and removal of income ceiling for child benefit should be priority for the authorities and encouraging of new births should be a cornerstones fo population and demographic strategies 8