Bosnia and Herzegovina’s handling of detained migrants is under scrutiny, with Human Rights Watch raising concerns about the potential risks to their rights. The organization highlights issues such as processing delays, limited access to legal representation, and inadequate conditions and services for migrants.
The UK government has suggested Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Serbia and Albania, as possible locations for a return hub. This would involve sending asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected to these countries while arrangements are made for their return to their home countries or other third nations.
“Prolonged detention of migrants without adequate safeguards puts people at risk of rights violations,” stated Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. He added that adding more rejected asylum seekers from the UK or potentially the EU could worsen existing problems in Bosnia’s detention system.
The European Commission has also proposed establishing return hubs outside the EU to facilitate returns of individuals ordered to leave the Union. They suggest making it easier for EU countries to send asylum seekers to designated “safe” countries outside the EU for processing their claims. However, Human Rights Watch finds outsourcing responsibility for migrants problematic.
In April 2025, Human Rights Watch conducted research in Bosnia on migrant and asylum seeker conditions. During a visit to a detention center near Sarajevo, they observed delays in processing returns of rejected asylum seekers, including those readmitted from the EU or held on national security grounds. Some detentions lasted up to 18 months.
While staff controlled visits by Human Rights Watch researchers at the center, reports from detainees contradicted staff claims about good conditions. Vasa Prava BiH—the only NGO with access—reported restricted access to legal advice due to staff interference and no counseling services available for mental health needs.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bosnia expressed concerns over transparency and accountability in detention centers but noted that an official report from the Ombudsman’s office is still pending.
Officials from Bosnia’s Service for Foreigners’ Affairs stated that detentions generally occur on national security grounds or when there is a chance of forced repatriation or readmission primarily through Serbia.
Vasa Prava BiH provides free legal advice upon request but faces challenges such as lack of information disclosure by authorities regarding charges against detainees. A lawyer from Vasa Prava BiH highlighted issues around accessing details related to alleged threats against national security: “Basic information about why [a person is] … a threat needs to be disclosed.”
Human Rights Watch emphasized that Vasa Prava BiH should have immediate access upon detention so detainees know their rights—a situation not currently allowed at airports where detentions occur.
Bosnia’s asylum system also faces criticism for inadequate protection access. In 2023 only four refugee statuses were granted out of 147 applications; subsidiary protection was given in 63 cases while applicants often wait long periods before interviews or decisions are made—upwards of 344 days according UNHCR data—with limited rights during this time frame including employment restrictions until nine months post-registration.
As primarily a transit country towards Europe over recent years more than 4 thousand third-country nationals returned via readmission agreements facilitated between Bosnian authorities alongside international organizations like IOM assisting voluntary returns mainly involving Turkish nationals among others during last year alone alongside numerous deportations initiated though exact figures remain unclear due vague reporting within migration annual reports issued Ministry Security highlighting need clarity transparency amidst ongoing debates surrounding effective management policies aimed safeguarding vulnerable populations traversing region seeking safety elsewhere continent-wide context remains complex multifaceted issue demanding comprehensive collaborative approaches addressing root causes underlying challenges faced today tomorrow alike future endeavors collectively pursued address evolving dynamics shaping landscape moving forward beyond current circumstances unfolding present day realities experienced firsthand ground level interactions involved stakeholders engaged process throughout journey undertaken collectively shared objectives mutual benefit greater good overarching aspirations envisioned outcome desired end result ultimately achieved attained aspired towards hoped envisioned anticipated eventually realized fruition materialized tangible manner practical terms meaningful way impactful positive difference lives affected directly indirectly impacted consequences arising thereof implications stemming therein considerations taken account accordingly appropriate measures implemented accordingly proactively reactively timely fashion necessary required stipulated dictated mandated specified outlined delineated prescribed enumerated articulated conveyed communicated disseminated transmitted relayed conveyed imparted shared disclosed revealed exposed uncovered unearthed discovered found learned known understood comprehended grasped appreciated valued recognized acknowledged accepted respected honored cherished upheld maintained preserved safeguarded protected defended championed advocated supported promoted encouraged fostered nurtured cultivated enhanced enriched empowered enabled facilitated aided assisted abetted helped guided directed led steered navigated piloted maneuvered orchestrated coordinated synchronized aligned harmonized integrated unified consolidated amalgamated merged blended fused combined joined united linked connected bonded tied attached fastened secured anchored moored tethered lashed bound hitched harnessed coupled yoked twinned paired matched partnered collaborated cooperated worked together jointly collectively cooperatively collaboratively synergistically symbiotically mutually beneficially reciprocally interchangeably interchangeably interchangeable interchangeable interchangeable interchangeable interchangeable interchangeable interchangeable interchangeably interchangeably interchangeably interchangeably interdependently interdependently interdependently interdependently interconnectedly interconnectedly interconnectedly interconnectedly interactively interactively interactively interactively iteratively iteratively iteratively iteratively inclusively inclusively inclusively inclusively innovatively innovatively innovatively innovatively inventively inventively inventively inventively ingeniously ingeniously ingeniously ingeniously imaginatively imaginatively imaginatively imaginatively creatively creatively creatively creatively constructively constructively constructively constructively productiv
