Bosnia and Herzegovina

Since youth policy falls under the responsibility of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Republika Srpska (RS), and the District of Brčko (BD) separately, each entity has its own youth law: the FBiH Law About the Youth of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2010), the RS Law on Youth Organisation (2004), and the BD Law About the Young People of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017).

Published on October 25, 2023
Updated on February 22, 2024

Definition of youth

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Law (2010), the Republika Srpska Youth Law (2004), and the BD District of Brčko Youth Law (2017) all follow the same definition of youth as those aged 15 to 30 years.

Definition 1
15 - 30 years
Definition 2

Voting Rights

Majority age
18 years
Voting age
18 years
Criminal responsibility
15 years

Candidacy age

Lower House
18 years
Upper House
18 years
President
--- (tbc)

Marriage & Gender

Without parental consent
Female
18 years
Male
18 years
With parental consent
Female
16 years
Male
16 years

Source: UNSD, UNDESA, ILGA

Is same-sex marriage legalized?
Female
No
Male
No

Source: UNSD, UNDESA, ILGA

Are other genders recognised?
Yes
compulsory medical diagnosis

Policy & Legislation

Is there a national youth policy?
In process

Since youth policy falls under the responsibility of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Republika Srpska (RS), and the District of Brčko (BD) separately, each entity has its own youth law: the FBiH Law About the Youth of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2010), the RS Law on Youth Organisation (2004), and the BD Law About the Young People of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017).

According to the EU Youth Wiki, "National youth policy does not exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to its constitutional structure and because certain jurisdictions (like youth) are tied by the constitution to a certain level of government." Thus, there is no overarching national youth policy or strategy.

In FBiH, according to the Three-Year Working Plan of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports for the Period 2022-2024, one goal is to develop a strategy and action plan for youth. In RS, according to a press release, the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports has begun developing a new Youth Policy for the years 2022-2026, following the end of term of the Youth Policy of the Republika Srpska 2016-2020. In BD, according to an article by Radio Brčko, the first youth strategy is also currently being developed.

Public Institutions

Is there a governmental authority that is primarily responsible for youth?
Yes

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is made up of two political entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska (RS), as well as the self-governing District of Brčko (BD). In FBiH, the Youth Sector within the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports is primarily responsible for youth. In RS, on the other hand, the Department of Youth within the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports is responsible for youth. Finally, in BD, the Youth Commission within the Assembly of the Brčko District takes on the responsibility for youth issues. Nationwide, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH established the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues to coordinate between these various institutions.

Youth & Representation

Does the country have a national youth organization or association?
Yes

As youth policy is primarily governed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Republika Srpska (RS), and the District of Brčko (BD) separately, there is no national youth council for the entirety of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Instead, the FBiH, RS, and BD each have their own youth council that is recognised by the respective region's youth law:

Youth work

Is youth work a formally recognised profession?
Yes

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Law (2010), the Republika Srpska Youth Law (2004), and the BD District of Brčko Youth Law (2017) all provide a definition for youth work.

On a national level, the Institute for Youth Development KULT aims to build and strengthen the capacities of associations and authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as a whole to achieve a successful and sustainable policy for youth. One focus of the Institute is the recognition, professionalisation, and standardisation of youth work. According to the Institute for Youth Development KULT,

"Pursuant to a decision of the Agency for Statistics of BiH, associate expert on youth work was entered into the work position classification under the code 3412. This is an important step towards standardising youth work and represents the social acknowledgment of not only the occupation, but of non-formal education as a form of professional training."

Furthermore, the Institute provides training courses and certifications for Youth Officers engaged in youth work in city, municipal, and cantonal authorities. Any officer who does not have a certificate, but is employed in youth work, must pass the Youth Officer training course and obtain a certificate within two years of employment. This training course will ultimately qualify the Youth Officer for expert work at the national level in youth work.

Budget & Spending

Does the national youth policy have a dedicated budget?
Unclear

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), according to the Three-Year Working Plan of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports for the Period 2022-2024, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports has a budget of BAM 16.6 million (USD 8.9 million) for the year 2022. Of that, one main activity of the ministry is to support policies and projects aimed at young people in FBiH. This includes the development of a youth strategy and action plan for youth, which is allocated BAM 40,000 (USD 21,416) each year for three years (2022-2024).

In the Republika Srpska (RS), according to the Budget of the Republika Srpska for 2022, the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports is allocated BAM 8.2 million (USD 4.4 million). This budget accounts for multiple youth items, including BAM 200,000 (USD 107,536) for the implementation of programmes defined by the Youth Policy.

In the District of Brčko (BD), the Budget of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2022 allocates 5.0 million to the Assembly of the Brčko District. However, it is unclear how much of this goes towards the Youth Commission.

Contextual Figures

Liberal Democracy Index
528
Youth Progress Index
74.4

Economic Indicators

GDP per capita
$7230.2
Human Development Index
0.780
Gini coefficient
33.0

Additional background

The European Committee of the Regions explains Bosnia and Herzegovina's complex governance structure:

"Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina - hereinafter BiH) declared its independence from the former Yugoslavia on 1 March 1992. The declaration of independence, which was boycotted by the Bosnian Serbs, gave rise to an armed conflict. In 1995, a peace agreement was reached with the signature of the Dayton Peace Accords in Paris, which include the BiH Constitution in its annexes. The BiH Constitution instituted a multi-ethnic system of government with an asymmetrical and complex governance structure. The Presidency is composed of three members from each of the constituting nations: one Bosniak and one Croat from the FBiH and one Serb from the Republika Srpska"

"Bosnia and Herzegovina comprises of four tiers of governance, at the State, Entity, Canton and municipal levels:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: BiH shall consist of two Entities: the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina - hereinafter FBiH) and the Brčko District.
  • Republika Srpska: The Republika Srpska is a unique and indivisible constitutional and legal entity comprising one level of local self-government with 57 Municipalities.
  • FBiH: The FBiH consists of ten federal units, the Cantons, which have their own Constitution, Parliament, Government and judicial powers. In total, there are eleven constitutions, governments and legislators in the FBiH (10 cantonal and one Entity). Cantons operate under the laws of FBiH as a whole. Moreover, they are further divided into seventy-nine municipalities and cities, which constitute the local self-government units. They hold both executive and legislative powers.
  • Brčko District: It was previously considered a municipality divided into two parts, one in the Republika Srpska and the other in FBiH. The final award was brought by an international arbitration tribunal in 1999 and prescribed the establishment of Brčko as a District. It is since then a condominium jointly owned by the Entities but not managed by either. State legislation directly applies to the District and its fields of competence are nearly the same as the ones of the Entities (including executive, legal and judiciary authorities)."

Sources

See all sources (20)

Updates

  • Update 22.02.2024: Corrected small formatting errors