LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Law against LGBT persons

Homosexual sex was decriminalized in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) in 1998 and in the Republika Srpska (RS) in 2000, by those two entities adopting their own criminal laws. The age of consent is 14, regardless of sexual orientation (having sexual relations with a person under 14 is considered statutory rape.).

Protection based on sexual orientation in law

The Law on Gender Equality, adopted in early 2003, prohibits discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation (Article 2). However, in local languages version of this law, the word gender is not used (word sex is, although with the meaning of gender) and sexual orientation is not defined. This law is on the State level. Prohibition of the discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is also found in the Constitution of the Brčko District , Labor Law of the Brčko District and the Criminal Law of BiH (Article 145), the Criminal Law of the FBiH, and the Criminal Law of the RS.

Recognition of same sex couples

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples.

Gay life in the country

There are no gay clubs in Sarajevo.

There are two organisations in BiH, working on the human rights of LGBT population - Organisation Q and Organisation Logos. Organization Q for Promotion and Protection of Culture, Identities and Human Rights of Queer Persons was founded in September 2002, and formally registered in February 2004. [http://queer.ba/udruzenjeq/en/udruzenje.htm] . Organisation Logos was founded and registered in 2006. [http://www.logos.org.ba/]

External links

*Bs icon http://www.queer.ba/udruzenje.htm and http://www.queer.ba/udruzenjeq/en/udruzenje.htm (eng) Organization Q