IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) is located at a migration crossroad between Eastern and Western Europe. The conflict in the former Yugoslavia from 1992 to 1995 destroyed the social and economic infrastructure and forced over half of citizens of BH to leave their homes. Today, the return of displaced persons and a rise in illegal migration, such as human trafficking and smuggling, make migration a major challenge for BH’s post-conflict recovery and development.

IOM initiated a mission in Sarajevo in 1992 in the basement of Koševo Hospital, setting up the MEDEVAC programme to evacuate war-wounded individuals who could not be treated locally. Following the end of the war, IOM expanded its activities to the return of refugees from abroad and to assist BH nationals resettling in third countries. Today, IOM’s programmes aim to prevent irregular migration, stop the trafficking of human beings, contribute to national development, and assist the BH Government to manage migration activities.

Mission statement

IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society.

As the leading international organization for migration, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to:

  • Assist in meeting the growing operational challenges of migration management,
  • Advance understanding of migration issues,
  • Encourage social and economic development through migration, and
  • Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

Latest News and Events

  • IOM - UN Migration and the #WB6 representatives discussing progress and priorities in migration management and protection of vulnerable migrants

     

     

  • Signed contract with young people for the project "Workers bees" in Čapljina

     

    Given that today very little time is dedicated for activities for children with disabilities, young people have decided to dedicate this project to them to give a good example to their fellow citizens. Also, in their activity calendar, they listed many activities that will soon be held in Capljina together with children with disabilities. 

     

  • Signed contract for the realization of the project "Run, become active"

     

    The aim of the project is that the informal group of young people are brought together and that passive young people are encouraged to network, creative work and socializing through entertainment, sports and education. The project will significantly contribute to the development and improvement of the sense of community among young people, overcoming prejudices and will be a unique environment in which young people will work on developing common ideas in order to create proposals and define the areas in which they want to be active after the end of this project.

     

  • Finalised the first module of training for trainers for parents

     

    Throughout the three modules, parents will acquire the skills of trainers for the realization of the "Strengthening Parental Skills" training in their communities. This is the second such training that is being implemented within the project "Moving to sustainable approaches in the prevention of violent extremism in the Western Balkans". The parents expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to participate in this training and carried only positive impressions with them.

     

  • The first workshop of integrative complexity for parents was held in Zavidovići

     

    Whether the merit of the coach or because of the quality of the group, only one person lost interest in the workshop after the first day, while the others were present to the end. After the unusual start and skepticism at the beginning, the parent group quickly adapted and gained new knowledge about integrative complexity through the game. Everyone agreed that they will certainly recommend this workshop to others as well.

     

More news

Latest Vacancy

Title Duty Station Closing Date
OC 01-02-19 JAVNI POZIV ZA DOSTAVLJANJE PONUDA – PREVOZ DJECE/ĐAKA NA LOKALNIM RELACIJAMA 2019-02-21

First module of the workshop for parents organised in Tuzla within the "Community Based Approach to Support Youth in Targeted Municipalities in BiH" Project

First module of the workshop for parents within the framework of the project "Community Based Approach to Support Youth in Targeted Municipalities in BiH" was held in Tuzla. The goal of the workshop is to strengthen the local community and to encourage young people to become active members of society, for which parents' support is needed; 16 parents pointed their readiness and desire to transfer all that they have learned in their daily lives.

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Local sourcing yields advantages for IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina and the local community and economy

Today, the IOM Chief of Mission, Peter Van der Auweraert, took delivery of the first office furniture to accommodate the new colleagues who will join IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina in December in the frame of the new USAID/OTI funded project on the prevention of violent extremism. In a second phase, also existing office furniture will be replaced.

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Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo support work of IOM in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Ambassador of Norwegian Embassy in Sarajevo, H.E. Guri Rusten, and the Chief of IOM Mission Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Peter Van der Auweraert, signed the agreement for the project “Strengthening Institutional Capacities for Referral Mechanisms for the Prevention of Violent Extremism” on 15 November 2017.

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Workshop “Strengthening parenting skills" held in Sarajevo

Twenty fathers, participants of the project "Community Based Approach to Support Youth in Targeted Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina" from Prijedor, Bužima, Bugojno Jablanica, Foca and Gornji Rahića/Maoče, last weekend participated at the workshop “Strengthening parenting skills", which is focused on the development of self-confidence in children and youth, educational styles, communication with children and youth, non-violent conflict resolution, adolescence. 

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Coordination Meeting of Heads of Border Police in Budva, Montenegro

On the 31st of October, 2017, IOM facilitated a Coordination Meeting of Heads of Border Police in Budva, Montenegro. This one-day meeting is one in a series of regular coordination meetings between Border Police Directorates in the Western Balkans supported by IOM, in which representatives present and exchange updated information related to the migration situation in each respective country in order to enhance coordination on shared migration challenges in the region. 

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Signed contract between IOM and two informal groups of youth in Buzim as continuation of the project "Community Based Approach to Support Youth in Targeted Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina"

Months of work and effort of youth from Buzim was made official by signing of the contract between IOM and two informal groups of youth who worked on the preparation of the idea to build a street workout park and workshop rooms for youth called "Rahat zona" in the local community Radoc. These activities are a continuation of the project "Community Based Approach to Support Youth in Targeted Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina", implemented by IOM and supported by the USAID Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Embassy Sarajevo and the Embassy of the Republic of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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Increased entry of irregular migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Interview of Mr. Peter Van Der Auweraert - at Al Jazeera Balkans

IOM’s Sub-regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans, Mr. Peter Van Der Auweraert, gave an interview at Al Jazeera Balkans regarding the issue of the increased entry of irregular migrants in  Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 

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