OPEN LETTER

Mrs. Elisabeth Rehn
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia


Dear Mrs. Rehn,


I use this occasion to express a great concern of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina over some steps undertaken by the BH Federation Ministry of Science, Culture, Education and Sports.
For some time already, this Ministry together with the cantonal ministries of the same competence, has been carrying out a poll among the children, especially in primary schools, on the ethnic background. The purpose of the poll is a division among children into separate classes according to their ethnic background, what we deem as trial to impose segregation. The measures undertaken by the Ministry pressume introduction of separate and different curriculum, on the basis of ethnic principles too. Namely, in lieu of building joint educational foundations for entire Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at preparing children to live "fully liable in free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality among the sexes and friendship among all the peoples, ethnic and national and religious groups" as it was stipulated by the Convention on Children’s Rights, we are witnessing a trial of nationalistic leaders in making one step further toward splitting Bosnia and Herzegovina along its ethnic boundaries and in promoting values opposed to those values adopted as general values through the Conventions and other documents from the field of human rights.
In addition, it should be taken into consideration that the Ministry of Science, Culture, Education and Sports has not anticipated the organization of the lessons for national minorities, such as Roms, Albanians and members of other minorities whose language and culture are not at all present in the curriculum.
Highly respecting your contribution and engagement in the field of protection of human rights, I request you kindly Mrs. Rehn, to turn your attention to this matter, since this initiative of the said Ministry has resulted in very severe disagreement of both the parents and children.


Sincerely yours,


Sarajevo, 13 October 1997
No. 13-10/97
 

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