Awards

The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina has won the 1996 “Liberté – Egalité - Fraternité” human rights award of the Republic of France.

The President of the Republic of France Jacques Chirac personally presented the President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina Srđan Dizdarević with the award on 10 December 1996 in Paris.

In November 2000, on the fifth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accord, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina was nominated for the first Dayton Peacemaking Award by the Dayton Peace Accords Project.

On the occasion of observance of the fifth anniversary of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 11 February 2000, the president of the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights Gerald Nagler was presented with a special award. Nagler had supported establishment of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the most difficult times in 1994, as well as this organization's membership in the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.

With great respect for the contribution of Tadeusz Mazowiecki to disclosure of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for his highly moral attitude towards violations of human rights and indolence of the international community, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina nominated him for the United Nations human rights award in mid-August of 1998.

Pursuant to the Award-Giving Rulebook of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at its sessions of 17 January and 7 February 1998, the Steering Board of the Helsinki Committee, unanimously decided to present the Ombudsmen of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bishop Franjo Komarica with the Charter of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the top award of the Helsinki Committee for extraordinary contribution in the field of human rights.   

The Ombudsmen of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vera Jovanović, Esad Muhibić and Branka Raguž, have promoted the highest standards of protection of human rights since their very appointment. Despite the very difficult working conditions and continuous pressures, they have uninterruptedly affirmed the Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Although it was then 50 years after adoption of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man, the ombudsmen gave the greatest contribution to the protection of “human being” regardless of his/her national, religious, sexual or any other affiliation.

The Bishop of Banja Luka Franjo Komarica has been a bright example of a persistent fight for human dignity, for the rights and liberties of human beings, mutual trust, tolerance and co-life. During the war he unselfishly helped all those who needed help in the town of his residence. The office in which he worked also served as a wartime hospital, in which patients were treated by the order and principle introduced by Anri Dinan 130 years ago. Bishop Komarica inspired hope and trust with those who had lost them or were on the way to lose them.

Vehid Šehić, the president of the Tuzla Forum of Citizens, was awarded with the 2001 Charter for Extraordinary Contribution in the Field of Human Rights. Šehić is one the first activists in the field of human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while his engagement in protection of human rights dates back to the war period. He is one of the founders of the Forum of Citizens of Tuzla, by which he contributed to enhancement of the civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported establishment of a significant number of new non-governmental organizations in both entities. The Helsinki Committee emphasizes Vehid Šehić’s continuous advocacy for establishment of the rule of law.

Fadil Banjanović - Bracika is the winner of the 2004 Charter of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina for an extraordinary contribution to protection of human rights and their promotion. He has earned this top award of the Committee by his extraordinary results in the field of return of refugees and displaced persons of all ethnicities to their pre-war homes.

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