MOSTAR, June 19 (FENA) – World Refugee Day was marked on Friday at the Salakovac Refugee Reception Centre near Mostar under the slogan ‘Safety for All’, organized by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the support of UNHCR, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Mostar City Council.

The event brought together representatives of state institutions, international organizations, and the local community to highlight the importance of protecting the rights of refugees, displaced persons, and individuals under international protection, as well as the importance of continuing the processes of return, integration, and inclusion.

The Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sevlid Hurtić, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to its own experience of wartime suffering and population displacement, understands well the challenges faced by refugees.

According to him, marking World Refugee Day is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of institutions to protecting human rights, dignity, and security for all citizens, while continuing efforts to address issues related to return, housing, and integration.

Stefanie Krause, representative of UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that the right to safety, protection, and a dignified life must be available to everyone forced to leave their homes, stressing the importance of partnership between international organizations and domestic institutions in supporting refugees and displaced persons.

The head of the OSCE Field Office in Mostar, Julija Vitanova, said that respect for human rights and creating equal opportunities are key to building a stable and inclusive society, while the President of the Mostar City Council, Đani Rahimić, highlighted the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in addressing issues of return, rights protection, and social inclusion of refugees and displaced persons.

As part of the program, a panel discussion was held focusing on issues of return, displacement, rights protection, and the integration of persons under international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by a photo exhibition and networking among participants.

The observance of World Refugee Day continues this evening at the National Theatre Mostar, where the play ”Witness of Truth” by Suad Bešlić will be performed.

Participants emphasized that joint action by institutions, international organizations, and local communities is essential for protecting human rights and building a society in which safety, dignity, and equality are accessible to everyone, according to a statement from the Office of the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.