One of the entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska is moving ahead with its controversial “foreign agents” law despite domestic and international pressure and CSOs’ concerns. These worrisome developments, following examples of narrowing civic space in the country, reflect a broader pattern of suppressing dissent. We reassert our concerns about the implications of the law – jeopardizing civil society, hindering BiH’s EU integration, and further weakening the already fragile democracy. If passed, the law would restrict the operations of foreign-funded CSOs in the entity, stigmatize them, and create a chilling effect on the freedom of expression. We call upon the RS authorities to revoke the proposed ‘foreign agents’ law and to stop the restrictions on civic space, and instead foster an enabling environment for civil society. Help us raise awareness about declining civic space in BiH and jointly find a way to stop harmful legislation in the entity, and its potential spill-over in the region. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN