LGBT rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Law regarding same-sex sexual activity

Bosnia and Herzegovina are governed by two political entities — the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. Homosexual sex was decriminalized in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) in 1996 and in the Republika Srpska (RS) in 1998, by those two entities adopting their own criminal laws. The age of consent is 14, regardless of sexual orientation (having sexual relations with a person under 14 is considered statutory rape.).

Recognition of same-sex relationships

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples on a federal or subnational level. Both the federal constitution and the constitution of Republika Srpska remain silent on gender eligibility for a marriage, and the federal statues of Bosnia and Herzegovina themselves remain wholly silent on such requirements. On a subnational scale, however, both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, as prescribed by their respective family codes.

Discrimination protections

The Law on Gender Equality, adopted in early 2003, prohibits discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation (Article 2). However, in local languages version of this law, the word gender is not used (word sex is, although with the meaning of gender) and sexual orientation...
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