World Report 2011 - Human Rights Watch

EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIAnumber of completed cases to 46. Sixteen new cases began during this period,with 53 ongoing trials as of September 2010.Local courts in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina commenced five warcrimes cases and issued verdicts in three cases between November 2009 andSeptember 2010. During the same period Republika Srpska local courts began sixcases and completed eight, and Brcko District began two new cases. According tothe national war crimes strategy, the most sensitive and serious cases are to betried centrally, while less controversial and complex ones are to be handled atmunicipal and canton levels.Return of Refugees and Internally Displaced PersonsThe return of refugees and IDPs to their areas of origin remained slow, and theOffice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) registeredthe return of only 181 refugees and 177 IDPs during the first six months of 2010.As of June 2010 there were more than 113,465 registered IDPs (including some7,000 in collective centers): 48,659 in the Federation, 64,560 in Republika Srpskaand 246 in Brcko. There are no reliable estimates of the number of refugees outsideBosnia.Lack of economic opportunity, inadequate housing, and people’s reluctance toreturn to areas where most residents are of a different ethnicity remain the keyimpediments to return. As of September 2010 Bosnia hosted 129 Kosovo Romaunder temporary protection status.In June the House of Peoples (the upper house of parliament) amended thenational returns strategy to reflect the current challenges to returns of the remainingdisplaced, designating 2014 as the year by which displaced people should begiven housing or financially compensated. The strategy also reiterates the need toprovide more livelihood opportunities and maintain security for returnees.National Security and Human RightsSeven North African and Middle Eastern men were subject to indefinite detentionwithout charge on national security grounds during 2010. At least five of the men411