rt also highlighted ongoing discrimination against Roma (despite some moves to implement the Roma strategy), political pressure on the media and intimidation of journalists, segregated education, and little progress on rule of law.
In his March report released following his visit to Bosnia,Hammarberg underlined the need to enhance protection of Roma, including the Kosovo Roma, under temporary protected status, end ethnic segregation in public schools, and to find a durable solution for refugees and IDPs.
In February the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) criticized lack of progress on implementing the Sejdic and Finci ruling, while highlighting the continued marginalization of minority groups, particularly Roma.
In a joint opinion issued in June, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Kingdom Foreign Affairs Minister William Hague expressed disappointment at the protracted institutional gridlock in Bosnia that was preventing needed reforms, including ending ethnic discrimination in politics. During a visit to Bosnia the same month, US Assistant Secretary of State Philip H. Gordon stated the country had made little political progress since 2006-2007 andcalled on Bosnian politicians to form a government and stop stoking ethnic tensions.