On April 19, 2013, U.S. Secretary of State, John F. Kerry released the 2012 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the report highlighted that government corruption remained one of the country's most serious problems.

The Dayton Peace Accords which stopped the Bosnian War in 1995 provides the constitutional framework for the two entities within BiH – the Federation of BiH and Republika Sprska – and specifies the government's obligations to ensure the protection of human rights. According to the 2012 report, political leaders continue to intensify and manipulate deep-seated ethnic divisions which contribute to distort the public discourse of media and obstruct the return of persons who were displaced by the 1992-95 war.

The report notes that BiH political leaders often engage in corrupt actions with exemption from punishment because BiH failed to implement the necessary laws to tackle these problems head on.

"The road to democratization is arduous but it is for the benefit of all. BiH must implement the necessary constitutional changes and the leaders of BiH need to join efforts towards achieving equal rights for all citizens of BiH. The intimidation of civil society in the RS entity and the harassment of minorities across the board is unacceptable. The respect for the rule of law is imperative" stated ACBH Director of Foreign Policy, Haris Hromic.