Representatives of civil society have submitted an initiative to the Mayor of Brčko District of BiH, requesting that the Government include the adoption of a Law on Citizens’ Initiatives in its 2025 Work Program. The initiative is supported by thirteen civil society organizations, demonstrating strong interest from the civic sector in enhancing democratic processes in Brčko.

This initiative is part of a broader campaign led by the citizens' association "Demos", which aims to establish a legal framework that would enable the residents of Brčko to participate directly in decision-making processes. As emphasized by "Demos", Brčko currently lacks any law that regulates when, how, and under what conditions citizens can launch an initiative and obligate institutions to respond. As a result, many attempts by citizens to influence important social issues—through petitions, public appeals, and initiatives—have been rendered ineffective.

“Our goal is to ensure that this law is included in the Government's 2025 Work Program and that a working group is established to draft it. The associations that signed the initiative plan to engage a legal advisor to prepare a draft version of the law and submit it to the institutions as a foundation for further development,” said Damjan Dundžić, campaign coordinator on behalf of UG Demos.

Representatives of the initiative expressed hope that the future working group will include members of the civil sector to ensure the process is inclusive and reflects the interests of citizens.

“The adoption of a Law on Citizens’ Initiatives would provide people with a concrete mechanism to influence decisions that affect their lives. Instead of being passive observers, citizens would gain the opportunity to actively participate in policymaking and problem-solving,” stated Adis Mujdanović, president of the Plural Foundation, one of the partner organizations.

The initiative follows a series of citizen efforts to drive social change—from environmental protection to social justice—that went unanswered due to the absence of a clear legal framework. Campaign representatives believe the time has come for Brčko to formally recognize the right of citizens to initiate proposals, as is already the case at other levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.