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Against the backdrop of commemorative services to mark the 17th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, Bosnia is being urged to end discrimination against its Roma and Jewish minorities who currently aren't allowed to run for high elected office.

The call is being led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whose rotating presidency is currently held by Ireland. Irish minister for European affairs Lucinda Creighton has said that the ban on minorities running for office "is especially important in a post-conflict society."

Bosnia's constitution notes two categories of citizens: 'constituent peoples' made up of Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs and 'others' made up of Jews and other minorities. The country has already been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for its policy and a change to the constitution is one of the conditions it must meet if it wants to gain EU candidacy status.