What is the CRPC?

What is the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees?
Established in March 1996 under Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the Commission for Real Property Claims of Displaced Persons and Refugees (CRPC) is responsible for confirming real property rights for displaced persons and refugees. The CRPC is authorized to receive and decide claims for real property in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) when the claimant does not presently have possession of the property and the property has not been voluntarily sold or transferred since April 1, 1992. The CRPC has the authority to make final and legally binding decisions on claims for real property and for occupancy rights. These decisions must be respected in both entities of BiH.

Who is the CRPC?
CRPC consists of three international and six national members. The three international Commissioners are appointed by the President of the European Court of Human Rights. Of the six national Commissioners, four are appointed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and two by the Republika Srpska. CRPC has around 300 staff working in the Executive Office in Sarajevo and in a network of regional offices. In BiH CRPC has offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Brcko, Banja Luka, Tuzla, and Bihac. In Yugoslavia CRPC works out of Belgrade, Novi Sad and Pozega. In Croatia, claims can be filed in Zagreb.

How does the CRPC work?
The process begins at any regional office, where claimants receive information on property rights and procedures for making a real property or apartment claim. CRPC staff help claimants to complete a claim form and then enter the information from the claim into a specially designed computer database. Claims are researched and verified by a team of legal experts drawn from a range of ethnic groups and draft decisions are prepared for approval by the Commissioners in a plenary session. At the conclusion of the process, decision certificates are printed and distributed to successful claimants through the Regional Offices.

What are the uses of a CRPC Certificate?
The fundamental principle of the Dayton Peace Agreement is the right of refugees and displaced persons to return to their home of origin. In both Entities, war-time legislation resulted in widespread loss of property rights. Because a CRPC decision confirms property rights of claimants, it is an important first step in regaining possession of their homes. Wherever possible, CRPC will assist claimants who wish to return by working with municipal authorities to facilitate implementation of the certificate. Where claimants cannot or do not wish to return into possession of their property immediately, a CRPC decision gives them authoritative confirmation of their rights in the form of a legally binding document which can be retained for future use.