Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)

On 1 April 2022 the Council of Europe initiated the implementation of a 33-month project entitled “Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)”. It was implemented in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of BiH, and Republika Srpska), and their respective partners from the entity and state penitentiary institutions.

The overall objective of the project was to provide continued support to the BiH authorities in their efforts to further build the capacities of the prison system and strengthen practical skills of prison staff with respect to managing violent extremist prisoners (VEPs). This was also ensuring sustainability of the actions undertaken towards efficient reintegration of the VEPs back in the community.

The project had an overall budget of 770,000 EUR and was financed under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020–2025. It was completed on 31 December 2024.

Project documentation

Useful information

Sarajevo office website

project news

Back Guidebook and training programme on addressing radicalisation in prisons of Bosnia and Herzegovina finalised

@ Council of Europe

A Working group composed from Council of Europe project partners representing the entity Ministries of Justice, prisons in Bijeljina, Zenica, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar and the State prison met on 27-28 April 2023 in Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to finalise the Guidebook for operational work, a training plan and programme on radicalisation in prisons.

The training programme is aimed at the staff from all prisons of the country and designed to enhance their skills for effectively managing and working with violent extremist prisoners. It will also equip officers with the knowledge on how to better cooperate directly with relevant ministries and other security agencies.

This working group meeting was a collaborative effort supported by the project "Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)", funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025, and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 28 April 2023