HF II Bosnia and Herzegovina - Strenghtening Human Rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices

As part of the second phase of the European Union and Council of Europe programmatic framework “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey” (Horizontal Facility II), the Council of Europe implemented the Action “Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The Action was implemented in close partnership with the three Ministries of Justice, entity Ministries of Interior, as well as with the Ministry of Health of Republika Srpska (RS) and law enforcement agencies at different levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH): State (State Investigation and Protection Agency, Service for Foreigner Affairs, Border Police, Court Police), entity (Court Police) and Brcko District of BiH (Police, Court Police).

The objectives of the Action consisted of enhancing the human rights compliance of law enforcement agencies through application of the gained knowledge and skills in the everyday work of the law enforcement staff, as well as strengthening treatment of prisoners and of forensic patients/offenders through the application of specialised treatment programmes and case management system. The Action also supported the introduction of an Information Technologies System in pilot prisons with the aim of enhancing prisoner data exchange in electronic form.

This Action assisted the authorities in their efforts to comply with standards set in the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and to implement recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture – CPT.

The Action started on 24 May 2019 and was completed on 31 December 2022 with an overall budget of 1000 050 €.

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Back Advanced training on application of the rehabilitation tools and programmes for violent extremist prisoners in BiH prisons

Advanced training on application of the rehabilitation tools and programmes for violent extremist prisoners in BiH prisons

The Council of Europe continues to support the penitentiary institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by improving prison staff capacities related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Namely, a 3-day advanced training session for the multidisciplinary teams from the newly opened State prison, Bijeljina and Tuzla prisons took place on 15–17 June 2021 in Mostar.

The training focused on the application of the VEP-specific screening, risk and needs assessment tools and rehabilitation programme and resulted with an enhanced level of knowledge, self-confidence and skills among the participants. It was delivered by certified trainers coming from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation BiH, supported by a CoE consultant.

In order to further test the reliability of the tools and the programme and to ensure a unified approach throughout the BiH prison system, the participants agreed to pilot them in the above-mentioned prison establishments for a period of up to four months.

This activity is organized within the framework of the project “Support to the penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018–2021.

Bosnia and Herzegovina 18 June 2021