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 €.

Project documentation

Useful information

PROJECT NEWS

Back Detainees' humane treatment increases professionalism of Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina

@ Council of Europe

Seventeen police officers from various agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina joined peer training on human rights modules on 15-16 March 2022 in Mostar. This capacity building activity was delivered against the background of the resource manual Human rights of persons deprived of liberty in police custody, prepared earlier as part of the peer training scheme under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action ‘’ Strengthening human rights treatment of detainees based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina’’.

The training enables harmonised and human rights-based approach to daily management of persons deprived of liberty for shorter periods of time, during police detention. Informing suspects about the reasons for their apprehension, advising them about their immediate rights upon apprehension and safe escort to face judicial authorities were only some of the modules delivered during this session. The police officers participating in it particularly value the interactive method of training delivery and the opportunity to analyse a number of case studies with an international consultant, observe in practice demonstrations of searches and application of restraint measures in accordance with human rights safeguard, among other.

Based on the feedback received, these activities contribute also to further professionalisation and transparency of the police officers' work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

''Humane approach to persons deprived of liberty is not only important for them and their integrity and dignity. It also reflects positively on our own professionalism and helps us to maintain the focus on the need to harmonise local procedures with European standards'', stated one of the participants.

The peer training among law enforcement, forensic and prison staff in human rights modules continues throughout this year with the support of the action ‘’Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina’’ , which is a part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, implemented by the Council of Europe.

Mostar 15-16 March