For the first time, each of the 10 cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has police officers specifically trained to address technology-facilitated violence against women.

Following the successful completion of an advanced training course held in Sarajevo from 16 to 18 September 2026, 21 police officers received certification. This marks an important step towards more accessible and effective protection for women experiencing violence in the digital environments.

Building on training activities organised during 2025 and 2026, the course strengthened law enforcement officers’ capacity to recognise and respond to the digital dimension of violence against women. The officers will act as contact points in their respective cantons, helping to apply specialised knowledge into everyday policing and support a more consistent response across the Federation.

“With trained officers in every canton, police can act faster at the local level, ensuring a timelier and more effective response to digital violence against women. Our response must combine the ability to secure digital evidence with an understanding of the violence a person is experiencing “, stated Saša Petrović, Lead Investigator for Combating Cybercrime at the Federal Police Administration.

This approach reflects the standards of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). It is also in line with the emphasis placed by GREVIO’s General Recommendation No. 1 on the digital dimension of violence against women, which recognises the links between violence perpetrated online or through technology and violence experienced offline.

The presence of specialised officers in each canton creates a stronger foundation for local access to protection and justice. It is expected to support more effective investigations, closer co-operation among police officers and greater confidence among victims in seeking help.

 Sustaining and applying these skills will be essential to translating the training into lasting improvements in institutional practice.

The training was organised within the project “Strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s responses to digital and sexual violence against women”, implemented by the Council of Europe under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026–2029 and funded through voluntary contributions.