Support for victims of trafficking in human beings, and the broader question of access to justice and legal remedies, was among the key topics of this year’s annual gathering of prosecutors from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Annual Prosecutors’ Conference took place from 14 to 17 October 2025 in Neum, bringing together more than 120 prosecutors, legal practitioners, and representatives of key international organisations to discuss access to justice and effective remedies for victims.

The symposium, initiated and coordinated by the Association of Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was once again supported by the Council of Europe through its anti-trafficking project, which has supported this event for seven consecutive years. The panel session on human trafficking, organised with the support of the Council of Europe, OSCE, and the EU4FAST project, addressed several critical issues, including amendments to the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, strengthening coordination within the National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking, using seized criminal assets to compensate victims, and the overall improvements to victim protection mechanisms.

Key speakers - prosecutors, government officials, and civil society experts - examined the practical challenges of prosecuting trafficking cases and ensuring that victims receive meaningful support and compensation. Discussions placed particular emphasis on financial investigations and the formal identification of trafficking victims, highlighting the need for stronger inter-institutional cooperation and more effective legal responses.

The conference closed with a set of conclusions aimed at improving coordination, strengthening identification procedures, and expanding access to justice for victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes.

The project “Strengthening access to justice and effective remedies for victims of human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina” is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 and funded through voluntary contributions.