The Council of Europe decided to open an Office of the Secretariat of the Council of Europe in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1996 in Sarajevo based on Annex 6 (Agreement on Human Rights) to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, under which it was to contribute to the establishment of the Human Rights Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, help the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman and appoint foreign judges in accordance with Annexes 4 and 7 to the Dayton Peace Agreement.

In addition to providing active assistance with the implementation of Annex 6 to the Framework Agreement, the task of the Office initially was to help prepare Bosnia and Herzegovina for reaching the standards necessary for full membership in the Council of Europe following the application it submitted in April 1995, and also to promote the values of the Council of Europe.

An exchange of letters between the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina led to an agreement concerning the status of the Office of the Secretariat of the Council of Europe in Sarajevo, as well as the status of Council of Europe officials and experts.

Over time the Office expanded its activities and today, in addition to the initial activities that have been accomplished, it covers more or less all areas in which the Council of Europe is active.

Staff members of the CoE Office in Sarajevo:

Central Office:

§ Bojana Urumova, Head of Office

§ Loreta Vioiu, Deputy Head of Office

§ Jennifer Jokstad, Human Rights Advisor

§ Nada Durmić, Assistant to the Head and Deputy Head of Office

§ Anesa Bektešević, Finance and Office Management Assistant

§ Mirza Šoše, Finance and Office Management Assistant

§ Nedžad Hodžić, Driver

Initiative for Legal Certainty and Efficient Judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Phase II

§ Sanel Karađuz, Project Manager

§ Sadžida Tulić, Project Assistant

Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina

§ Marica Bender, Project Manager

§ Nejla Sahačić, Project Assistant

Structured sentence management for violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina

§ Predrag Šofranac, Programme Manager 

§ Amna Kajtaz, Project Assistant

Reconciliation through cooperation between divided municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

§ Esad Mavrić, Project Officer

Reinforcing Judicial Expertise on Freedom of Expression and the Media in South-East Europe (JUFREX 2)

§ Vanja Ibrahimbegović-Tihak, Project Officer

§ Ilda Bešić, Project Assistant

Promoting good governance and Roma empowerment at local level – ROMACTED

§ Maja Grujić, Project Officer

Promotion of diversity and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 § Maja Lukić-Schade, Project Officer

§ Beti Čolak, Project Assistant

Quality Education in Multi-ethnic Societies

 § Zorica Lešić, Project Officer

§ Đana Džafić, Project Assistant

Preventing and combating human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina

§ Elma Zahirović, Project Officer

§ Lada Mujkić, Project Assistant

Building democratic participation in the City of Mostar

§ Damjan Jugović, Project Officer