The first Working Group (WG) under the project "Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)" took place on 22 June, 2022 in Banja Luka.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS), the BiH Ministry of Security, six penitentiary establishments, as well as representatives of the law-enforcement agencies from across all administrative levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The participants focused discussion on mapping main elements and resources needed for establishment of the local multi-agency cooperation models, operational protocols, and mechanisms for exchange of data between the prison establishments, law enforcement agencies, social welfare centres aiming to support efficient rehabilitation and reintegration of the VEPs.  

The participants agreed that efficient multiagency cooperation and coordination, accompanied with an efficient exchange of information represent a cornerstone for establishment of sustainable actions within the criminal sanctions enforcement system and rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The  Working group meeting was organized within the project "Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in managing rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ESPA-VEP)", which is funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.