Improving the cooperation and establishment of a direct contact between the Ombudsman institution (IHRO) and the public institutions from Lopare, Doboj, Zvornik, Bratunac, Kalesija and Banja Luka civil is in focus of the seventh co-ordination meeting held on 8 November in Zvornik.

The participants agreed that a systematic training for the general and expert public on human rights, especially European standards on prohibition of discrimination and the role and mandate of IHRO as a central institution for the protection against discrimination is necessary. It was suggested that a direct contact between IHRO and relevant institutions should be established i.e. the assigned lawyer to a particular case should simultaneously contact the competent department of the relevant institution in order to ensure easier and immediate handling of a case. The IHRO appealed also for consultations with the Institution prior to adoption of any decision in cases where the official is not certain, rather than remedying the violations subsequently.

The coordination meeting was organised within the framework of the Action implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman to Fight Discrimination” – which is a part of the Joint Programme between the European Union and the Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey”, as a three-year programme (May 2016 – May 2019), focusing on three themes: ensuring justice, fighting corruption, economic crime and organised crime, as well as combating discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.