Improving the cooperation and establishment of a direct contact between the Ombudsman institution (IHRO) and the public institutions from Zenica, Olovo, Vareš, Visoko, Kakanj and Breza and civil societies is in focus of the eighth co-ordination meeting held on 13 November in Zenica.

It was identified that a systemic training on human rights is needed for the public institutions, including on European standards on prohibition of discrimination. Further, how to struck a balance between the principle of freedom to access to information and the protection of personal data should be clarified and therefore it was proposed joint trainings to be delivered by the Personal Data Protection Agency of BiH and the IHRO should be delivered to the public institutions and civil society.

The benefit of establishment of direct contacts between persons processing the cases is of crucial importance for a quick and simplified handling and remedying the violations of individuals’ rights.

The 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.