Providing for effective reintegration of violent extremist offenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PER-VEO) - Phase I
At a glance
The overall purpose of the project is to continue supporting the efforts of Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to facilitate the processes of reintegrating violent extremist offenders (VEOs) to the local communities, thereby enhancing the overall safety and security of the population.
This is to be done through a dual approach that will aim toward improving the institutional framework and operational capacities of the institutions to respond to current trends and needs with regards to the management, rehabilitation and reintegration of sanctioned individuals, with focus on violent extremist prisoners and radicalised persons.
At the same time, the project will further enhance the skills and knowledge of prison staff and other responsible authorities managing violent extremist offenders, ensuring that preconditions for sustainable application and utilisation are put in place.
Funding
This project is implemented and financed under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.
Duration
01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
What are the goals and objectives of the action?
The overall aim to enhance general safety and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina by providing for effective reintegration of violent extremist offenders shall be achieved through:
- further improvements to the co-ordinated and multi-stakeholder provision of post-penal support and assistance to violent extremist offenders and other marginalised or vulnerable categories of offenders,
- further enhancement of the Prison Intelligence Units’ knowledge and the skills of prison staff involved in the prison operational work on collection, analysis, and sharing of information with relevant agencies,
- providing decision-makers and practitioners a platform for the sharing of knowledge and skills for working with violent extremist offenders,
- further expansion of sustainable mechanisms for supporting the wellbeing and mental health of prison staff and other practitioners working with violent extremist offenders.
Who benefits from the action?
The project activities are intended to benefit relevant institutions and professional services in Bosnia and Herzegovina working directly with violent extremist offenders (including prison officers and managers, treatment staff, psychologists, social workers, medical and other support staff, local multidisciplinary teams) and consequently the entire population of Bosnia and Herzegovina which will benefit from increased overall safety and security.
- justice ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of BiH, and Republika Srpska,
- health ministries of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska,
- prisons and law-enforcement agencies,
- employment agencies,
- local communities.
How does the action work?
The project will build on the results achieved over the course of the previous project “Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in Managing Rehabilitation of Violent Extremism Prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (ESPA-VEP).
Envisioned project objectives shall be achieved through:
- development and piloting of standardised operating procedures, as well as guidelines for post-penal support to violent extremist offenders, to support their reintegration back into society,
- upgrading co-operation protocols on information sharing between prisons and relevant agencies,
- delivery of capacity-building activities for prison staff involved in the prison operational work regarding the collection, analysis, and sharing of information,
- utilisation of the collaboration platform to foster the exchange of know-how, skills, and good practices between relevant institutions and agencies,
- development of training programmes and delivery of capacity building activities related to staff wellbeing, burn-out, stress, and mental health issues.
What do we expect to achieve?
Upon the project’s conclusion, we wish to see the safety and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina further enhanced through:
- addressing radicalization in prisons and leveraging the progress achieved in the reintegration of violent extremist offenders into society,
- effective response and tailored support by responsible institutions to the reintegration needs of violent extremist offenders and other vulnerable and marginalised groups of offenders,
- a self-sustainable system for staff wellbeing, as well as training and professional development for practitioners working with violent extremist offenders and other vulnerable and marginalised groups of offenders.
What is the budget of the action?
The total budget of the action is 500 000 EUR.
Reference documents:
Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism
