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Back Advanced training on application of the rehabilitation tools and programmes for violent extremist prisoners in BiH prisons

The Council of Europe continues to support the penitentiary institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by improving prison staff capacities related to management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Namely, a 3-day advanced training session for the multidisciplinary teams from the newly opened State prison, Bijeljina and Tuzla prisons took place on 15–17 June 2021 in Mostar.

The training focused on the application of the VEP-specific screening, risk and needs assessment tools and rehabilitation programme and resulted with an enhanced level of knowledge, self-confidence and skills among the participants. It was delivered by certified trainers coming from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation BiH, supported by a CoE consultant.

In order to further test the reliability of the tools and the programme and to ensure a unified approach throughout the BiH prison system, the participants agreed to pilot them in the above-mentioned prison establishments for a period of up to four months.

This activity is organized within the framework of the project “Support to the penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018–2021.

 

Mostar 15–17 June 2021
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project brief

On 01 May 2021 the Council of Europe initiated the implementation of an 8-months project entitled “Support to penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. The project is implemented in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of BiH, and Republika Srpska), and their respective partners from the entity and state penitentiary institutions.

The overall purpose of the project is to provide continued support to the authorities in BiH in their efforts to further build the capacities of the prison system and strengthen their skills with respect to managing violent extremist prisoners (VEPs). It will also ensure sustainability of the actions undertaken towards efficient reintegration of VEPs back in the community.

The previous Council of Europe projects[1] set the foundations and preconditions for structured case management of VEPs and inter-agency cooperation. The future key actions, supported under this proposal, will be focused on enhancement of the prison staff skills related to the multi-disciplinary approach in ensuring VEPs rehabilitation and preparation for release. This project will also aim to establish virtual education and training proficiency center, which will bring together the existing expertise and resources in order to sustain knowledge and skills attained in management of VEPs.

The main expected results of the project are:

  1. Enhancement of the unified application of the VEP-specific tools throughout the penitentiary systems in BiH, and
  2. Establishment of the BiH Penitentiary virtual Center of Excellence for preventing and countering violent extremism in prisons in a form of collaboration platform 

The project has an overall budget of 200,000 EUR and is financed under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018–2021. 

 

[1] Voluntary contribution "Structured sentence management for violent and extremist prisoners", funded by UK Embassy and USAID (2018-2021) and “Supporting reintegration of violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina” , and voluntary contribution of the Government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2017-2018)