Thirty-seven newly appointed judges and prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina have completed Council of Europe training on the application of the European Convention on Human Rights in domestic judicial practice. The training sessions, part of their mandatory induction programme, were held in Sarajevo from 21 to 23 April and from 7 to 8 May 2026.

As an integral part of the programme, all participants successfully completed the Council of Europe HELP online course Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.

The first training session focused on drafting judgments in civil and criminal proceedings, with participants working on practical exercises and case studies. Particular attention was paid to the quality of judicial reasoning, the formulation of facts and legal arguments, and the application of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

The second session focused on the Convention itself and its application within the legal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, the effectiveness of the rule of law, and the state's obligations to protect fundamental rights.

A notable feature of the training was a case study on femicide and state responsibility, enabling participants to analyse the obligations arising from the right to life and the prohibition of discrimination. Judges and prosecutors examined how human rights standards should inform institutional responses to gender-based violence and the protection of victims' rights.

The training programme forms part of the Human Rights Training Curriculum for the initial and continuous training of judges and prosecutors. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises, it equips newly appointed judicial office holders with the competencies needed for the consistent application of European human rights standards, thereby contributing to the quality and effectiveness of justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The training programme was held as part of the Council of Europe project “Support to a coherent national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Phase II”, which is funded through the Action plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2026-2029.