On 19 November 2020, the Council of Europe (CoE) held the fourth informative training session on application of the CMS Manual for violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). Prison practitioners from Bihać and Banja Luka prisons, as well as representatives of law-enforcement agencies and social work centers coming from these two regions, were familiarised with the content of the CMS Manual and increased their understanding on VEPs case management methods. The CMS Manual establishes a structured multidisciplinary approach, promotes multi-agency cooperation and further enhances prison staff skills and abilities in managing VEPs.

session was also attended by 10 security and treatment officers coming from the newly opened State prison, who have benefited by enhancing their understanding of violent extremism and radicalization in prisons and strengthening their knowledge related to case management of this category of prisoners. Their continuous participation at training activities on this topic is of a vital importance taking into consideration that all individuals sentenced for terrorism and/or joining foreign military or paramilitary forces shall be transferred from the entity prison establishments to the State prison. This was the first training that the State prison staff attended specifically on this topic, however their participation in similar project activities shall intensify in the forthcoming period.

Following the safety recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held online. The training was delivered by certified trainers coming from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Federation BiH.

The activity was organised under the project ''Structured Sentence Management For Violent And Extremist Prisoners" funded by the voluntary contribution of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom and the United States Agency for International Development Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and implemented by the Council of Europe.