The Working Group composed of representatives from the Ministries of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Federation BiH and Republika Srpska, prison professionals from Zenica and Bijeljina prisons and two international consultants held an online meeting on 18-19 June 2020 on the development of the Staff Management Strategy for high security units managing violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting resulted in comprehensive review of the first version of the document, drafted during the COVID–19 lockdown period. Special emphasis was given to the analysis of the legislative and institutional framework in force in BiH with regards to the management, education, support mechanisms and professional development of the staff working in prisons with VEPs. The Strategy is aligned with the Council of Europe’s “Guidelines and Handbook for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism” and the “Guidelines regarding recruitment, selection, education, training and professional development of prison and probation staff”, as well as it incorporates good European practices. The Strategy will serve as a guiding instrument for the prison authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to plan, implement and evaluate the initial, continuous and professional development of the prison staff in the high security units.

This activity has been organised as part of the project ''Structured Sentence Management for Violent and Extremist Prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina'', funded thanks to the generous contribution of the British Government and the USAID office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and implemented by the Council of Europe.