Support to sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs)
On 1 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 was 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 was 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).
The project had an overall budget of 200,000 EUR financed under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018–2021 and has been completed by 31 December 2022.
Project documentation
Useful information
ESPA-VEP Project continues to support the set-up of prison intelligence mechanism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The second working group (WG) session on prison intelligence mechanism (PIU) manual and training programme, gathering representatives of entity Ministries of Justice, Bijeljina, Mostar, Tuzla, Banja Luka and Zenica prisons, as well as the State prison, took place on 27-28 November in Brcko. The...
Inter-Institutional coordination meeting with law enforcement agencies
A coordination meeting between the state and entity Ministries of Justice, Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Brcko District, State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Intelligence-Security Agency of BiH and prisons in Bijeljina, Mostar,...
Importance of interagency cooperation in rehabilitation work with violent extremist offenders highlighted in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Good cooperation between the different agencies involved in the rehabilitation of prisoners is a key prerequisite for success. It is with this awareness that representatives of the ministries of justice, prisons, Jajce, Velika Kladuša, Zenica and Hadžići social welfare centres and a...
Advanced training on dealing with violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A group of prison staff coming from the State Prison, Banja Luka, and Bihac prisons, as well as employees from four social welfare centers (SWCs) from Velika Kladusa, Jajce, Zenica, and Hadzici, were trained on preparing VEPs for release. The training was delivered by local trainers coming from...
Working Group session on information collection and analysis with regards to radicalisation and violent extremism in prisons in BiH
On 06-07 March 2023, the Council of Europe organised a 2-day working group (WG) session as part of ongoing efforts to support BiH institutions in addressing radicalisation and violent extremism in prisons. WG members include project partners coming from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry...
Strengthening prison staff capacities in prevention of prison radicalisation and management of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Council of Europe continues to support the penitentiary institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by enhancing prison staff capacities related to preventing prison radicalisation and management of violent and extremist prisoners (VEPs). On 24 and 25 March 2022, a 2-day advanced Training of...
Round Table on gender-responsive prison management with regards to radicalisation and violent extremism
On 17-18 March 2022, the Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and their respective partners from entity and state levels, organised a Round Table (RT) on strengthening the capacities in the execution of criminal sanctions...
The Steering Committee welcomed the progress achieved with regards to rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Within the framework of the project "Support to penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina", the final meeting of the Project’s Steering Committee (SC) was held on 7 December 2021 in Sarajevo. The meeting was attended by...
The Council of Europe supports authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to finalise the tools and programme for violent extremist prisoners
The Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice in BiH and their respective partners from entity and state penitentiaries, organized the final meeting of the Working Group on reviewing and finalising the tools and programme for rehabilitation of violent and...
The Council of Europe builds capacities of prison staff in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to properly manage violent extremist prisoners (VEPs)
The Council of Europe, in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice in BiH and their respective partners from the entity and state penitentiary institutions, organised a coaching session for the members of the prison multidisciplinary teams on the application of the VEP-specific...
Council of Europe continues to support penitentiary authorities in BiH in managing VEPs
The first Steering Committee (SC) meeting of the project “Support to the penitentiary system towards sustainable rehabilitation of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held on 07 June 2021 in an online format, with the participation of representatives of the Bosnia...
European Prison Rules
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