On 23 April 2024 the event on "Emerging and good practices in investigating and prosecuting digital violence against women“ in Sarajevo convened stakeholders from various sectors, including the judiciary, to explore international best practices in addressing digital violence against women. The discussions allowed the participants to delve into the legislative challenges and  discuss policy and operational strategies aimed at combating the digital dimension of violence against women.

Participants engaged in insightful discussions that shed light on the complexities of addressing this type of violence against women. Bojana Urumova, Head of the Council of Europe Sarajevo Office, highlighted the Istanbul Convention's vital role in setting standards to prevent violence  against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. She stressed that practitioners increasingly witness and are faced with the various harms women and girls suffer from digital violence violence against women, underscoring the need for robust support and protection systems for victims.

Kim Barker, the key note speaker of the event, highlighted the gendered dimension of this type of violence against women and draw attention that digital violence against women is  on the continuum of violence and it constitutes discrimination  under human rights standards.

The event introduced participants to the „Guidelines on emerging and good practices in the investigation and prosecution of digital violence against women in line with Council of Europe and other international standards“ currently under development by the project "Combating digital and sexual violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina".

The event builds upon previous awareness raising efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina to present the GREVIO General Recommendation No. 1 on the digital dimension of violence against women. Participants recognised the urgent need for continued collaboration and concerted action to address digital violence against women effectively.