News
Gaps in addressing sexual and digital violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Executive, legislative, and judicial authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina met in a series of roundtable discussions from 17-19 September 2024 to reflect on the findings of a gap analysis concerning sexual and digital violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discussions, moderated by...
Software to support a more efficient system of treatment of prisoners launched for the beneficiaries of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
For the first time in a prison of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation an Integrated Prison Management Information System (IPMIS) was put into function. This prison software together with the procurement of hardware equipment was developed with the support of the EU and Council of Europe...
Enhancing Human Rights Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Hate Speech Training
Effectively addressing hate speech across all areas, including robust domestic monitoring and reporting mechanisms, requires tailor-made capacity building in line with international standards. To support this effort, the Council of Europe organised a training for key institutions at the State,...
Continuation of support of the Council of Europe anti-trafficking project in organisation of Symposium of Prosecutors (Panel on trafficking in human beings)
Aiming to support capacity building of judicial professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, each year the Council of Europe anti-trafficking project, in collaboration with partners (OSCE BiH, IOM, IFS EMMAUS, and EU4FAST), organizes Panel on trafficking in human beings (in the framework of the...
Protecting Journalists and Activists from SLAPPs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are a significant concern for journalists and activists, as they are used by political and economic power holders to suppress critical voices. Addressing this challenge from the perspective of journalists and lawyers, and exploring how to...
Empowering mental health professionals on LGBTIQ counselling approach in Bosnia and Herzegovina
As part of the "Empower and Embrace" project, supported by EU and Council of Europe, the Centre for Psychological Support Sensus concluded the capacity building initiative on "Gender, Identity, and Sexuality" in Mostar and Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 17 mental health professionals had the...
Combating Hate Speech and Discrimination through Education in the Municipality of Ilijaš
In the efforts to address hate speech and fight discrimination in the local communities of Ilijas in Bosnia and Herzegovina the initiative “Countering hate speech in the Municipality of Ilijaš” was successfully concluded. This initiative supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe...
Promoting a culture of dialogue in Banja Luka, to prevent hate speech on the internet
The City of Banja Luka hosted on 9 to 10 July a capacity building activity dedicated to the important topic of preventing hate speech on the internet and promoting a positive use of social media. The event organised with the support of EU and Council of Europe brought together 35 participants...
Fighting hate speech and hate crime: regional gathering of the network of Equality Bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership Region
A two-day workshop on addressing hate speech and hate crime took place at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, involving Equality bodies from the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership regions. The event supported by the EU and Council of Europe, gathered 50 representatives...
Addressing racism and racial discrimination in the context of the EU accession process in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership region
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg welcomed during 3-4 July a two-day conference, focusing on tackling racism and racial discrimination in the context of the EU accession process. The conference, supported by EU and Council of Europe titled "Addressing racism and racial discrimination in the...
Joining forces with civil society against violence and gender inequality
The Council of Europe Ending violence against women: multi-country programme organised the conference “Synergy for change: Civil society raising awareness on violence against women in a context of global challenges” in Budapest 11-12 July 2024. Civil society organisations (CSOs) from across...
First round of training for civil servants of Bosnia and Herzegovina to recognise and tackle hate speech
The Civil Service Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, organised on the mountain Jahorina the first training for 26 civil servants on recognising and responding to cases of hate speech. This training, that took place on 8 and 9 July...
Freedom of Expression in Focus of Regional School of Human Rights: Empowering Future Legal Professionals in the Western Balkans
Trebinje hosts the Regional School of Human Rights, an event that brought together 34 law students from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo[1]. The summer school introduces students to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the role of the...
Teachers take first steps to become certified trainers on the Competences for democratic culture
10 teachers from primary and secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) participated in the Training of trainers for teachers from Resource centers organised within the joint European Union/Council of Europe action “Quality education for all” from 2 to 4 July. This group of teachers who...
HJPC Delegation Learns from Lithuania’s Judicial Reforms
A delegation from the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina recently concluded a successful two-day study visit to Lithuania on June 11-12, 2024. During the visit, they engaged in detailed discussions and gained valuable insights into several key aspects of the...
Members of the Advisory Board call for further implementation of the Roadmap for improvement of inclusive education in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The third meeting of the Advisory Board of the joint European Union (EU) and Council of Europe action "Quality education for all" in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) took place online on the 1st of July 2024. The meeting was opened by Adnan Husić, Assistant Minister from the Ministry of Civil Affairs...
Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions, academia, civil society, and media join forces to combat disinformation and hate speech online
European standards, including the EU Digital Service Act (DSA), require a multi-stakeholder approach to the protection from harmful content online, involving governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, regulatory and self-regulatory bodies, civil society, academia, and media. At a round table...
Fourteen representatives of police agencies and inspectorates certified to conduct training on human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation
In order to ensure the continuation of activities related to strengthening of the capacities of professionals through trainings organized by institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to improve work in the field on the identification of victims of human trafficking for the purpose of labour...
Addressing hate speech: training for the prosecutors and police in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Addressing hate speech effectively requires targeted training and clear legal standards. To this end, the Council of Europe organised, with the support of the European Union, a comprehensive training session for prosecutors and police officers from 13 offices across Bosnia and Herzegovina,...
Council of Europe anti-trafficking project continues support to professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina on suppression of labour exploitation
Council of Europe anti-trafficking project in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues with activities to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of professionals to detect and combat trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation. On 15 March 2024, for the second time, the project...