Seventeen police officers from various agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina joined peer training on human rights modules on 15-16 March 2022 in Mostar. This capacity building activity was delivered against the background of the resource manual Human rights of persons deprived of liberty in police custody, prepared earlier as part of the peer training scheme under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action ‘’ Strengthening human rights treatment of detainees based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina’’.
The training enables harmonised and human rights-based approach to daily management of persons deprived of liberty for shorter periods of time, during police detention. Informing suspects about the reasons for their apprehension, advising them about their immediate rights upon apprehension and safe escort to face judicial authorities were only some of the modules delivered during this session. The police officers participating in it particularly value the interactive method of training delivery and the opportunity to analyse a number of case studies with an international consultant, observe in practice demonstrations of searches and application of restraint measures in accordance with human rights safeguard, among other.
Based on the feedback received, these activities contribute also to further professionalisation and transparency of the police officers' work in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
''Humane approach to persons deprived of liberty is not only important for them and their integrity and dignity. It also reflects positively on our own professionalism and helps us to maintain the focus on the need to harmonise local procedures with European standards'', stated one of the participants.
The peer training among law enforcement, forensic and prison staff in human rights modules continues throughout this year with the support of the action ‘’Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina’’ , which is a part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022”, implemented by the Council of Europe.
