OSCE supports advancement of criminal justice response to violence against women and girls in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and in partnership with the Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, facilitated a series of capacity-building events on addressing violence against women and girls for criminal justice practitioners and experts. 

On 1 and 2 September, law enforcement officials and prosecutors from across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina discussed practical ways to strengthen victim-centred and trauma-responsive responses to cases of violence against women and girls. Particular attention was given to enhancing interagency co-operation to ensure continuous risk assessment and effective responses to breaches of victim protection measures. 

On 3 September, a roundtable discussion on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls took place for representatives of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, courts, academia and civil society organizations, as well as international experts. The discussion contributed to a shared understanding of the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina addressing technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, promoting their consistent application in the investigation and prosecution of such cases. 

Organized under the OSCE extrabudgetary project “Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-Based Violence in South-Eastern Europe”, the events form part of the OSCE’s broader efforts to support effective and democratic policing responses to gender-based violence, with a focus on victim protection. 

The two events were supported by Germany. The project is also funded by Austria, Finland, France, Italy and Norway.