Vive Zene organized round table on establishment of institutional witnesses/victims support network in Sarajevo Canton
“Ensuring Access to Justice for Witnesses/Victims through Strengthening Existing and Establishing New Witness Support Networks across BiH “ is a title of the project and round table held on 21st of May 2015 in Sarajevo.
This project, funded by European Union, is implemented by Association “Vive Zene” – Tuzla, in cooperation with partner’s organizations Association “Medica” – Zenica, Foundation “Udruzene Zene” – Banja Luka and Agency for Cooperation, Education and Development – Banja Luka. .
The event was attended by representatives of non-governmental and international organizations directly or indirectly involved in work with victims/witnesses, as well as representatives of state institutions and relevant ministries.
Participants were addressed by: Boris Grubesic – Head of Public Relations Office of the Prosecutor BiH, Jasmin Mesić – Head of the War Crimes Department of Una-Sana Canton Office of the Prosecutor, Jasna Zecevic – President of the Association Vive Žene Tuzla, Sabiha Husić – Director of the Association “Medica” Zenica, Aleksandra Petric – Executive Director of “Udruzene Zene” Banja Luka Foundation and Dejan Jovanovic – Coordinator with “ACED” Banja Luka. Event highlighted importance of the support to witnesses/victims before, during and after testimony in cases of war crimes and other crimes cases. Moreover, presented were examples of the support through the work of already established network in the area of Una-Sana Canton and emphasised was intention of establishing the witnesses/victims support network in Sarajevo Canton.
– The Project envisions establishment of eight new networks and empowerment of six existing witness/victims support networks in BiH. Our goal is to create a unique model in all communities and similar approach in work with witnesses. At present, current issue are war crimes, which are still unfinished issue, but our focus at the moment is to establish sustainable networks, which will function even after the completion of these processes, in order to provide support and assistance to witnesses of all current and future crimes. The idea behind the project is to establish networks in those areas where there are cantonal courts in FBiH and district courts in RS, and also to map non-governmental organizations who would be capable enough to, with our assistance, lead the work of these established networks – said Jasna Zecevic, President of “Vive Zene” Tuzla.
Jasmin Mesic, Head of Department for War Crimes of the Cantonal Prosecution of Una-Sana Canton, spoke about the good experience of the established witnesses/victims support network.
– Before establishment of the network, as a prosecutor, I was coping with the whole lot of problems which I could not solve only by myself, and we all know that good preparation of the witness before the testimony should result in guilty verdict. With the support of Association “Medica” – Zenica, in 2012 we started first steps in establishment of the network which included the whole variety of network members and organizations dealing with these issues. It is important to emphasise that participation in the work of the network does not impose any additional obligations – practically, all those who are already doing their jobs are going to harmonize their tasks related to the work with witnesses/victims with other institutions who are network members already – explained Prosecutor Mesic.
Informational round table, under this theme, is planned for 11th of June in Bijeljina, and on 12th of June in Istocno Sarajevo. More information on networks and project activities available at: www.svjedocipravdapristup.com
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