A two-day conference, “Support to witnesses/victims in BiH” as part of the project “Ensuring access to justice for witnesses/victims, through strengthening existing and establishing new support networks for witnesses in BiH” which is implemented by four partner organizations UG “Vive women” Tuzla, the Agency for cooperation, education and development ACED Banja Luka, UG ” Medica” Zenica and the Foundation “United women” Banja Luka, and which is funded by the European Union, was held from 11-November 13, 2015, in Sarajevo.
In his opening statement, Head of Cooperation in the EU Delegation to BiH Melvin Asin stressed the importance of the project, as it provides input for better support to witnesses and victims, and their family members. “The authorities on all levels should recognise the importance of this issue and should provide support to the implementation of the project, which focuses on the empowerment of existing networks and establishment of new networks for support to witnesses and victims in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Asin underlined.
British Ambassador Edward Ferguson noted the importance of an institutional solution to the issues of victims of sexual violence. “There is an opportunity to use the reforms of the welfare system that are envisaged under the Reform Agenda to make changes in order to help survivors of sexual violence”, Ambassador Ferguson stated.
The aim of the conference is a gathering of all relevant institutions, experts and non-governmental organizations that deal with issues of providing support for witnesses and victims in criminal proceedings in BiH. During a two-day conference with over 170 participants and experts from governmental and non-governmental sectors, have had the opportunity to analyze existing state of affairs in their regions/cantons when it comes support to witnesses, and to propose possible models to establish a functional system for providing adequate support witnesses/victims in BiH.
The project aim is to establish new and improving existing networks that supports victims/witnesses, as well as strengthening capacity at least 170 experts from government institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as for the members of established network for providing effective and efficient support to victims/witnesses.
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