The 10th Conference of Ministers of Justice in BiH, Presidents of HJPC BiH and the Judicial Commission of Brčko District BiH



The 10^th Conference of Ministers of Justice in BiH, Presidents of HJPC BiH and the Judicial Commission of Brčko District BiH, attended by the ministers of justice at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina and presidents of HJPC BiH and the Judicial Commission of Brčko District  BiH, has been held today in Sarajevo.

Participants of the conference discussed and adopted the report of justice sector institutions and information of civil society organizations on the results achieved in the implementation of the Action Plan of the Justice Sector Reform Strategy in BiH in the first half of 2013, including reports on the implementation of the National Strategy for War Crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, development of pre-draft of new Justice Sector Reform Strategy in BiH for the period 2014-2018, working material of the Strategy for Transitional Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the construction of the State Prison and donor projects in the justice sector in BiH, with the special accent on the most important problems identified in the current implementation and priority activities for the next reporting period. The recommendations of the European Commission from the 4^th Structural Dialogue, held on April 8 and 9, 2013, in Brcko, were also considered. 

Beside the report on work, Monitoring and Evaluation Report on Donor Aid Effectiveness in the Justice Sector in BiH was also adopted.

The most important results of the justice sector institutions in BiH in the first half of 2013 are:

1.      Obtaining more quality approach of financing of judicial institutions in BiH and harmonisation of regulations at various levels of government in BiH, as a precondition of their independence and equal treatment to all, 

2.      Finding agreeable solutions for reducing the backlog of court cases and operational issues related to the work of courts and prosecutorial offices in BiH, such as introduction of the information system and reconstruction of judicial institution buildings, which contribute to the increase of efficiency and effectiveness of the judicial system in BiH,

3.      Strengthening the accountability and professionalism of the judiciary, by adopting standards for their work and establishment of proper system for monitoring, and conducting additional trainings of judges and prosecutors,

4.      Provision of international legal assistance and improvement of judicial cooperation, especially with neighbouring countries,

5.      The issue of access to justice and the introduction of free legal aid in BiH,

6.      Increased use of mediation and other means of peaceful settlement of disputes, the real property registration and commercial disputes,

7.      Improving the management of system for execution of criminal sanctions in BiH, resolving prison overcrowding and modalities of improving the situation, which includes more extensive use of conditional release, pardoning, community service work and other alternative sanctions, as well as expansion of prison capacity, including works on the State Prison construction and application of international standards in the area of execution of criminal sanctions, i.e. putting into operation the Psychiatric Clinic Sokolac.

Conference participants are strongly committed to further continue implementation of the reforms and to take additional activities for strengthening the capacities for strategic