The XXIV Conference in the field of criminal law was held in Neum from 3 to 6 June 2026 at Hotel Zenit. This traditional professional gathering has, for more than two decades, brought together representatives of the judicial community from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region. The conference, entitled “Contemporary Challenges of Criminal Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” gathered more than 400 participants, including judges, prosecutors, attorneys, representatives of the academic community, law enforcement agencies, and other institutions involved in the criminal justice system.
The organizers of this year’s conference were the Association of Judges in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center for Education of Judges and Public Prosecutors of Republika Srpska, as well as numerous professional associations of judges, prosecutors, and attorneys from Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other partners.
During the three-day working program, numerous current topics were discussed, including substantive and procedural criminal law, international legal cooperation, the fight against organized crime and corruption, protection of human rights and the environment, confiscation of unlawfully acquired assets, as well as the challenges brought by the rapid development of new technologies and the application of artificial intelligence in the judiciary. Special attention was given to the exchange of experiences and the harmonization of judicial and prosecutorial practice with European standards.
As part of the conference, panel discussions were also held focusing on the ethical and responsible application of artificial intelligence in the judicial system, presenting European standards and international experiences in this field. Representatives of the Council of Europe, through the activities of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), emphasized the importance of safeguarding fundamental human rights, ensuring transparency, and maintaining human oversight in the use of modern technologies within judicial institutions.
On the second day of the conference, within the panel entitled “Confiscation of Assets Obtained through Criminal Offences,” participants were addressed by Prof. Dr. Sanela Latić, Assistant Minister in the Sector for Criminal Assistance and Education in Criminal Matters before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her presentation was entitled “Grounds for the Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Assets/Property without a Criminal Conviction.”
The aim of the presentation was to familiarize participants with new international normative solutions related to the confiscation of assets obtained through criminal activity without a criminal conviction, as well as to explain the steps that Bosnia and Herzegovina will undertake following the official information that an Additional Protocol to the Warsaw Convention has been adopted by the Council of Europe. This protocol amends and supplements the Convention and will be offered to member states for signing and acceptance in October 2026, after which the ratification process is expected to follow.
The XXIV Conference in Neum once again confirmed its importance as the most significant annual professional gathering in the field of criminal law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices, and contributing to the improvement of the efficiency and quality of the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
