Organized by the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Sector for Criminal Legal Assistance and Training in Criminal Matters before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a two-day training on the rights of victims of human trafficking in criminal proceedings was held in Mostar/Buna on 20–21 May 2026. The training was delivered within the framework of the Council of Europe’s EU4FAST project entitled “Strengthening the Response to Human Trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Systemic Reforms, Policy Development and Comprehensive Support to Victims”, with the aim of providing professional support to attorneys in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to ensure more effective access to justice for victims of human trafficking.
As a co-organizer of the professional event, the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented by Prof. Dr. Sci. Sanela Latić, Assistant Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who, in her opening remarks, pointed to the increasingly pronounced problem of the criminal offence of human trafficking, particularly in the context of the status and compensation of victims. On that occasion, she also highlighted the activities of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will provide a more precise definition of the concept of a victim, the moment of acquiring that status, and the rights arising therefrom.
Particular emphasis was also placed on the activities of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina related to the drafting of the Law on the Seizure and Management of Property Acquired through Criminal Offences, bearing in mind the importance of directing confiscated assets toward the compensation of victims of human trafficking.
During the training, discussions were also held on the establishment of mechanisms for compensating victims of human trafficking, in accordance with the current Strategy and Action Plan, as well as on the need for coordination among different levels of government in order to ensure a unified approach and legal certainty for victims throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The trainers at the event were Ahmed Mešić, Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivana Roagna, international legal expert, and Bojana Jovanović, coordinator. The training was attended by 20 participants/attorneys from across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the closing remarks, the importance of the topic was emphasized both from the perspective of domestic legislation and international human rights protection standards. Particular value was attributed to the practically oriented agenda and case studies involving trial simulations, which enabled participants to acquire concrete knowledge and tools for identifying and protecting victims of human trafficking in their everyday professional work.
