Joint Programme

Horizontal Facility

Independent experts and members of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Preventive Mechanism, working under the Institution of Ombudsman for Human Rights in BiH, came together for an intensive capacity-building session aimed at strengthening their role in preventing ill-treatment. Bringing together various professionals of legal, medical, forensic and social work backgrounds, the participants focused on strengthening their skills to plan and conduct visits more effectively.

The session is a follow up to the earlier activities jointly undertaken with staff of the Ombudsmen Institution on developing Preventive mechanism’s Working methodology as part of the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye programme. It covered a range of key agenda points, starting with an introduction to the Preventive Mechanism’s mandate, ensuring all participants had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The group then explored preparing for visits, from logistical planning to identifying priorities and areas of focus. They also discussed how to conduct interviews with persons deprived of liberty, emphasizing techniques that respect dignity, build trust, and encourage honest dialogue. Finally, the session included post-visit debriefing and reporting, guiding participants on how to analyse findings, provide recommendations, and follow up on implementation.

Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in lively discussions, shared experiences, and practiced real-life scenarios. They learned not just the technical steps, but also how to approach their work with empathy, precision, and a focus on human rights. One member noted, “This training has given me the confidence to enter a facility and ensure every person’s dignity is respected.”

The workshop highlighted the human side of oversight work—beyond procedures and checklists, it’s about protecting individuals from harm and promoting accountability. By empowering these professionals, Preventive mechanism as part of the Ombudsmen Institution is helping to create a system where every visit can make a real difference in people’s lives.

As the group gathered around the table, reviewing the programme and checklists, there was a palpable sense of purpose: these are not just steps on a page—they are tools to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in BiH.

The  activity was organised as part of the action “Further strengthening the treatment of detained and sentenced persons in line with European standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ under the joint Council of Europe and European Union programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.