Representatives of law enforcement and civil society organisations from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions met in Sarajevo to strengthen dialogue, build trust, and work together to combat hatred, discrimination, and racism in line with European standards.

The regional event, organised with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, provided a platform for participants to exchange good practices and reaffirm the Council of Europe’s commitment to policing that protects the human rights of all people.

“I am pleased we are able to create a space to share experiences, learn from each other, and talk about a topic that unites us all – our desire for our work to be professional, just, and committed to understanding every person,” said Amir Halilović, Head of the Sarajevo Canton Criminal Police Sector, opening the event.

Building on the outcomes of a previous workshop held last June in Durrës, Albania, the discussions in Sarajevo focused on ways to strengthen the role of law enforcement in protecting ethnic and religious minorities. Participants explored how to translate commitments into actions by improving the investigation, reporting, and prosecution of hate crimes.

The meeting highlighted the commitment of the police in addressing hatred on all grounds in our societies, as they are among the first responders approached by the people. By providing this platform of exchange, the EU and the Council of Europe aim to increase the minorities’ trust in the institutions, allowing for mutual learning between police delegations based on good practices.

Over two days, participants reviewed domestic and European legal frameworks, analysed case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and compared institutional practices to tackle hate crime. The focus was on sharing what works and discuss challenges ahead - identifying strategies to improve the effectiveness and quality of law enforcement responses while remaining anchored in human rights obligations.

Looking ahead, participants agreed to continue their co-operation through follow-up activities and future exchanges. Strengthening trust and open communication between police and communities will remain at the heart of efforts to build more inclusive societies based on respect, dignity, and human rights for all.

This regional event is organised within the action “Promoting equality and combating racism and intolerance in the Western Balkans” and the project “Promoting equality and non-discrimination: towards more resilient and inclusive societies” – co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe respectively under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programmes “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and “Partnership for Good Governance”.

It is also supported by the Council of Europe projects “Combating discrimination, hatred and racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Fostering societal cohesion by reinforcing minority rights and minority languages” and the EU/CoE project “Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine”.