Procedures for deprivation of liberty and treatment of apprehended and detained persons in the custodial environment are discussed in light of the Council of Europe conventions and recommendations in the ongoing training session for law enforcement officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The backdrop for this activity are the Guidelines for dealing with persons deprived of liberty in closed environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The session is taking place on 9-10 July 2018 in Teslic. It is intended for 24 law enforcement officers of various police agencies authorised to deprive suspect offenders of their liberty and hold them in custody. The emphasis is placed on the three rights most prone to infringements, according to the Committee for the prevention of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment (CPT) reports to BiH authorities: access to medical doctor, access to lawyer and right to inform a close relative or third person of choice about the deprivation of liberty.

This 10-month training cycle will improve implementation of human rights protection mechanisms among experienced police and prison professionals in the process of aligning BiH custodial practices with the best European practices and CPT standards. Activities are organised within the framework of the joint European Union/Council of Europe project Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey - "Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina".