The Regional Conference “Facilitating regional collaboration on addressing radicalisation in prisons and supporting the authorities in overcoming the main challenges of the penitentiary systems in the Western Balkans region” will be held on 22 and 23 October 2019, in Sarajevo.

Opening remarks will be given by:

• Josip Grubeša, Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Filip De Ceuninck, EU regional Counter-Terrorism Advisor, EU Delegation in Sarajevo
• Gianluca Esposito, Head of the Action against Crime Department, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe

The conference will mark the start of the regional project: “Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in Western Balkans”, implemented under the scope of the Horizontal Facility Programme 2019-2022, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

The event will gather some 80 participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, including representatives of the respective prison administrations and probation services. It will be an opportunity for the participants to explore the main theme as well as other topics, such as the rehabilitation of other groups of offenders, prison management and oversight and healthcare in prisons. The conference will also promote co-operation and exchange of good practices between penitentiary and probation services across the region.

The Conference begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Novotel Sarajevo Bristol hotel.

Media are welcome to cover the opening of the conference. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided. Press statements and interviews can be arranged upon request.

Members of the media are expected to confirm their participation by Monday, 21 October, by 2 p.m. indicating the name and the outlet they represent.

 Programme of the conference

Media contact and accreditation: Marija Simić,  +381 63 60 13 37;

Media contact: Dušan Vojnović,  +33 390 21 56 99

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.