REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION PAID A VISIT TO THE BIH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

The delegation of the members of the European Commission, consisting of six experts, paid a visit to the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the visit was to have the experts introduced to the comprehensive activities which are being undertaken for the purpose of implementation of a more efficient Strategy against Trafficking in Persons, especially in the segment of trafficking in persons.

The delegation was welcomed by the Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina Goran Salihović, Deputy Chief Prosecutor and Head of the Special Department for Organized Crime, Economic Crime and Corruption Božo Mihajlović, the Prosecutor of the aforementioned Department Sena Uzunović and the Chief of the Office of the Chief Prosecutor Hasan Pleh.

A EUROPOL member also joined this meeting, in order to give a comprehensive assessment of the policy for combatting trafficking in persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

In his address to the members of the delegation, the Chief Prosecutor Salihović spoke about the efforts and results achieved by the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past period, as well as about the planned results and activities in fighting trafficking in persons, terrorism, organized crime, war crimes and other criminal offences in the purview of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The topics at the meeting pertained to the following three components:

-      Legal component- harmonization of legislation with the EU acquis; international legal assistance; framework for cooperation in judicial matters; cyber-crime legislation,

-      Law enforcement component- identification of victims; awareness of exploitation at the workplace, children exploitation and new forms of recruiting via internet;  regional cooperation of law enforcement agencies; internal coordination; and

-      Social component- role of NGOs; access to financing; victims’ access to social services; victim protection; children’s rights. 

The direct contact with experts at the meeting provided an opportunity for a constructive exchange of views and for informing the colleagues about the ongoing activities.

The meeting was organized by the Delegation of the European Union/Office of the Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and under the auspices of TAIEX.