A Situation and Needs Assessment of the Cantonal/District Prosecutor´s Offices and Courts in the Field of Witness/Victim Support and Protection in War Crimes in BiH

A Situation and Needs Assessment of the Cantonal/District Prosecutor´s Offices and Courts in the Field of Witness/Victim Support and Protection in War Crimes in BiH

July 25, 2013

Within its ´Support to Processing of War Crimes Cases in BiH´ Project, the United Nations Development Programme BiH (UNDP BiH), financed by the Government of Spain, in partnership with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC BiH) produced a Report:

"A Situation and Needs Assessment of the Cantonal/District Prosecutor´s Offices and Courts in the Field of Witness/Victim Support and Protection in War Crimes in BiH"

The Report is based on data collected from 16 cantonal, district and Brčko District prosecutor`s offices and courts concerning the capacities and the needs of these institutions to provide adequate support and protection to victims and witnesses in war crimes proceedings. It provides a set of clear strategic recommendations for practitioners and entity/local authorities that serve as a starting point for the establishment of adequate and functional witness support and protection mechanisms(s), whose goal is to ensure the full implementation of the National War Crimes Strategy as well as European human rights standards throughout BiH.