About 10% of BiH's children are living in socially vulnerable families; 26% live in absolute poverty. They are particularly prone to be at risk as offenders or victims of criminal acts. Due to a lack of adequate detention measures and to deficient post-release services, it is very hard for juveniles to re-integrate successfully into the society. This leads to negative effects for the juveniles themselves and for the society on its way to transition - 18% of released juveniles have re-offended in 2012. Despite tangible achievements in creating a child friendly justice system in BiH, over the last five years - e.g. justice for chiidren has been set as a rule of law priority - , the relevant legal framework needs to be further developed, and up to date proceedings need to be implemented. More modern, child sensitive assistance services and procedures in BiH's Juvenile Justice System are to be further established, in compliance with respective international standards.

The overall goal is to support juveniles in conflict with the law, children at-risk to become offenders, child victims and witnesses in civil and justice proceedings with the aim that they are better accompanied and protected; that juvenile offending decreases, which will result in enhanced security and social inclusion.

Children and juveniles can be involved at different stages in BiH's justice system; as potential and real offenders, as victims of aggression or improper procedures, and as witnesses in trials; the project intervenes to set up children sensitive proceedings; their specific rights shall be defended and prevention measures will be priorities.

End beneficiaries are children aged up to 18 years- estimated at a population of 804'000. Within this broad population group, the project seeks to support chiidren at-risk of being in conflict with the law - estimated at about 76'600 persons, as well as child victims and witnesses of criminal acts.

The core target groups include key actors within BiH's Juvenile Justice system, mainly governmental institutions at municipal, cantonal, entities' and state levels, as well as their sub-ordinate agents involved in treatment and prosecution of juvenile offending. Addressed are also specialised training organisations, juvenile assistance institutions and facilities (public and private), and professionals.

The two interrelated outcomes are:

1. The legal, policy and social environment for a successfui application of secondary and tertiary prevention measures *) for juveniles at risk or in conflict with the law is strengthened; the focus is on potential and active juvenile offenders.

2. Child victims/witnesses in criminal and civil proceedings have a better access to efficient support and protection services in the juvenile justice system; the focus is on victims and witnesses who have to be served and accompanied in a child sensitive way.

*) Secondary prevention targets juvenile groups at risk to become delinquants; tertiary prevention targets juveniles already involved in criminal activities, primary prevention focuses on the entire juvenile population for not getting in conflict with the law.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

- Gaps in legislation and policy identified; reforms for necessary adjustments supported.

- Prevention programmes for children at risk developed in selected locations,

- Reintegration of juveniles supported through improved treatment plans,

- Institutions for children at-risk or in conflict with the law equipped and able to provide proficient services.

- Monitoring, analysis, research and data collection on secondary and tertiary prevention measures enhanced.

- Improved attitude on justice for children among key stakeholders.

- Systemic gaps in services for children victims and witnesses in civil proceedings identified.

- Legal aid centres and professionals are enabled to identify children's legal needs; they provide aid, advice and referral.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

The project is a tripartite venture of the Swiss Agency for development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). During its first phase (12/2009-06/2013), it has contributed to important changes which substantially enhanced reforms in BiH's Juvenile Justice system. New basic laws have been developed; professionals in the justice system changed attitude towards juvenile offenders; a curriculum for training of judges and prosecutors has been developed and included in formal programmes; the harmonisation of data collection mechanisms on children in conflict with the law has been initiated; and good results have been achieved in primary prevention, which focused on the entire juvenile population of the country to not getting involved in unlawful processes. The projects multi-layered approach to work with key actors within the entire justice system leads to a broadly supported reform. However, tangible results have been achieved on the ground (at municipal levels) where child sensitive assistance and prosecution practices could be developed and validated; practices that progressively can be scaled up in future phases.

- State and Entities' Ministries of Justice

- BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees

- Entities' and Cantonal Ministries of Social Protection

- Entities' and Cantonal Ministries of Inferior

- High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council

- The SDC funded project "Support to the Prosecutors in the Criminal System of BiH", specifically on integrating Juvenile Justice into the country's Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2014-2018.

- The SDC funded "Youth Employment Project, to enhance links to employers for juveniles Coming out of detention.

- The Council of Europe will provide training for staff of penitentiary institutions throughout BiH.

- Save the Children offers justice for children activities in children sensitive assistance services.

Phase 2 01.01.2014 - 31.03.2018   (Completed)