A conference of the EU financed project ˝Capacity Building for Judicial Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina˝  took place today in Sarajevo. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the analysis and findings undertaken through the project, related to more harmonised approach to the roles and responsibilities of non-judicial and non-prosecutorial staff, such as court secretaries, legal and prosecutorial associates and bailiffs, amongst others. Bosnia and Herzegovina has approximately 4,100 of such support staff.

The ultimate aim of reforming the roles and responsibilities of non-judicial and non-prosecutorial staff is to create more efficient, effective and professional judicial and prosecutorial services throughout the country, in line with the standards required under Chapter 23 of EU accession negotiations.

Chloe Berger, Head of Operations Section for Justice and Home Affairs and Public Administration Reform at the Delegation of the European Union to BiH stated ¨Non-judicial and non-prosecutorial staff play a key role in the day-to-day work of courts and prosecutors’ offices throughout BiH.  They are the ˝face˝ of the judiciary as they are an interface with BiH citizens. However, challenges faced in trying to harmonise the recruitment, appraisal and career development of such staff at first, second and third instance institutions, even within the same entity, are significant, and training is not systematically provided”.

Representatives of the Ministries of Justice of BiH, the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska as well as the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Brčko District BiH attended the conference. Other participants included court presidents and associates, representatives of the BiH Association of bailiffs, court secretaries, legal advisers and interns.

It was acknowledged by the Ministries of Justice during the conference that the rights and obligations of such staff differ greatly throughout the country. The role and leadership of the Ministries of Justice and Brčko District Judicial Commission, in coordination with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, are therefore key to resolving the many present challenges.

As part of a larger EUR 1.2 million project which looked at other issues not related to non-judicial staff, the project has been implemented by Hulla Human Dynamics over a 34 month period.