Isak wrote to cantonal Interior Ministries: Urgently direct capacities to prevent violence against women

(Patria) - Ramo Isak, Minister of Interior of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sent a letter to all cantonal Interior Ministries due to the unfortunate, horrific and heinous events that occurred in the territory of certain cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in which female persons lost their lives, with male persons appearing as perpetrators of these criminal acts of murder, primarily spouses or extramarital partners, who had previously been reported to competent institutions for domestic violence, creating a sense of insecurity and fear among citizens, especially female citizens.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a signatory to the Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 15/13)), is obliged to take primarily preventive measures aimed at preventing violence against women and protecting victims of violence, but also repressive action after preventive aspects have not provided an adequate response regarding the perpetrator.

Taking into account the fact that criminal acts of domestic violence, as gender-based violence, fall under the jurisdiction of cantonal ministries of interior in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, you are called upon to urgently direct your capacities in the segments of this type of criminal acts towards improving cooperation with: competent prosecutor's offices, social work centers, safe houses, but also to increase operational exchange of information between police stations and police administrations, in order to act adequately and urgently in segments of police work in cases of domestic violence, especially when it comes to repeat offenders of these criminal acts.

The Federal Ministry of Interior and the Federal Police Administration make themselves available to provide necessary assistance, with the aim of preventive or repressive action in preventing individuals from committing gender-based violence, as we have witnessed in the previous period," Isak emphasizes in the letter sent to all cantonal Interior Ministries.