Protection of children's rights must be the focus of all judicial institutions

(Patria) - The HJPC BiH has been marking November 20 - International Children's Day for years, which also represents an opportunity to analyze achieved results and point out shortcomings in the system for the protection of children and minors in contact with judicial institutions.

International Children's Day, established by the United Nations (UN) organization, has been celebrated since 1989 worldwide, with the aim of better understanding, acceptance, and well-being of all children.

Improving the position of children and minors in contact with the judiciary is the focus of numerous activities carried out by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with international partners.

With this goal, the Council, in cooperation with UNICEF, began the process of developing standards for equipping rooms for interviewing children in contact with the law. The standards for equipping and using rooms for interviewing child witnesses ensure the efficient conduct of criminal proceedings involving children, in accordance with all relevant international standards and domestic regulations, while respecting the best interests of the child.

The HJPC BiH adopted the standards for equipping and using rooms for interviewing child witnesses in January 2021, after which it continued to provide support to UNICEF in identifying judicial institutions where construction and technical works are necessary to adapt rooms for interviewing children in contact with the law and their equipping.

Earlier, an illustrated guide through criminal proceedings for child victims/witnesses of criminal offenses and their parents/guardians was created, and an analysis of the degree of application of the provisions of the Law on the Protection and Treatment of Children and Minors in Criminal Proceedings in courts in BiH was also produced, based on which recommendations were issued to courts for improving work.

All activities carried out so far represent a basis on which all judicial institutions in BiH will work on improving this area.

Improving the system for protecting the rights of children and minors should encompass all ways in which children encounter the judicial system, whether as victims, witnesses, alleged perpetrators, or through cases involving care, custody, or protection of children.

Activities aimed at strengthening the rule of law, democracy, human rights, and improving the position of vulnerable groups in contact with the court are carried out by the HJPC BiH within the project Improving Court Efficiency and Accountability of Judges and Prosecutors in BiH, with the support of the Government of Sweden, and improving the position of vulnerable groups, especially children and minors, will continue to be the focus of activities of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH in the coming period.