The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina has called on the local authorities to “swiftly adopt and then effectively implement” the Draft Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2021-2027, which provides the institutional framework that is an essential component of wider, much-needed justice sector reform in the country.

The OSCE recalled it provided support to the Bosnian Ministry of Justice in the period March-May 2022 in organising five consultative meetings across the country on the Strategy, which was a part of the wider process designed to resolve stagnation around justice sector reform and to advance the adoption of the Strategy, while also enabling more inclusive and informed participation of relevant actors.

“Crucially, the Strategy ensures ownership by local institutions over the delivery of concrete inputs and results in relation to justice sector reform in BiH. The Mission urges authorities to swiftly adopt and then effectively implement the Strategy, which provides the institutional framework that is an essential component of wider, much-needed justice sector reform in BiH,” the OSCE said in a statement.

It also noted that the European Union Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Office of the EU Special Representative have also been following the process closely.

“In its 2021 Country Report on BiH, the European Commission urged BiH to adopt a new Justice Sector Reform Strategy and the related action plan in the coming year, to replace those that expired in 2018, as part of the authorities’ commitment to the citizens of BiH, who deserve an independent, accountable, and efficient justice sector. Judicial reform is further a crucial component of the EU accession process,” the OSCE stressed, adding it would continue supporting the process in partnership with the EU's office in BiH.