Courts Ensure Equal Treatment to Victims and Witnesses - MoU
13/07/2012
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District Court East Sarajevo and basic courts in Višegrad, Vlasenica and Sokolac signed Memorandum of Understanding that will enable all victims and witnesses in criminal cases to have an equal treatment during the trial phase throughout the area covered by the District Court in East Sarajevo, regardless of whether they appear before the District or basic courts.
UNDP BiH within the framework of „Support to Processing of War Crimes Cases in BiH – SPWCC“ Project organized the signing of the MoU that for the first time makes cooperation in the field of victim/witness support between district and basic courts formal in Republika Srpska.
Witness Support Office (WSO) at the District Court in East Sarajevo began work in April 2012. It was formed and equiped by the abovementioned Project and presents a series of activities being performed by UNDP aimed at developing a unified protection and support mechanism for the citizens appearing in criminal cases in BiH.
Given today's signing so far 7 courts in BiH have the capacities for providing necessary support and protection to victims and witnesses in cases of war crimes, sexual violence, juvenile delinquency, robery as well as in all other serious criminal offences.
Presidents of the basic courts were enthusiastic about the prospects which this service has to offer and have expressed their belief that it will assist the participants in criminal proceedings and improve access to justice in this part of BiH.
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