"Leaders for Justice" participants on a study trip to Berlin

Over the course of six days in May 2024, the 4th generation of "Leaders for Justice" program participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, will gain first-hand exposure to Germany's judicial system, legal education, law enforcement, and historical path to transitional justice.

"Leaders for Justice" Program Bosnia and Herzegovina

Call for Application

The program is seeking passionate young Bosnian change-makers, up to age 30, with at least an undergraduate law degree from an accredited university in BiH or abroad, to join an intensive leadership development journey. For further information and application forms please visit: https://pravnik-online.info/prijavi-se-sada/

"War Crimes in Prijedor and its Surroundings - Messages for the Future"

Conference on May 21, 2024, in Sarajevo/Bosnia and Herzegovina

By convening legal experts, journalists, survivors and the next generation, the conference casts a spotlight on seeking justice and deriving lessons from the horrific war crimes in Prijedor through documentation, testimony, and international law.

International Summer School Sarajevo 2024

The International Summer School Sarajevo program on transitional justice and its role in rebuilding human rights and the rule of law in post-conflict societies offers to graduate and PhD students of law and related disciplines, but also to a limited number of undergraduates and young professionals, the possibility to explore the theoretical foundations of transitional justice, as well as the practical challenges of implementing transitional justice measures in post-conflict societies.

Rechtsstaatsentwicklungen im Überblick: Turbulentes Wahljahr in Bosnien und Herzegowina

Rettungsversuche des gestörten Rechtssystems und wesentliche Entscheidungen des Hohen Repräsentanten Christian Schmidt

Bosnien und Herzegowina (BiH) durchlebt seit Mitte 2021 eine tiefe verfassungsrechtliche und politische Krise. Nachdem 2021 mehrere Entscheidungen des Verfassungsgerichts von BiH (VerfG BiH) und eine wichtige Entscheidung des Hohen Repräsentanten für BiH (HR BiH) zur Frage des Staatseigentums und der Kompetenzen des Staates BiH ergangen waren, hat es auf der gesamtstaatlichen Ebene keine nennenswerte gesetzgeberische Aktivität gegeben. Damit sind das Parlament und die Regierung von BiH ihren gesetzlichen Aufgaben nicht nachgekommen und haben faktisch weiter an Bedeutung verloren. Die Schwächung des Zentralstaates nützt indessen den Sezessionisten in BiH, die den Staat zunehmend destabilisieren. Das VerfG BiH und der HR mussten im Jahr 2022 mehrere bedeutende Entscheidungen treffen. Diese Entscheidungen und die unter diesen schwierigen Rahmenbedingungen am 2. Oktober 2022 erfolgreich abgehaltenen Wahlen lassen hoffen, dass die Organe des Gesamtstaates gefestigt werden. Die Verleihung des Status eines EU-Beitrittskandidaten am 15.12.2022 könnte zudem zum Momentum für eine dringend notwendige Verbesserung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit in BiH werden.

''My heart will beat for this region even when…''

Continuation of partnership policy is expected

Without the influence and experience of Angela Merkel as the Head of Government of the EU's most populous country, the European Union faces new challenges.

Handbook on the Rights of Religious Communities and the Freedom of Religion in North Macedonia

This publication provides a detailed contribution to clarification and education about religious freedom and religious communities in North Macedonia. It not only shows how the relationship between the state and religion is structured and which (constitutional) legal provisions exist to protect religious freedom and religious communities, but also how these provisions are interpreted by the courts and ultimately implemented by state institutions.

Covid-19 and the impact on human rights. Overview of the relevant case law of ECtHR

Within a project implemented with CivilRightsDefenders and TheAIRECentre, as well as the Bulgarian, Romanian and Moldovan Justice Academies, we have translated into Romanian and Bulgarian and published the guide “Covid-19 and the impact on human rights. Overview of the relevant case law of ECtHR " We hope it will be a useful resource for courts in finding a fair balance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for non-governmental organizations working with individuals whose rights and freedoms have been affected.

The Rule of Law as the Victim

Social (Dis-)Trust and the Plague of Corruption in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans societies are flooded with corruption which negatively impacts rule of law. The causes of corruption are diverse, but this research done by our colleague Dr. sc. Mahir Muharemovic, focuses on the question of social (dis)trust as a possible cause in the Western Balkans. One of the main findings is a very strong correlation between social (dis)trust, corruption and the deterioration of rule of law in the Western Balkans.

ECJ ruling on Romania. Failed „Judicial Reform“ of the PSD led former Governments

European Court of Justice rules: there is a significant need to improve the Romanian judicial laws amended between 2017-2019 by governments of the PSD

On May 18, 2021, in a long-awaited judgment, the ECJ ruled on the legal nature of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (also referred to as the "Mechanism for the cooperation and verification of Romania's progress" - henceforth: CVM) and the EU Commission's progress reports, and their binding effect for the Romanian courts. In addition, the ECJ commented on various legal changes concerning the institutional design of the judiciary in Romania, introduced by the judicial reform in 2017-2019 and heavily criticized by the public. However, a clear distinction must be made here between the phase of PSD-led governments, during which these "reforms" were decided, and that of the governments led by the EPP member party PNL. The PNL has been in government since October 2019 and rejects the PSD "reforms", currently reversing them in the parliamentary process.