The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-operation with the FBiH and RS Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centres, organized a training course on ethical standards and disciplinary practices tailored for approximately 40 newly appointed judges and prosecutors on 11 October in Sarajevo.
The primary objective of this event was to enhance participants' comprehension of ethical standards and the underlying principles embedded within the codes of ethics governing judges and prosecutors. The training program placed particular emphasis on critical facets such as integrity, impartiality and accountability, the management of conflicts of interest, and navigating the nuances of use of social media and public communications by judicial office holders.
Velimir Delovski, Legal Adviser at the OSCE Mission to BiH, stated: "Ensuring the integrity, independence, and accountability of both the judiciary as a whole and of the individuals who comprise it is the foundation of a reliable, effective, and equitable judicial system and of a democratic and inclusive society. The OSCE Mission to BiH remains dedicated to upholding professional standards within the judiciary."
Participants had the opportunity to learn about practical instances of disciplinary procedures conducted by the disciplinary bodies of the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.
Aldijana Porča, educator and disciplinary prosecutor in the HJPC BiH Office of the Disciplinary Counsel, said that it would be difficult to point out another profession to which a training on ethics and integrity would be more important than the profession of judges and prosecutors. "The purpose of such trainings is primarily to enhance (self-) critical thinking of judges and prosecutors, with the aim of strengthening their personal integrity, and ultimately of creating a culture of open dialogue among judicial office holders on ethical dilemmas they face in carrying out everyday duties. Hence, this type of training is of special importance to newly appointed judges and prosecutors, whose contribution to the creation of a reliable rule of law system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still to be expected," Porča concluded.
