OSCE/ODIHR trains law enforcement officers in Bosnia and Herzegovina on protecting human rights in countering terrorism

Complying with human rights standards while enhancing counter-terrorism strategies and skills was the focus of two days of training for law enforcement officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina organized in Sarajevo by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 10 and 11 July 2014.

The training course, which brought together 12 participants, focused on linking potential human rights concerns with the daily work of law enforcement officers. It stressed the need to fully respect human rights in all counter-terrorism measures, and emphasized the negative impact that human rights violations have on the effectiveness of such measures. The participants also discussed the adverse effects of stereotyping and the risk of terrorist radicalization.

“Promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms have been recognized by the OSCE participating States as a strategic focus of OSCE counter-terrorism activities,” said Snježana Bokulić, Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department. “Countering terrorism and protecting human rights are not incompatible but, rather, mutually reinforcing goals. The training provided participants with practical tools in this regard.”

“Protecting against the threat of terrorism is the obligation of the state and all of its institutions, in order to safeguard conditions for a peaceful and secure life for all its citizens, free from violence and fear, and built upon democracy, tolerance, creativity and the rule of law,” said Sead Hadžić, Head of the Counter-Terrorism Department of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Security. “In the same context, efforts to combat terrorism are meaningless if they do not account for basic human rights, freedoms and values of a democratic society.”

The training was part of an ODIHR project aimed at developing a training curriculum, trainers’ manual and training-of-trainers programme for counter-terrorism officers.