Series:Atlantska Inicijativa Papers

Gender and Security Sector Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gender and Security Sector Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author(s): Majda Bečirević,Željka Šulc,Maja Šoštarić / Language(s): English

This report presents the findings and analysis generated by a needs assessment on gender and securi-ty sector reform (SSR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The needs assessment is a joint initiative by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and two BiH civil society organiza-tions: the Atlantic Initiative and Žene Ženama with the objective to examine and outline national- and local-level good practices on gender and security sector reform (SSR), as well as areas where further improvements are required. This will enable the development of sustainable and locally-driven future initiatives on gender and SSR, and ensure stakeholder support.The report provides data and analysis on the current state of gender integration in the armed forces, police, judiciary, and penal institutions at the central, entity, and cantonal levels and Brčko District. The gender and security concerns discussed are considered within the current sociopolitical situation and institutional organization of BiH. The report examines the implementation of key national legislation and international instruments relevant for addressing gender in the security sector and explores the gender sensitivity of current policies and practices. Furthermore, the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) working on gender and security, and the forms of cooperation they have with state agencies and institutions, are examined.

Guidelines for the Prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment in Judicial Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Smjernice za prevenciju seksualnog i rodno zasnovanog uznemiravanja u pravosudnim institucijama u Bosni i Hercegovini

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Bosnia and Hercegovina and the NATO (issue 1)

Bosna i Hercegovina i NATO (izdanje 1)

Author(s): / Language(s): Bosnian

Bosnia and Hercegovina and the NATO (issue 2)

Bosna i Hercegovina i NATO (izdanje 2)

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Prosecutors' Handbook for Prosecution of Domestic Violence Cases

Priručnik za tužioce za procesuiranje predmeta nasilja u porodici

Author(s): Vedran Alidžanović,Damir Čačković,Hajrija Hadžiomerović-Muftić,Advija Hajdo Balta,Šeila Heljić,Azra Ibrahimpašić,Dijana Kukobat,Siniša Marković,Žarko Milić,Suada Salkić,Edin Šaćirović / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Handbook for prosecutors; domestic violence; criminal law; victims of domestic violence; Bosnia and Herzegovina; investigation; prosecution;

Uvođenjem nasilja u porodici kao delikta u odgovarajuće krivične zakone u BiH, od 2003. godine započinju napori krivičnopravnih aktera, posebno nosilaca pravosudnih funkcija, na iznalaženju kvalitetnog i usklađenog pristupa i odgovora na nasilje u porodici; pristupa koji u konačnici treba dovesti do efikasnog kažnjavanja počinilaca i pružanja zaštite žrtvama nasilja u porodici. Policija, tužilaštvo i sudovi kao odgovorni za istraživanje, inkriminiranje i presuđivanje predmeta nasilja u porodici suočavaju se sa brojnim izazovima u radu. Kada je u pitanju postupanje tužilaca, između ostaloga, a prema svjedočanstvima praktičara: po pravilu nema specijalizacije u postupanju; predmetima se u većini slučajeva ne pristupa ažurno; postoji nerazumijevanje različitih elemenata ovog krivičnog djela i nedostatak optuživanja za sve prisutne oblike izvršenog nasilja, drskog ili bezobzirnog ponašanja u porodici; dolazi do čestih obustava istraga ili odustajanja od optužnice uslijed odbijanja oštećene-svjedoka da svjedoči; nedovoljne koordinacije tužilaštva i policije u provođenju istražnih radnji i dr. Postoji prepoznata potreba za unaprjeđenjem odgovora pravosuđa na nasilje u porodici. U kojoj mjeri će institucionalni represivni aparat na različitim nivoima organizacije vlasti u BiH biti spreman ponuditi efikasan pristup u rješavanju predmeta nasilja u porodici zavisiće od brojnih faktora. [...]

The New Lure of the Syrian War – The Foreign Fighters’ Bosnian Continge

The New Lure of the Syrian War – The Foreign Fighters’ Bosnian Continge

Author(s): Vlado Azinović,Muhamed Jusić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Syrian war; foreign fighters; citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina; battlefields in Syria and Iraq; security threats; conflict; jihad; criminal prosecution of fighters;

The departure of citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to battle fields in Syria and Iraq, and the possibility of their return, is obviously worrying; but this is not the most immanent security threat facing BiH, which continues to be constrained by a peace agreement that embodied rather than resolved the fundamental dispute at the heart of the 1992-1995 war – whether the country should be united or divided – and resulted in a sort of socio-political purgatory. This extension of the war by peaceful means not only determines political, social, and economic dynamics in the country, but also limits its capacity to effectively respond to almost any challenge. In this way, the failure of the state in itself produces a number of security risks. Still, individual and group departures to foreign battle fields are not a direct consequence of these dynamics. The foreign fighter phenomenon is instead the localization of a global trend that is thriving in certain contexts. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, this has meant that a country that was once a destination for foreign fighters in the 1990s has now become a country of their origin. In mid-2015, the Atlantic Initiative published a study examining the foreign fighter phenomenon in BiH. A year later, we believe there are new developments that merit another look. For example, we have seen a shift in the motives driving people to depart for Syria and Iraq. Research conducted from the middle of 2015 through the spring of 2016 was based on limited access to police and judicial les and open sources, as well as a series of research interviews with police officers, prosecutors, and diplomats. Due to the sensitive nature of our research and their professional responsibilities, almost all interviewees asked to speak on the condition of anonymity. As researchers, we strive to clearly identify sources; but, acknowledging the need for anonymity in this case, we chose to protect the identities of interviewees. As for the individuals whose activities and personal backgrounds were the subject of this research, we identified them only in cases when, a) they revealed their identities themselves (during online activities on social networks, for instance), b) their identities were published in the media, or c) they were identified in public, after arrests in police raids or when they were prosecuted before the Court of BiH.

The New Lure of the Syrian War – The Foreign Fighters’ Bosnian Continge

Novi zov rata u Siriji i bosanskohercegovački kontingent stranih boraca

Author(s): Vlado Azinović,Muhamed Jusić / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Syrian war; foreign fighters; citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina; battlefields in Syria and Iraq; security threats; conflict; jihad; criminal prosecution of fighters;

Odlazak građana Bosne i Hercegovine na ratišta u Siriju i Irak, i posebno mogucnost njihovog povratka u zemlju, nisu najozbiljnija niti najneposrednija opasnost po njenu sigurnost. U državi koja opstanak duguje mirovnom sporazumu u koji je ugrađen temeljni spor oko kojeg je vođen rat (1992-1995) – treba li ona biti jedinstvena ili podijeljena – postoje znatno prisutniji sigurnosni rizici. Ova nerazriješena dihotomija, kroz nastavak rata (još uvijek) nenasilnim sredstvima, presudno određuje politicku, društvenu i ekonomsku dinamiku te izravno smanjuje kapacitet države da djelotvorno odgovori na gotovo svaki izazov. Odlasci na strana ratišta nisu izravna posljedica te dinamike. Oni su lokalizacija globalnog fenomena, kojem domaci kontekst ponekad pogoduje, ali su i rezultat drugih procesa koji se ovdje odvijaju skoro četvrt stoljeća. Za to vrijeme Bosna i Hercegovina je od zemlje destinacije za putujuce strane borce postala zemlja njihovog porijekla. Atlantska inicijativa je sredinom 2015. godine objavila istraživanje u kojem je pokušala objasniti ovaj fenomen. Godinu dana kasnije, cini nam se kako je saznanja do kojih smo tada došli neophodno dopuniti novima. Prije svega promjenom hijerarhije motiva koji navode na odlaske, a onda i posljedicama koje je ta promjena proizvela na sadržaj i dinamiku ovog procesa. Zbog toga i dopunjeni naslov ovog istraživanja – Novi zov rata u Siriji i bosanskohercegovacki kontingent stranih boraca.

Salafism vs. Moderate Islam: A Rhetorical Fight for the Hearts and Minds of Bosnian Muslims

Salafism vs. Moderate Islam: A Rhetorical Fight for the Hearts and Minds of Bosnian Muslims

Author(s): Edina Bećirević / Language(s): English

Keywords: Salafism; moderate Islam; Bosnian Muslims; radicalization; ISIL; violent extremism; terrorism; security threats; tolerance; religious diversity; Islam; religious ideology;

The overarching goal of this research is to deepen understandings of underlying structural causes of radicalization in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also to discern the individual social and psychological factors that drive radicalization. Since September 11th, and especially with the rise of ISIL, this has been a growing field of research; however, international scholars and practitioners still grapple to properly define some basic terms. Radicalization, extremism, violent extremism, and terrorism are often used interchangeably. This conceptual confusion leads to stereotyping in media and among the general public, and sometimes even among government officials. Thus, it is important to stress that this study takes into account the differences between radicalization of belief, radicalization of behavior that does not lead to violence, and radicalization of behavior that does lead to violence. Indeed, most of the individuals interviewed for this research do not present a security threat to the country. However, in a vulnerable Bosnian society with a recent history of genocide and mass violence, even nonviolent radical behavior deepens fears of “others” and contributes to general social distrust and insecurity. [...]

Judicial Handbook: Domestic Violence – Appendix to the Handbook on Judicial Review of Domestic Violence Cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Vodič u postupanju: nasilje u porodici – Dodatak Priručniku za sudska razmatranja slučajeva nasilja u porodici u Bosni i Hercegovini

Author(s): Nenad Galić / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Judical handbook; domestic violence; judical review; Bosnia and Herzegovina; domestic violence cases; sexual abuse; children and domestic violence;

Vodič u postupanju sadržinski je komplementaran Priručniku: Sudska razmatranja slučajeva nasilja u porodici u BiH i pripremljen je kako bi sudijama poslužio kao dodatni izvor korisnih informacija u vezi s nasiljem u porodici. Kao takav, vodič obrađuje oblasti koje se nadovezuju na teme i preporuke iz priručnika; ali sadrži i poglavlja koja obrađuju nove teme od značaja za sudsko razmatranje predmeta nasilja u porodici. Prvo poglavlje pruža sažet teorijski okvir nasilja u porodici koji je važan za cjelovitije razumijevanje kompleksnosti fenomena nasilja u porodici. U okviru ovog poglavlja definirano je zlostavljanje kao nasilje u porodici; objašnjeni su uzroci nasilja u porodici; ukratko su predstavljeni faktori rizika povezani sa nasiljem u porodici a koji se često u praksi pogrešno tumače kao uzroci nasilja; te je prikazana tipologija nasilnih veza i njen značaj za rad pravosudnih aktera. U drugom poglavlju predstavljena je tematika poznavanja konteksta nasilja u porodici, a kako bi sudovi imali potpuniju sliku prilikom razmatranja predmeta nasilja u porodici. U ovom dijelu posebno su predstavljene sljedeće teme: seksualno zlostavljanje kao nasilje u porodici, izloženost djece nasilju u porodici i posljedice nasilja na djecu, te davljenje kao oblik ekstremnog nasilja u porodici. Svako potpoglavlje sadrži praktična uputstva za sudije u vezi sa datom temom, s ciljem informiranja sudijske prakse tokom različitih faza krivičnog postupka.

Between Salvation and Terror: Radicalization and the Foreign Fighter Phenomenon in the Western Balkans

Between Salvation and Terror: Radicalization and the Foreign Fighter Phenomenon in the Western Balkans

Author(s): / Language(s): English

Keywords: salvation; terror; foreign fighters; jihad; jihadists; Syria conflict; Western Balkans; mobilization of jihadists; terrorism; violent extremism; ideology; security; peace; conflict; foreign battle fields;

The mobilisation of jihadist foreign fighters that has taken place as a result of the conflict in Syria and Iraq has been unprecedented. According to the United Nations, up to 40,000 foreigners from nearly 100 countries have participated in the war. Not all of them will remain part of the movement. Many, have already become disillusioned, turned against their comrades, and “retired“ from fighting. Others, however, will turn up in other conflicts, become involved in terrorist networks, or use their credibility as “veterans“ to recruit new followers. There can be no doubt that the consequences of this mobilisation will be profound and long-lasting. In one of my recent books, I predicted that it will result in a “fifth wave“ of terrorism. Much of the public interest in the foreign fighter phenomenon has focused on Western Europe and the Middle East. The situation in the Balkans, by contrast, has received comparatively little attention. This book is the first comprehensive account of who the foreign fighters from the Balkans are, where they come from, and how they have been radicalised. All the chapters are based on in-depth research and written by leading experts from the region. Their analysis and conclusions are based on empirical facts and a profound understanding of the social and political dynamics in their respective countries. It is this depth of local knowledge that makes the various chapters so interesting and informative.