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Guide to Witness Support

19. May 2014.00:00
A guide for offering support to witnesses in war-crimes cases, which was promoted at a conference held in Sarajevo, should help victims during criminal proceedings and explain to them what they can expect after being invited to testify.

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Attorney Kadrija Kolic, who participated in writing of the Guide, pointed out that a victim’s position in the society was complex, because such victims were traumatised during the war.
 
“You must have the strength to turn the facts arising from your experiences into a court verdict during your testimony. The Guide is practical, because it will familiarise victims with what they can expect in each phase and who they can approach to get help,” Kolic said.
 
Following the launch of the Guide, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by members of an informal witness support network at the conference organised by the Local Democracy Foundation.
 
Jasmina Mujezinovic, Executive Director of the Foundation, said that 19 NGOs were members of the Witness Support Network.
 
Among them are the Balkans Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN, TRIAL, Vive Zene, Medica, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Republika Srpska, RS, as well as associations of victims.
 
Amer Homarac, Legal Advisor with the Foundation, said that the Guide contained all pieces of information about the NGOs – members of the Network, which offered various types of support and help to women, victims of war.
 
“Some of these organisations offer psychological support, while others offer legal and psychological help. Some are involved in advocacy activities,” Homarac said.

Mirna Buljugić


This post is also available in: Bosnian