The Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI), with the financial support of the British Embassy in BiH, organized a two-day workshop on September 23 and 24, 2010 on the topic “Building participatory democracy mechanisms in the justice system”. The workshop was held in Jahorina.

Through lectures and group work, representatives of government sector and civil society organizations jointly discussed the possibilities of creating and institutionalizing participatory democracy mechanisms in the justice sector in BiH. In the first part of the workshop, Faris Vehabović, Judge of the Constitutional Court of FBiH, introduced the participants to the effects of judicial reform on BiH judicial institutions, and after this presentation, Snježana Ivandić, director of the Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI), presented forthcoming implementation of reform measures and activities in the justice sector in BiH. Following these introductory presentations, Mirela Selmanović, Project Coordinator at ADI, outlined the activities of civil society organizations in the field of the judiciary in BiH, after which Elma Demir, also Project Coordinator and Researcher at ADI, outlined the basic principles of participatory democracy and different categories of participatory democracy mechanisms in the justice sector. At the end of the first day of the workshop, Aleksandar Živanović, representative of the Association of Mediators of BiH, moderated the work of participants in groups. During the group work, participants discussed the possibilities of establishing different mechanisms of participatory democracy in the judiciary in BiH.

The second part of the workshop began with a presentation by Aleksandar Živanović who presented to the participants examples of good practice in participatory democracy and civil society participation in the protection of human rights. Ahmet Salčin, representative of Vaša Prava BiH, also presented examples of good practice in the area of ​​access to justice. The workshop was completed with group work where participants considered the possibilities of applying the acquired knowledge in their future work.

List of participants:

1. Aleksandar Živanović, Association of Mediators in BiH
2. Ahmet Salčin, Association Vaša prava BiH
3. Alma Gutić, Ministry of Justice of BiH
4. Branko Todorović, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of RS
5. Danijel Malić, Association Blue sphere
6. Denis Telić, Centers for Civil Initiatives
7. Dušica Jović, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of RS
8. Enes Šehic, HJPC BiH
9. Elma Demir, Association for Democratic Initiatives
10. Esad Bećirović, Center for Civil Society Development in BiH
11. Faris Vehabović, FBiH Constitutional Court
12. Ferid Maleškić, Association of Foster Careers in BiH
13. Ivica Čavar, Centers for Civic Initiatives
14. Jasmin Jašarević, Proni Center for Youth Development
15. Jasminka Bratić, Ministry of Justice of the CNT
16. Lejla Arnaut, NGO “Land of Children”
17. Majda Šalaka, HJPC BiH
18. Mirela Selmanović, Association for Democratic Initiatives
19. Mladen Pejaković, Bijeljina Correctional Institution
20. Sadeta Skalić, BiH Ministry of Justice
21. Snježana Ivandić, Association for Democratic Initiatives
22. Snježana Latinčić, Association “Teodora”
23. Vaso Marinković, Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office Livno
24. Željko Bosnić, Municipal Court in Bihać

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