A two-day in-house training on the topic “Strengthening the system of collecting, recording and resolving cases of violations of the rights and freedoms of human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held in Banja Luka, organized by BH Journalists and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly.
Representatives of organizations that provide free legal assistance to journalists, human rights defenders and citizens discussed various models of recording, resolving and reporting on cases of human rights violations, including online database management as a resource of information for advocacy activities and more efficient work of institutions responsible for the legal protection of rights and freedoms.
Representatives of BH Journalists presented the capacities, achievements and database of the Helpline for Journalists #FMHL, the first model of legal and psychological assistance to media professionals, which has been operating in BiH since 2004.
Tanja Topić, a journalist and political analyst, spoke about her own experience using FMHL support in the court case against Milorad Dodik.
Representatives of Transparency International BiH and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly spoke about their own experience in providing free legal assistance, the obstacles they face, and the positive reactions of citizens whose rights they have protected.
The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly launched a Helpline for the human rights defenders last year with the support of the European Union and in partnership with BH Journalists.
