BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SEES BOOST IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT FINANCIAL CRIME

Enhanced Cooperation to Combat Organized Crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A two-day meeting of the Working Group tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy against organized crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen significant progress. The working group, chaired by the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, brought together representatives from across the country to revise an advanced draft strategy for combating organized crime.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

• Representatives from law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and indirect taxation authorities participated in the meeting.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) played a key role in facilitating dialogue between authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• UNODC is providing technical assistance to the working group for the finalization of the countrywide strategy against organized crime.

Adopting a High-Impact Approach

The revised draft strategy is set to adopt a high-impact approach reflecting the “4Ps” framework:

• Preventing and Combating Organized Crime: The new strategy aims to prevent and combat organized crime through effective policies and measures.
• Protecting Communities from its Impact: The goal is to protect communities from the impact of organized crime, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Pursuing Perpetrators: The working group is committed to pursuing perpetrators of organized crime and bringing them to justice.
• Promoting International Cooperation: The strategy promotes international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime.

Next Steps

The final draft strategy is expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for adoption within the next three months. This initiative has been made possible with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 16, particularly target 16.a, which aims to strengthen relevant national institutions through international cooperation.

Supporting Global Goals

The effort is part of the UNODC Global Programme for the Implementation of the Organized Crime Convention, with support from the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe. The goal is to build capacity at all levels, particularly in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.