(Mostar, 27 October 2026) – The central event marking the European Day of Justice, aimed at bringing the judiciary closer to citizens, familiarising law students with the work of the courts, and promoting professional dialogue on protection against domestic violence and violence against women, was held on 26 & 27 October 2026 at the premises of the Cantonal Court in Mostar, as the host of this year’s central event. The Cantonal Court in Mostar organised the event in cooperation with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representatives in the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ).

The main event took place on 27 October, with addresses by Mr Zoran Krtalić, President of the Cantonal Court in Mostar; Mr Sanin Bogunić, President of the HJPC BiH; Mrs Svjetlana Milišić-Veličkovski, Judge of the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representative for CEPEJ; and Mr Vedran Škobić, Minister of Justice of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In his opening remarks, Mr Sanin Bogunić, President of the HJPC BiH, emphasised that the European Day of Justice provides an opportunity to reflect on the fundamental purpose of the judiciary – protecting the rights, freedoms and dignity of every individual. “Its importance lies in bringing judicial institutions closer to citizens, fostering a better understanding of their work, and raising awareness of the available options for obtaining legal protection,” President Bogunić added.

The first day of the event also featured an Open Doors Day for students of the Faculty of Law of the University of Mostar and the Faculty of Law of the “Džemal Bijedić” University of Mostar. Following the opening address by the President of the Court, students took part in a mock trial, providing them with an opportunity to gain practical insight into the course of court proceedings and the roles of the participants in a trial.

The program also included a tour of the court premises, including the registries for criminal, civil and administrative cases, the court archives, a courtroom and facilities designated for hearing protected witnesses. This activity allowed students to gain first-hand insight into the organisation of court operations and the practical aspects of the functioning of the judicial system.

The central program also featured a panel session entitled “Law on Protection against Domestic Violence and Violence against Women in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Femicide: The First Trial for this Criminal Offence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” The panel focused on the implementation of the legal framework for protection against domestic violence and violence against women, while examining judicial, institutional and healthcare aspects of the response to cases of violence. The participation of HJPC BiH members, and representatives of the judiciary, executive authorities, police, prosecutor’s offices and healthcare sector facilitated an exchange of professional perspectives on the importance of coordinated action by institutions in protecting victims and prosecuting criminal offences.

Following the panel discussion, the program continued with a discussion among participants.

The European Day of Justice provides an opportunity to promote an accessible, transparent and efficient judiciary, strengthen public trust in judicial institutions, and raise awareness of the importance of protecting citizens’ rights. The activities organised in Mostar combined the education of future legal professionals with dialogue on a key social and legal issue – protection against violence and the responsibility of institutions to ensure the protection of victims.