Vrdnik, 23 May 2025 – With the support of the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a three-day workshop titled "Enhancing Coping Mechanisms and Supervision" for staff from witness and victim support services of courts and prosecutor’s offices in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Psychologists and legal professionals from both countries received guidance and support on overcoming the daily challenges they face while working with witnesses, victims, and injured parties.

Emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation and collaboration among these professional services, participants agreed that the challenges they face are similar, and that mutual understanding and experience-sharing contribute to better support for victims and witnesses.

One of the participants, Aleksandar Faladžić, Head of the Department for Investigations and Witness Support at the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated:

“In our regular work, we often need to exchange information and seek colleagues’ opinions because crime—especially organized crime—knows no borders, and many current cases are cross-border in nature. That’s why it’s crucial to share experiences and operational methods. Sometimes we also discuss specific procedures—how colleagues treat and work with victims, especially vulnerable witnesses such as protected witnesses or witness-victims. Working with all these individuals is very complex and requires significant dedication and professional knowledge. By exchanging experiences, we significantly improve both our individual and joint work on all cases involving joint investigative teams or interconnected cases,” explained Faladžić.

The workshop was led by psychologist and therapist Radmila Vulić Bojović, who emphasized that these professionals work under very complex conditions. The goal of the training was to provide them with tools and support to successfully cope with the challenges of their work.

 “My impression is that their group resource is their unity—and that should be nurtured. They work in similar systems, and while their experiences vary, as always when faced with difficulties, people activate their potential for connection. Connection and trust are what help overcome challenges, hardships, and serious situations they face daily. That’s when we recognize that they are more alike than different,” highlighted Vulić Bojović.

The workshop was organized as part of the initiative “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans,” funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP. It is part of ongoing support provided by the EU and UNDP to institutions in Serbia handling war crimes cases, with the aim of strengthening the systemic framework for supporting victims and witnesses of crimes.