Domestic violence constitutes one of the most complicated and difficult socio-criminal issues confronted by judiciaries and criminal justice communities the world over, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The purpose of the Judicial Benchbook is to improve the judicial response to domestic violence and increase the consistency of judicial practice in cases of domestic violence in BiH.
The Benchbook was developed over a nine month period by a panel of nine judges from across BiH. The recommendations were later reviewed by BiH legal scholars and practitioners as well as the institutions responsible for providing continuing education to judges and prosecutors in BiH. The Benchbook represents the first of its kind in BiH – a resource on domestic violence developed by judges for judges. While the Benchbook is tailored for the specific legal context of BiH, the recommendations are appropriate for a wider context. As well, the methodology used to develop the Benchbook can serve as a model for similar work in other locations.