“Not in the long term. Not in the medium term. But very, very soon, the Office for Providing Free Legal Aid will be opened.” This is how Goran Karanović, the Minister of Justice, Administration, and Local Self-Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, explained the current phase of the process of opening the Cantonal Office.
The round table held in Mostar, organized by the Association for Development and Education "Dignitet" and the Nansen Dialogue Center (NDC) Mostar, provided numerous answers regarding what has happened over the past ten years that prevented the Office from operating despite being opened, and what steps have been taken in the past year under the new government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. What brings hope is that representatives of the legislative and executive branches have approached this issue very optimistically and unanimously emphasized the importance of appointing a director for the Office as soon as possible, followed by the appointment of qualified staff to work in the Office. What remains to be awaited is a government session where the agenda should include the appointment of the director, as a letter with the names of four candidates has been sent from Minister Karanović's office, from which one will be appointed by the government as the director.
An important issue raised at the round table was the legal regulation. Representatives from the legislative and executive branches, as well as lawyers, agreed on the necessity of aligning the legal framework, specifically through amendments and supplements to the existing law. Certain changes, particularly those related to the payment of court fees, will facilitate and expedite processes that come before the courts.
The president of the Association for Education and Development "Dignitet", Edisa Demić, expressed satisfaction with the active participation of all round table participants in the discussion, offering potential solutions and emphasizing the necessity of the Office's functioning. "After the round table, I am convinced that decision-makers have become fully aware that the quality of life for all citizens depends on their work. We are talking about a very serious issue and very vulnerable groups in society—citizens who have had no one to turn to because the authorities have not fulfilled their responsibilities. Given everything that was said, I hope that the relevant institutions of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton will finally unblock the process that has been stalled for a full 10 years and that they will appoint a director for the Office in the shortest possible time, as justice should be accessible to everyone equally, not just to a select few", Demić explained.
Muamer Zukanović, a person with disabilities from Mostar, did not hide his optimism about what he heard at the round table, stating that a significant first step has finally been made toward realizing the rights of those for whom the Office is intended: "Since the Office has existed on paper for a full 10 years, I hope that the words on paper will be put into action. So, if you need free legal aid, if you belong to any marginalized category, and if you are like me—a person with a disability or someone who has been disenfranchised in any way—the Office in Mostar is the place where your voice can be heard."
All proposals and conclusions presented at the round table will be submitted to the relevant institutions, which should ultimately contribute to the timely commencement of the Office's operations. The current law, adopted in 2013, stipulated that the right to free legal aid can be accessed by users of permanent financial assistance, children without parental care, victims of violence, individuals deprived of legal capacity, people with mental health issues, members of the veteran population, recipients of the lowest pension, unemployed individuals with refugee status, displaced persons, returnees, demobilized soldiers, people in poor economic conditions, and individuals in criminal proceedings without residence in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. According to available unofficial information, more than 20% of the population in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton requires free legal aid. However, amendments to this law are being prepared to expand the list of potential users.
Additional encouragement comes from the support for the prompt commencement of the Office's operations from the Prime Minister of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Marija Buhač, as well as from Mario Kordić, the Mayor of Mostar, and the mayors of Neum, Stolac, and Čitluk.
The round table, which took place in a very positive atmosphere, represents a significant step toward achieving the outlined goal. It is now up to the relevant authorities to demonstrate in their next steps how sincere and ready they are to fulfill their commitments—specifically, to activate the Office for Providing Free Legal Aid in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton as soon as possible.
