INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA the legal ground for the adoption of this new procedure is set out in Articles 85 and 86 of the Law on the Execution of Criminal Sanctions of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since there are no provisions obligating the prison institutions to bear the postal costs of the convicted persons. In the opinion of Ombudspersons the introduction of this measure of charging the convicted persons for the costs of postal services put those convicted persons who do not have work engagement and do not have the basic means of subsistence in an unequal position compared to those who have work engagement, thus restricting their right to contact with outside world contrary to the provisions of the European Prison Rules. Ombudspersons issued their recommendation to the Federal minister of justice 320, but did not receive any information on the activities taken for the implementation of this recommendation. Based on the analysis of the received complaints 321 Ombudspersons note that convicted persons often point to established contact with extramarital partners as a problem. In order to allow a regular or extraordinary visit of an extramarital partner, penitentiary institutions ask convicted persons to present evidence - a certificate of the existence of an extramarital union issued by the competent social welfare center. In practice, it often happens that convicted persons request regular and extraordinary visits for unmarried wives, even if they are still formally married, i.e. their marriage is not divorced. Penitentiary institutions are not able to meet such requirements, because according to the provisions of family law in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the marital union excludes the existence of an extramarital union. Hereby Ombudspersons want to point out that it is very important for the process of resocialization and reintegration of convicted persons to maintain a quality relationship with their primary family. The frequency of contacts between prisoners and their family members is influenced by various factors, such as distance from the place of residence, material status of the family, family relations, as well as a personal decision of a prisoner-parent regarding the child's visits to him/her while serving the sentence in the institution. Maintenance of family bonds and quality family relations during the execution of a prison sentence significantly contributes to mitigating the negative effects of deprivation of liberty. In order for the prisoner to be able to fulfill the parental role as well as possible, it is very important to establish various possibilities of communication and to arrange the environment in which it will take place. Children in such a situation may feel abandoned and frightened, and in some children this can cause emotional trauma, which can be exacerbated if they are unable to talk to their parents and maintain an emotional relationship with them. Often neglected and discriminated against, children whose parents are serving prison sentences need the support and understanding of society. Investing in staff education and equipping rooms specially arranged for children's visits are the answer to their need. Ombudspersons wish to point out the importance and encourage penitentiary institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to, in accordance with their capabilities, especially equip the rooms for contacts of parents of prisoners with their children. In some penitentiary institutions in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are separate areas for contacts between parents of prisoners and their children. 322 Humane contact of the child with the parent in prison can be achieved by equipping it with furniture that is adapted to children, color decorations, 320 P-234/19 dated 05 November 2019 Ž-SA-07-844/19 , Ž-SA-07-829/19, Ž-SA-07-695/19 322 Bijeljina Prison, Doboj Priso, Banja Luka Prison, Mostar Prison 321 78

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