INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA recommendation 156 to the relevant Regional Public Prosecutor's Office Banja Luka and the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska. The recommendation was implemented. 5.3.1. Actions of the Prosecutor's offices in cases of domestic violence Ombudspersons emphasize that, as it will be showcased in the examples that follow, it raises their concerns that prosecutors, in a large number of cases, submit an identical response to the Institution: We inform you that the investigation is ongoing, without providing specific answers. This is particularly problematic in cases involving criminal charges filed for domestic violence. Such examples contribute to a worrying situation, as it could be seen in the chapter related to the violence against women, that most women victims of violence do not trust the institutions of the system, which results in accumulation of fear among women victims of violence and their failure to report cases of violence. This also raises the issue of the efficiency and timely functioning of the judicial apparatus. Ombudspersons emphasize that international standards on the protection of victims of violence put the victim in the first plan, and first take into account the safety and protection of the victim, and in this regard encourage states to coordinate actions to protect victims, so that victims receive immediate and comprehensive assistance through coordinated, multidisciplinary and professional activities, and cooperation between the police, health and social services, the judiciary and the non-governmental sector. Example: Ombudspersons processed complaints 157 in which the complainant designated the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton as a respondent party in relation to their filed criminal report 158 for domestic violence which were not processed until the moment of their addressing the Ombudsman. In the course of the Ombudsman's investigation in both cases the Ombudsman received replies from the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton: - A reply 159 which reads as follows: „In respect of your inquiry received on 13 February 2019 related to the complaint filed by ŠM from Tuzla against the Cantonal Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton to which it filed a criminal report for domestic violence on 23 August 2018, which, according to her claims had not been processed yet, we herewith inform you that the investigation in this case is pending, and that the criminal report was referred to the responsible police administration to further processing in order to check the veracity of the claims.“ 156 Recommendation no. P-25/19 dated 28 January 2019 Ž-BR-08-156/19; Ž-BR-05-2/19. 158 Report filed on 23 August 2018 and 22 August 2018 159 A document no. T03 0 KTA 0075453 18 dated 20 February 2018 157 44