ANNUAL REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Justice 272, Ombudspersons can conclude that the problem of overcrowding has been successfully resolved. When it comes to material investments in penitentiary institutions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ombudspersons note that significant funds have been allocated for the procurement of construction material, equipment, fixed assets and the buildings reconstruction. It is important to emphasize that the newly built admission ward has been put into operation in the Bihać Prison, in the Zenica Prison the construction of the ninth pavilion is being financed from IPA funds, and in the Orašje Educational Correctional Facility for minors, also funded under the IPA programs. In the Republika Srpska, in 2019, significant funds were invested in the adaptation and reconstruction of penitentiary institutions, in the Trebinje Prison (reconstruction of the heating system and purchase of a protective fence). For the adaptation and improvement of living conditions in the Bijeljina Prison, the allocated funds were used for the reconstruction and repair of the bathroom, heating, painting, maintenance of electrical installations and replacement of windows. In the Istočno Sarajevo Prison in 2019, funds were provided for replacement the exterior carpentry on the building within the prisoners pavilion. A part of the prisoners' pavilion was repaired within the Banja Luka Prison. In the Administrative building of the Banja Luka Prison, a part of the exterior doors and windows was replaced, and the procedure for reconstruction and repair of the restaurant and part of the administrative building is in progress. In 2019, the Federal Ministry of Justice granted all penitentiary institutions in the Federation of BiH its consent for the admission of two civil servants, 27 prison police officers and 11 administrative employees. According to the data of the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska, a certain number of prison staff was admitted to penitentiary institutions, as follows: Doboj Prison (a total of nine employees were hired in all services), Trebinje Prison (a total of five new employees), Istočno Sarajevo Prison (three new staff members are hired) Foča Prison (nine new employees are hired), Banja Luka Prison (19 new employees are hired - out of which 13 for an indefinite period of time, four on a temporary basis and two trainees). After the adoption of the Law on Pardon of Republika Srpska 273, a number of prisoners had their sentences reduced, which contributed to the increase of accommodation capacity in many prisons in Republika Srpska. In November 2019 the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina published a public competition for hiring 100 employees for the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures in Istočno Sarajevo. Once the new employees finish the training first prisoners can be accommodated 274. Opening of this Institute will solve the accommodation issue 275, and will relieve the closed type prisons. 272 No. 04-49-3300/19 dated 12 December 2019 Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, no. 61/2018 274 At the moment there is around 400 prisoners convicted by the Court of BiH and detainees who serve their sentence or are detained in entity prisons. 275 State Prison capacity is 500 inmates. 273 69