Through its Justice Sector Development Project (JSDP II), USAID donated 260 thousand dollars to civil society organizations in the justice sector, i.e. to members of the BiH Justice Network.

The purpose of the grants awarded is to support greater involvement of the civil society in advocating for public policies, initiating legislative reforms, and raising awareness with respect to the rule of law. The grants were awarded to the following non-governmental organizations: Foundation of Local Democracy, Youth Initiative for Human Rights in BiH, Human Rights Center Mostar, Association „Alternative“ Kakanj, Association for Democratic Initiatives Sarajevo, Balkans Investigative Reporting Network in BiH (BIRN), and Human Rights Office Tuzla.

Projects supported by these grants will be implemented through June 2011, and the JSDP II will continue working to build the capacities of all Justice Network members, in collaboration with the Association for Democratic Initiatives Sarajevo, coordinator of the Justice Network in BiH.

USAID’s five year, 8 million dollar Justice Sector Development Project II in collaboration with the HJPC, the BiH Ministry of Justice, the courts, and the prosecutor offices, is working to promote independence and accountability of the judiciary, strengthening of the dialogue between the three branches of government, and the recognition of their respective constitutional roles. JSDP II works with citizens and civil society organizations, and it advocates the strengthening of the judicial institutions and greater public involvement in promoting the rule of law.

USAID is also providing continuous support for the development of professional and impartial reporting from trials by the media, through collaboration with the Balkans Investigative Reporting Network in BiH, as well as advocating for legislative reforms relevant to EU integration, through collaboration with the Human Rights Office Tuzla.

To date, the US Government, through USAID, has provided almost billion and a half dollars to support economic, democratic, and social progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina.