Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopts unified SOS hotline rules for domestic violence victims

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has issued a new regulation governing the operation of its SOS telephone line for victims of family and gender‑based violence. Federal Minister of Labour and Social Policy Adnan Delić explained that the rule, enacted under the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, defines all six phases of a call, from initial contact to risk assessment, documentation and possible involvement of police, social‑work centers, health institutions and safe houses.

Operators must be qualified professionals (social workers, psychologists, lawyers, etc.) with at least one year of experience and must complete specialized training and continuous supervision. The hotline, reachable 24/7 on the toll‑free number 1265, will for the first time receive dedicated funding in the Federation's budget, ensuring its sustainability and enabling the provision of psychosocial support, legal information and emergency protection measures.

The regulation also sets standards for privacy, case recording, reporting and inter‑institutional cooperation, aiming to improve the quality and consistency of assistance to victims throughout the Federation.