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“Mother’s Scarf” Exhibition Moves to Istanbul and Belgrade | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
July 21st, 2023
In commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, the exhibition “Mother’s Scarf” was displayed in Istanbul and Belgrade. The installation demonstrates the solidarity of women around the world with the mothers of Srebrenica, sending a message of unity in the fight for truth.
“Through this exhibition, we mothers want to tell the world that we are still here, that we are looking for the truth and waiting for justice,” said Munira Subašić, President of the Movement of Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves. She describes the headscarf as a symbol of what she will never give up: justice for her loved ones.
Velma Šarić, President and Founder of the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), explained that “Mother’s Scarf” aims to foster solidarity among women and mothers worldwide, strengthening the bond between the mothers of Srebrenica and all other women. She noted that over 3,000 scarves and shawls were collected from more than 20 countries and over 50 cities around the globe. Symbolically, as Šarić emphasized, the connection of the scarves represents unity with the mothers of Srebrenica, showing that they are not alone and that the whole world stands behind them.
“Mother’s Scarf” debuted last year in Potočari during the commemoration of the genocide’s anniversary, as part of the “Srebrenica Heroines” project created by the Post-Conflict Research Center, the Mothers of Srebrenica, and the Srebrenica Memorial Center. This year, the installation was presented on July 4th in Istanbul’s Bagcilar municipality, and on July 1th1 in Belgrade.
The installation in Bagcilar was organized by representatives of the municipality, with the support of the Turkish Agency for Cooperation and Coordination (TIKA). It was accompanied by two exhibitions, “Scarves of Remembrance” and “Memento,” with the purpose of preserving collective memory and paying tribute to the resilience and struggle of the mothers and women of Eastern Bosnia. Additionally, a corresponding program was held to honor the victims of Srebrenica.
“You must not forget the genocide that was committed, because a forgotten genocide is a repeated genocide. This is the principle we adhere to here,” said Abdullah Ozdemir, Mayor of Bagcilar municipality, emphasizing the noble struggle of the mothers of Srebrenica.
Mahmut Cevik, Vice President of TIKA, described his respect for the mothers as “living witnesses of the genocide in Srebrenica.”
“Centuries pass, a tragedy remains a tragedy. And a tragedy happened 28 years ago in Srebrenica. Sadness and pain will never disappear and what was done will not be erased from our memories. A country in the heart of Europe was attacked by aggressors,” Cevik stated.
Abdullah Ucgun, the District Governor of Bagcilar municipality, addressed the gathering of citizens of Istanbul and guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying, “If we don’t want massacres and genocides to happen again, we must know the reason why they were committed. Therefore, I am telling all Bosnians, especially young people, not to forget their culture and traditions. If you separate yourself from your essence, you will forget why you exist. Don’t be fooled by what seems attractive and beautiful because it can separate you from your reality.”
Adis Alagić, the ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Turkey, paid tribute to all the genocide victims and emphasized the need to support the returnees in Srebrenica, who made the courageous decision to return to their hearths despite all of the hardship this entails.
The program included a screening of the film “Cases of Evil: Vlasenica,” produced by PCRC. The aim of the film is to preserve the memory of victims, including survivors of sexual violence, through their stories, and to highlight the resilience of survivors and the experiences of those who returned to Vlasenica after the war.
“It was very important to me that we watch this film here today because this film is our reality. Our fight has not ended because genocide and crimes are still denied in our country. And this is why we must constantly remember what was done,” said Šarić.
Kada Hotić, the Vice-President of the Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves Association, also addressed those present.
“We didn’t even imagine that someone would attack us. But suddenly, they did attack us. Again, we thought that it would pass quickly, unaware of the danger of what was about to happen,” said Hotić, who lost 56 members during the genocide in just two days.
Despite everything they endured, Hotić emphasizes that the mothers of Srebrenica did not teach their children hatred. “We are most proud of that. That we managed to raise and educate our children, who today do not harbor hatred,” said Hotić.
Emir Suljagić, the Director of the Srebrenica Memorial Center, emphasized his gratitude to Turkey on behalf of both Srebrenica and the Memorial Center.
“Once we bring this project to an end, we will be able to say that the Turkish people through TIKA, were a true friend of Srebrenica,” remaked Suljagić.
From Istanbul, the “Mother’s Scarf” exhibition made its way to Belgrade, in front of the Serbain presidency at Andrićev Venac, where on July 11th, a commemoration was held to honor Srebrenica’s victims. During the event, which was organized by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights of Serbia, the citizens of Belgrade, particularly the youth, paid their respects to the victims by connecting scarves together and lighting candles.
Sofija Todorović, the Program Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights Serbia, said that this served as “a reminder of everything connected to the genocide in Srebrenica, which is also connected to us, and which we must not forget. That is our responsibility.”
The “Mother’s Scarf” exhibition will continue its journey to other countries, serving as a reminder of the collective strength of women and mothers in the fight for justice and human rights.


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Srebrenica Conference: Muslims and Jews Stand Together for Genocide Prevention | Balkan Diskurs
Emily Colcord Schrader
July 24th, 2023
Long before July 1995, when they witnessed the destruction of their own community in the only recognized genocide in Europe after the Second World War, they had learned about the Holocaust. This was confirmed by Munira Subašić, the President of the Movement of Mothers of the Srebrenica and Žepa Enclaves Association, whose son and husband were among the more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995.
For European Jews and Bosnian Muslims, analogies between the two atrocities often feel inescapable. On the eve of the 28th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, however, Jewish and Muslim leaders gathered at the Memorial Center in Potočari not to engage in comparative suffering, but to promote solidarity.
The gathering took place on July 10th, as part of the “Srebrenica Collective Memory Conference,” organized by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) in partnership with the Srebrenica Memorial Center. In what Daniel Radomski, the Head of Strategy and Programs, described as a “strong signal” of commitment to interfaith dialogue, the WJC decided to send 18 delegates from their global leadership branch, the Jewish Diplomatic Corps. The day-long event, held at the former headquarters of the Dutch UNPROFOR Battalion in Srebrenica, featured panel discussions on preserving collective memory through education, combating genocide denial and distortion, and addressing future extremism throughout Europe.
“We thought that horrific experience [the Holocaust] would never happen again,” said Hasan Hasanović, who, at age 19, fled Srebrenica with approximately 10,000-15,000 other Bosnian Muslim men and boys. “It happened again, not on that scale, but it happened to 100,000 people some forty years later.”
Hasanović was one of only 3,500 who survived the grueling 100-mile trek to Muslim-held territory. In the aftermath, he was connected with Holocaust survivors in the UK to discuss trauma. As the current Head of Oral History at the Srebrenica Memorial Center, Hasanović was given a set of oral history guidelines from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a starting point for his own project, through which he collected 521 personal testimonies in less than four years.
The theme of collective, active, and preventative remembrance resonates strongly in a community still struggling to bury their dead. As the July heat bore down in Srebrenica on Tuesday, thousands gathered at the ever-expanding Memorial Center cemetery for the burial of the remains of 30 genocide victims identified by the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP) through DNA analysis.
In an interview with Balkan Diskurs, ICMP Director Kathryne Bomberger said that identifying the 40,000 individuals missing across the former Yugoslavia has the power to “ensure that the state itself takes responsibility — not just for the healing process but for ensuring the justice which contributes to peace.”
That justice has been on hold in Srebrenica for 28 years, as families wait for the remains of their loved ones, which are typically scattered among multiple mass graves, to be found. In a coffin, where one would expect a complete body, Subašić buried two small bones of her son, Nermin, who was murdered at age 16. The bones were found in graves 25 kilometers apart.
In Srebrenica, the lessons of the Holocaust are “tangible in a way that really can’t be experienced anywhere else,” Radomski said. “What they [the Mothers of Srebrenica] are doing here, on the ground, while still awaiting the burial of their children, is astounding.”
For the Jewish leaders in attendance, many of whom are direct descendants of Holocaust survivors, the conference opened a meaningful door for interfaith dialogue.
WJC Executive Committee member Efrat Sopher said that the type of “informal bridge-building” she experienced “wouldn’t happen any other way” than being physically present to support the Bosnian Muslim community at a painful time.
As a descendant of Sefardi Jews, Sopher said, those conversations are critical to establish trust: “Jews have lived in Muslim countries side by side beautifully. But there were also times when Jews were expelled from various countries within the Middle East. It’s important to commemorate and to share those experiences.”
As popular refrains of “never again” confront dead-ends amidst what some have labeled an “age of genocide,” part of that exchange is the simple knowledge that “it didn’t happen only to us,” Jewish journalist and activist Konstanty Gebert said.
Panelists denounced not only atrocities of the past, but ongoing genocide denial which pervades the present. The Srebrenica Memorial Center produces a report each year chronicling instances of Srebrenica genocide denial throughout the public media space. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, the number of documented cases surged from 234 to 693. An epidemic of Holocaust denial has plagued the Jewish community, too, which witnessed a 36% increase in antisemitism between 2021 and 2022 in the US alone.
Back in July 2021, Vice President of the World Jewish Congress, Menachem Rosensaft, had penned an extensive open letter denouncing Gideon Greif, a prominent Israeli historian who specializes in the history of the Holocaust, for his role in a report sponsored by the Republika Sprska government which presents Muslim Bosniaks as having “brought the genocide upon themselves.” As the son of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen survivors, Rosensaft drew a direct comparison between what he labeled the “Greif Report” and Joseph Goebbels’ justification of the Nazis’ anti-Jewish policies.
At a time when political leaders “speak more the language of national identity than faith,” said Friar Franjo Ninić of the Franciscan Monastery St. Peter and Paul, the denial of the genocide in Srebrenica “has become a kind of nationalist myth based in one of our religious communities.”
As one of just two panelists from the local Christian community, and a member of the Srebrenica Memorial Center’s new Board for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Ninić advocated “investigating and reinvesting the positive capacity of [religious memory]” by reminding Christians, Muslims, and Jews that their religious texts share critical overlap.
On one point of religious difference, however, a comment by Rosensaft sent a brief burst of levity through an otherwise somber atmosphere.
“There is one thing that you and we share,” Rosensaft said, speaking directly to Bosnian Muslim leaders. “We are not Christians. We do not have an ideology predicated on forgiveness… Our ideology requires action.”

source: news-balkandiskurs

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Emily Colcord Schrader


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Srebrenica Youth School: Global Scholars United in the Message of Peace | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
July 28th, 2023
The fourth annual Srebrenica Youth School, organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) in collaboration with the Srebrenica Memorial Center, brought together 40 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Western Balkans, and around the world to explore topics such as transitional justice, memorialization, and historical narratives, as well as to honor the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
The Srebrenica Youth School took place from July 7th to 14th. The participants were welcomed by Velma Šarić, President and Founder of PCRC, and Srebrenica Memorial Center Director Emir Suljagić, who spoke about the importance of studying and documenting the genocide.
Participants in the Youth School had the opportunity to tour the Memorial Center, guided by Hasan Hasanović, the head of the Oral History Department. They discussed the importance of preserving the memory of the genocide through documentation as well as artistic mediums. On July 11th the participants also attended the collective funeral for the 30 genocide victims identified and buried this year.
Dino Abazović, a professor from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo, spoke about religion, identity, and ethnicity. He identified the interaction of these elements with not only the nation, but also with nationalism, as fundamental issues of the global order.
“We see what is happening in general, but in our region, it has its own historical and cultural foundation, so actually, this symbiosis of religious and ethnic identities has clearly been part of the problem forever. The majority of people have no problem saying that, even though we have a very high degree of religious self-identification, and we have expectations that in some better times this will be part of the solution,” said Abazović.
He explained that universal religious studies, especially of Christianity and Islam in our region, provide a framework for religion to finally be used for peacebuilding, rather than for division and potentially abuse, as we have witnessed since the 1990s.
Tanya L. Domi, a professor at Columbia University and the Hariman Institute in the Balkan Studies program, spoke about conflict-related sexual violence, noting that this practice continues today in places such as Ukraine and Ethiopia.
“There are 55 countries around the world that are currently in conflict, and we know from research that many of them are witnessing conflict-related sexual violence. The history of Bosnia and what happened between 1992 and 1995 is important for these participants to know because they are learning about Bosnia here. This is a part of the modern history of Bosnia,” explained Domi.
The school’s participants also had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Nihad Branković, Senior Government Relations Adviser from the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), who explained the identification process that begins after the remains of missing persons are located.
The program also featured a discussion panel on local and international responses to genocide denial and hate-speech. Speakers on this panel included Fermin Cordoba, the Senior Political Advisor of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Halisa Skopljak, the OSCE Legal Advisor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agnes Picod, the Senior Advisor for Human Rights at the UN Office Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ahmed Kulanić, the Director of the Sarajevo Canton Memorial Fund, and Ismar Porić, the General Manager of the Ensemble House and Emmaus Foundation.
“On history teaching, more focus on multiperspectivity and empathy towards the ‘others’ is needed, as this can only result in more cohesive societies. Education should aim to contribute to mutual understanding and social healing, focusing on balancing the cognitive, the emotive and the ethical dimensions in history teaching and learning,” Fermin Cordoba stated.
On July 10th, summer school participants also had the opportunity to attend the Srebrenica Collective Memory Conference, jointly organized by the World Jewish Congress and the Srebrenica Memorial Center.
The Srebrenica Youth School was attended by young people from the USA, UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Switzerland, as well as numerous cities from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Amina Begić, one of the participants in the Srebrenica Youth School, highlighted the fact that the school not only provides a valuable educational opportunity, but also the opportunity to meet new people.
“I believe that these programs are very important, especially in Srebrenica. We need as many people from the Balkans as possible to come here, to talk more about the Srebrenica genocide and what happened here. We need to properly educate young people, because young people are the ones who will tell the story of Srebrenica,” said Begić.
During the school, the participants were also shown the documentary film “Uspomene 677,” co-produced by Pinch Media and PCRC. After the screening, they discussed the film with PCRC President Velma Šarić and PCRC Program Director Tatjana Milovanović.
Milovanović explained that the film’s goal is to depict the lives of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are inevitably shaped by the history of the war in their communities. For this reason, she emphasized that the PCRC’s work aims to show young people that all the identities we hold in life, such as religious and ethnic affiliations, can coexist harmoniously through friendship, love, and empathy.
The opportunity for participants to collaborate with the Subjective Atlas team on a cartographic representation of youth perspectives across their respective countries was a unique element of this year’s Srebrenica Youth School, which added a creative component to the program. The participant’s works will be an integral part of the Subjective Atlas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be published next year in English and local languages. The atlas will be promoted not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in other countries.
Annelys De Vet, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Subjective Atlas, described the visual aspect of the participants’ works as far more important than the verbal aspect, as the former represents the “emotional insightful perspective” of the participants.
Explaining her decision to apply to attend the Srebrenica Youth School, Lamija Šarović stated, “I applied, first of all, because I thought that as a Bosnian, I need to learn more about these things, even at 18 years old.” When asked what about the program made the greatest impression on her, she replied that it was “being surrounded by people from different backgrounds. I was just very inspired and motivated by them in a way.”
School participants had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the local environment of Srebrenica, and some of elected to join in the Peace March for the last several kilometers before Potočari.
Throughout the duration of the school, the participants were accommodated at the Ensemble House and Emmaus Foundation premises. They also had the chance to visit the House of Good Tones, a local organization dedicated to providing children and young people in Srebrenica access to quality educational, cultural, and entertainment resources.
Juan Ortiz, a participant from the United States, described the outdoor aspect of the accommodation as very refreshing. “I enjoyed a lot the enormous professional value of the school. I think I was very humble to my friends back home and my community because this feels like national, study major. It was really nice to meet so many nice people at the same level of career.”
The Srebrenica Youth School concluded with the filming of the TV series “Perspective,” hosted by Ada Sokolović and Marcelo, a rapper, novelist, and columnist from Serbia. The program, which deals with the problems young people face in society, has been broadcast for nine years in the region, thanks to the production team from Mebius Film.
This year’s Srebrenica Youth School was made possible with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

author: Balkan Diskurs


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Otherhood and Unity: Dr. Abazović on Religion, Identity, & Ethnicity | Balkan Diskurs
Annabelle Werner
July 31st, 2023
Leading up to the 28th commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide, the Srebrenica Youth School featured a lecture by Dr. Dino Abazović, a professor from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo.
Addressing the audience of young human rights scholars, Dr. Abazović posed many thought-provoking questions: What is the relationship between the Westphalian nation state and religion? How have political leaders exploited the human need for collective belonging to consolidate power? To provide students with a foundation for these discussions, Dr. Abazović began by setting out the definitions of key concepts.
He distinguished “religion” as a communal practice from individual belief, noting that organized religion involves a sense of collective identity and hierarchy. Thus, this form of belonging has had inherently political implications throughout history. The interaction between religion and politics shaped the formation of mankind’s oldest political structures as well as the contemporary international order. For example, Dr. Abazović referred to how, in a post-reformation context, the new intelligentsia manipulated religious narratives to fit the framework of the nation, ultimately embedding religious nationalism within our most fundamental political concepts.
These grand narratives functioned relatively well in the Western Balkans for hundreds of years, until the region was thrown into crisis in the 20th century. This era saw a rise in the importance of religion, particularly with regard to the motifs of chosen people, promised land, and messiahs.
“Religious symbols were used as national symbols,” explained Dr. Abazović, discussing the transformations in the rhetoric of leadership.
Subsequently, politicians’ misuse of religious manuscripts for personal gain would become a driving force of conflict.
For Yana Ghazi, a master’s student at Sciences Po Paris, a major take-away from the lecture was that “we cannot view religion in a vacuum – it always interacts with other things and is also influenced by other social processes.”
The discussion led students to question whether it is possible to combat the co-option of religious narratives for political purposes. Admittedly, this is not an easy question.
In response, Professor Abazović suggested that society could and should do more to safeguard against the misuse of religious rhetoric. Building upon the notion of “brotherhood and unity” from the past, he proposed an alternative doctrine of “otherhood and unity” for the future, based on the idea that a state cannot prosper without diversity.
The fourth edition of the Srebrenica Youth School, organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center in partnership with the Srebrenica Memorial Center, was held from July 7th to 14th in Srebrenica. It provided around 40 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world with the opportunity to learn from domestic and international experts about transitional justice, memorialization, building historical narratives, and documenting genocide and atrocities, as well as crucially, to pay tribute to those killed in the Srebrenica genocide.

author: Annabelle Werner


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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: SUMMER ACADEMY - BUILDING A ‘STATE OF PEACE’ WITH WESTERN BALKANS YOUTH | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 4th, 2023
The European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the Post-Conflict Research Center is conveying the first ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy from August 18 – 31 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young people from across the Western Balkan region will take part in a cross-country program with 15 + activities in 4 locations, travel across the country and enjoy their summer break in Bosnia!
With an overarching goal of contributing to a more peaceful and democratic future in the Western Balkans, the ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy aims at improving the capacity and social capital of Western Balkan youth to make a meaningful change in the present. Program activities seek to empower young people (aged 18 – 30) from across the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia) to take on a more active role in peacebuilding and other social processes that are necessary for a robust democratic society.
Program will consist of a two-week youth academy taking place across Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Vitez, Tuzla, Brčko) and with over 15 different activities (workshops, field visits, movie screenings, concerts, theatre shows, touristic events, and seminars) focused on building understanding, tolerance and entrepreneurial connections between local and regional youth and learning how to cherish and celebrate the cultural, social and religious differences in the Balkan region and wider Europe. Academy’s official working languages are Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian/ Montenegrin. All participation costs (travel, accommodation, meals, and workshop materials) are covered by the organizers.
CRITERIA TO APPLY:
– Citizen or resident of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro
– Between 18 – 30 years of age
– Desire to learn more about the Western Balkan’s peacebuilding process
– Willing to travel for up to 14 days with peers across Bosnia and Herzegovina and spend your summer vacation in Sarajevo, Vitez, Tuzla, and Brčko!
– No previous experience is required, we welcome applications from youth of all different backgrounds and stages of life!
HOW TO APPLY
Selected participants are expected to fully attend the program. If you are interested in participating, fill out the form you can find here and send it to [email protected].
For any questions, contact us at [email protected].

created: August 4th, 2023


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Discovering Another Side of Bosnian and Herzegovinian Landscapes | Balkan Diskurs
Elma Hasanspahić
August 4th, 2023
The association Azimuth 135 promotes hiking with the slogan “Walk the Right Path,” offering a diverse range of activities for people of all ages.
Thematic, nocturnal, and high-altitude mountain hikes are just some parts of their program, which allow you to explore the mountains of Central Bosnia, which boast many endemic plant species and fascinating biodiversity. Additionally, you can learn about regional history, including the first king of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all while working towards a healthier lifestyle.
Afan Abazović is a certified mountaineering and tourist guide from Zenica, who founded an association in 2017 called Azimuth 135. He says that the diverse ecosystem of the mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a rare find. He explained that the terrain in the region, while hilly and mountainous, varies from north to south, including rocky and forested areas as well as farmland. Furthermore, the woodlands comprise both coniferous and deciduous forests.
While some hiking trails are already well known, Abazović says he takes great pride in discovering new ones. Azimuth 135 has found and marked several such trails around Zenica.
“The Zenica region has eight mountains, with over 450 kilometers of trails […] If we consider the fact that there are 52 weeks in a year, we come to the incredible conclusion that we would need more than a year of weekly hiking to explore the entire mountainous area of the city of Zenica, including Mahnjača, Hum, Tvrtkovac, Lisac, Smetove, Čolan, Zmajevac, and Kuber,” remarked Abazović.
He emphasizes that his love for travel and mountaineering came from his parents, who took him on his first hike when he was just six months old, on Mount Vranica. After the war ended, his parents organized day trips for him and his sister, sparking their passion for exploring their homeland.
As a student, he got a part-time job as a tour guide, traveling around Europe with thousands of tourists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and providing them with valuable information.  However, realizing the potential of his home country, he decided to dedicate himself to domestic tourism, in order to “introduce foreign tourists to Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially Central Bosnia.”
By 2009, he had obtained his certification as a tour guide from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later, in 2017, he became certified as a mountaineering guide through the Mountaineering Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has also completed several prestigious courses, becoming a tour guide for the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the world’s largest adventure tourism organization. He continued his education at the Political Science Department of the University of Sarajevo, where he earned a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy. He describes this experience as especially rewarding, because every tour guide is also an ambassador of their country.
In addition to being the president of Azimuth 135, since the end of 2022, Afan Abazović has also been the owner of a mountaineering tour guide company called Afantour in Zenica.
From the outset of his mountaineering experience, Abazović had the desire to create unique hiking tours which would be based around specific themes.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, our perception of mountaineering has been that it’s mainly pursued by people in their later years, spending time in mountain lodges. However, mountaineering combines several seemingly unrelated disciplines, including botany, meteorology, photography, psychology, geography, history, organization, and other fields,” Abazović explains.
Azimuth 135 organizes hikes for children and their parents, nocturnal hikes, hikes for beginners, educational lectures from prominent figures in the world of mountaineering, and high-altitude excursions for more experienced hikers.
“The highlight is the themed tours, such as walks to iftar during the month of Ramadan, hiking tours to explore the endemic species of the Bosnian lily, hikes to Bobovac on the anniversary occasion of the coronation of Tvrtko I Kotromanić as the first king of Bosnia, and many others,” said Abazović. He added that they also offer hikes for foreign tourists in the mountains of Central Bosnia, such as Vlašić, Vranica, and the mountains around Zenica, which boast exceptionally fascinating biodiversity.
Over the past year, Azimuth 135 has organized 20 activities, with nearly 1,500 participants taking part, averaging around 75 participants per tour. After each tour, participants provided feedback through surveys. The hike on Mount Vitorog near Šipovo received the lowest rating at 87.5 percent, while two hikes, one to Hum and the other to Tvrtkovac near Zenica, received the highest ratings of 100 percent. The average rating for all activities was 95.8 percent.
“An unusually large number of novice hikers participated throughout the year. This was recognized by the Mountaineering Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which awarded us with a plaque for being the top promoter of mountaineering in 2022,” said Abazović, adding that the majority of participants were between the ages of 19 and 30.
Regarding promotional strategies to get ahead in the tourism industry, Abazović emphasized the role of social media, stating that “depending on the users and content creators, it can serve as both a tool and a weapon.”  In the context of mountaineering, he explained that social media is an extremely useful tool for facilitating the exchange of information.
“We have to admit that we have only heard and seen many hidden and beautiful locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina through social media. So, I believe that this form of media is crucial for promotion. With just two or three clicks on our cell phone screens, we can find instructions for visiting these places. Fortunately, many of these places are easily accessible by vehicles, but some are not and remain untouched, which is even better. It’s a delight to see them in such a pristine state.” Abazović believes that the average human lifetime is too short to visit all the natural, cultural, historical beauties Bosnia and Herzegovina has to offer.

author: Elma Hasanspahić


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Mira Kovačević Creates Magic Through Wine Painting | Balkan Diskurs
Dunja Rujević
August 6th, 2023
The painter Mira Kovačević found her passion for art in the technique of painting with wine, thereby confirming that using even the most unusual materials can reach the hearts of others. After becoming bored with standard painting techniques, she wanted to do something different and unique.
During a wine tasting, she remembered a technique that allowed her to find her extraordinary style: the technique of wine painting.
After completing her first wine painting, she was already certain that she was on the right path. However, she describes familiarizing herself with the technique as a long, slow process because wine painting as an art form was almost forgotten. Few people knew about it, and it wasn’t taught in art schools or academies. “There’s no literature on wine painting, so all an artist can do is to paint based on emotions,” Kovačević added.
She explained that after sketching the motif, she uses various types of red wines, patiently applying layer after layer. Both wine painting and wine itself require patience and time. Once the layers of wine are completely dry, she moves on to others, ultimately creating a picture of an unusual appearance, painted exclusively with wine, primarily red. “You can also paint with rosé and white wines, and then you get very delicate, almost transparent tones,” said Kovačević.
The majority of her work consists of portraits, which come to life from the clients’ desire to give a gift to someone dear to them who loves wine – a painting created with their favorite beverage which captures a beautiful moment. On the other hand, when she paints based on own ideas, the motifs almost always involve women who share a common passion for wine and working in vineyards.
“These women are sometimes dressed in provocative lingerie, completely nude, or wearing sumptuous romantic dresses, and there is always a glass of wine somewhere nearby. If they are working in the vineyard, then I paint them carefully and attentively gathering each cluster of grapes, contemplating the wine to come,” explained Kovačević.
She exhibited her works in September of last year as part of “Wine Vision of the Open Balkans,” the largest wine fair in the region. On this occasion, she had the intriguing task of painting wine portraits of all of the fair’s most distinguished guests. These portraits were then presented to the guests as an official gift from the President of the Republic of Serbia.
“For me, it was a tremendous honor, responsibility, and also a confirmation that what I do is good enough to become a part of such an important event,” said Kovačević, emphasizing that the portraits created for that occasion were the most significant and dearest works she has painted.
Since wine is the only substance used to paint, the appearance of the painting inevitably changes due to oxidation. Strong purples, ruby reds, and burgundy tones gradually turn into browns over time, and therein lies the beauty of these paintings – they change daily before our eyes.
The paintings are usually exhibited at wine fairs several times a year, providing a unique opportunity for people to see the artworks in person. Currently, there is an upcoming wine painting exhibition scheduled to open in mid-September at the Museum of Viticulture and Viniculture in Aleksandrovac. Additionally, Kovačević regularly shares her paintings on social media platforms, where people often place orders for them. The artworks are also available in an online gallery and can be found in wine shops in Belgrade, Šabac, and Banja Luka.
“This is an art that demands patience, knowledge of wine, its colors, and characteristics, but it also requires that the artist have a steady hand and the skill to forge a connection between this unusual art form and the audience,” concluded Kovačević.

created: August 6th, 2023

author: Dunja Rujević


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The Butmir Hippodrome: A 130-Year-Old Horse Racing Tradition Returns | Balkan Diskurs
Dženisa Joldić
August 11th, 2023
After 12 years, horse races returned to the Butmir Hippodrome, thanks to the initiative of passionate young equestrian enthusiasts. This event rekindled hope that the sport might once again become a major attraction in Sarajevo as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuing a 130-year-old tradition.
Across four equestrian races – Imperia, the Ahmed Begzadić Memorial Race, Butmir’s Gallop, and the Ilidža Municipality Race – the horses Lenkoran 350, Abby’s Wedding, Ferrari Twister, and Aliso emerged triumphant.
“Every race today was exciting because the fastest horses and most skilled jockeys competed for glory and prestigious prizes. I’d like to highlight the main race, the Ilidža Municipality Race, which concluded this spectacular hours’ long sporting event with the grand prize of 10,000 KM being claimed by Aliso,” said Riad Gojak, a member of the Butmir’s Gallop Equestrian Club.
The opening race, Imperia, covering 1,200 meters, featured Arabian horses and was won by the colt Lenkoran 350. Meanwhile, the Ilidža Municipality Race, which covered 2,000 meters, showcased the most well-bred horses in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Aliso Club emerging as the victor.
The equestrian races and accompanying events attracted an audience of around 1,700 people, encouraging the event’s organizers to work hard to preserve this tradition. The first equestrian races in Butmir were held in September 1893, with the sport soon becoming a major event for Sarajevo and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although the races haven’t been held in Butmir since 2012, the sport is returning to the Hippodrome thanks to the Butmir’s Gallop Equestrian Club, which was founded in April this year.
Mirsad Jelašković, the president of the Butmir’s Gallop, says that as a sporting association, they work to promote equestrian sports across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We work with young people to prepare them for various careers, improve their quality of life, promote physical activity and a healthy lifestyle, and offer educational opportunities,” Jelašković explains.
He emphasizes the leadership role taken by the club, which actively worked to restore the destroyed Hippodrome in Butmir. As a result of their commitment and effort, galloping races were able to return to Butmir after 12 years, marking the resumption of an equestrian tradition which existed in the Ilidža area for nearly 130 years.
“Members of our association regularly attend horse races, and for now, we have three horses and ten valuable permanent members who diligently work to train the horses and arrange the Hippodrome,” added Jelašković.
Alongside the exciting races, the club organized a diverse accompanying program for all attendees. For example, Ladies’ Day was held for female visitors, featuring a competition to select and reward the loveliest hat. Additionally, two horses were made available for recreational riding, offering visitors the chance to ride and bond with horses, experiencing the animal’s affection and unique charm.
“In addition to excitement and fun, these races gave us the opportunity to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty and strength of horses. The event provided support to our community, attracting visitors and promoting tourism,” remarked Gojak, noting that both riders and visitors were noticeably energetic and inspired following the races.
These races, according to Gojak, constituted a deeply meaningful event.

created: August 11th, 2023

author: Dženisa Joldić


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Moral Courage in Difficult Times: Jelena Lives on in the Hearts of her Neighbors | Balkan Diskurs
Lejla Karović
August 14th, 2023
Jelena Križanac from Krčevin, in Vitez Municipality, is described by her fellow citizens as a hero. During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), she saved many lives, displaying wisdom and bravery, without any regard to ethnic or religious differences. Although she has passed away, her children carry on her legacy of helping those in need.
In a remarkable display of courage, Jelena, a Catholic, knelt before soldiers and begged them not to kill her Muslim neighbors. One of her neighbors recalled how “Croatian soldiers” doused a house with gasoline, with the intention of setting it on fire, and thus burning the 40 Muslims inside the house alive.
Her neighbor, S.Z., explains that Jelena and her husband told the soldiers to kill her first. Risking her life and the lives of her family, Jelena begged the soldiers on her knees to spare her neighbors.
“There were 40 of us in that house that was doused with gasoline. All it takes is one match. She approached the soldiers and begged them not to do that, said that we’d done them no harm and that we were not a danger to them. One of the soldiers hit her with the butt of a rifle and she fainted,” recounted S.Z., emphasizing that Jelena tried to save her neighbors even though she knew she might be killed.
Jelena’s pleas were successful, and her neighbor’s lives were spared. However, Jelena feared that the threat might not be over, so she invited her neighbors to store their valuables in her garage for a short time, promising to safeguard them until the situation eased.
“She told my mom to bring over the washing machine, the stove, and whatever she could save, and she would keep it under a tarp in her garage. And that’s what we did. When the situation calmed down a bit, we retrieved our belongings, which were just how we had left them. She had kept her promise,” S.Z. recalled.
Shortly after the gasoline incident, S.Z. moved from Vitez to Zenica, which was under the control of the Bosnian Army at the time. While she was hopeful that things would be better outside of Vitez, the move was also the start of a very painful time for her. She didn’t have any contact with her family for months, and she even heard rumors that they had been killed.
“My world was collapsing because I knew that without them, I had nothing. I walked through Zenica hoping that a shell would fall near me, but none reached me,” S.Z. says, describing her emotional state at that time.
One day, however, a phone call came and put an end to her agony. On the other end of the line, she says, was ‘her Jelena.’ Jelena told her that her family was alive and put her father on the phone. “My Jelena…Rest in peace. I don’t think I ever thanked her enough,” said S.Z.
From that day on, Jelena secretly brought S.Z.’s father over for a brief phone call with his daughter every three days.
After the war, Jelena didn’t like to talk about her experiences. She never told anyone about her heroic deed of immense courage. She maintained warm relationships with her neighbors, never allowing anything to disrupt their bond.
“She would come over on Eid carrying cookies under her arm to sweeten with coffee. She would kiss my children as if they were her grandchildren. We also visited them on their holidays. She maintained a close friendship with my mother, and they took care of each other. It was the same after the war as it had been before it. We never cared about our differences,” said S.Z.
Jelena died on April 25th, 2020. Although her heart stopped beating, her neighbors say she will live forever in the hearts of the people she saved, giving them a new chance at life.
“I remember the last moment we were together. She was sitting in front of our house, the house of the family she saved long ago, during the war. She squeezed my hand tightly and kissed me on the cheek. It was as if she knew that it was the last time,” S.Z recounted.
Marija Križanac, Jelena’s daughter, said that her mother always taught them to be honest and good, and to help everyone in need, no matter what religion or ethnicity they might belong to.
“She told us that the important thing is to be human, not to mean harm to anyone and to respect others,” said Marija.
Jelena’s act of moral courage, which she never spoke of while she was alive, serves as a source of hope for all of us that even in the darkest of times, there are those who will stand up to evil for the sake of common humanity.

created: August 14th, 2023

author: Lejla Karović


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YOUTH ACADEMY ‘STATE OF PEACE’: PEACE ACTIVISM APPROCHES | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 15th, 2023
At the first Youth Academy ‘State of Peace,’ organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU BiH) in collaboration with the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), 50 young individuals from the Western Balkans region will learn about the state of peace and the building of a democratic society through cultural and artistic events and …
At the first Youth Academy ‘State of Peace,’ organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU BiH) in collaboration with the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), 50 young individuals from the Western Balkans region will learn about the state of peace and the building of a democratic society through cultural and artistic events and workshops from August 18 to August 31 in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Vitez, and the Brčko District.
The European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through various youth projects implemented across the country, aims to encourage young people to take a more active role in society’s development and to engage in the reform processes on the path to the European Union. The Youth Academy ‘State of Peace’ will provide young individuals with a unique program of activities, offering them not only the opportunity to acquire new skills through a series of workshops and study visits but also a chance to forge new friendships with peers from the region.
“Reconciliation programs that connect young people from the Western Balkans are not just bridges to the integration of countries into the European Union but foundations for lasting peace, shared prosperity, and a brighter future for the region. Programs like the Youth Academy ‘State of Peace’ empower the next generation to overcome divisions, promoting mutual understanding and collaboration. I sincerely hope that this experience will have a positive impact on all who join this program,” stated Johann Sattler, Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Velma Šarić, President and Founder of the PCRC, stated that the goal of the Academy is to contribute to a more prosperous future and the process of confronting the past through a two-week program based on interethnic dialogue and learning about tolerance. This program, along with the interaction and socializing of young individuals from the Western Balkans region, aims to collectively work towards these objectives.
“Young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, who applied and were accepted into the academy, are demonstrating their desire to contribute to the building of a democratic society in the Western Balkans,” explained Šarić. She emphasized that one of the missions of the Center, among other things, is peace education.
According to Šarić, the Academy is yet another innovative educational program that using multidisciplinary techiques directly involves young individuals and teaches them peace activism techniques.
The Youth Academy ‘State of Peace’ begins in Tuzla, where participants will be introduced to the cultural and artistic scene of the city by visiting the International Portrait Gallery, the House and Studio of Ismet Mujezinović, the House of the Bosnian Language, and the House of Literature ‘Meša Selimović.’
In Tuzla, they will have the opportunity to learn how to be more active in their communities and their home countries to assert their rights and contribute to the building of a better society. They will also visit the archaeological park “Neolithic Settlement” and have the chance to spend time at the Panonika Lakes.
Additionally, they will engage in discussions with representatives from the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) about the “Podrinje” identification project and visit the Brčko District and its Memorial for Civilian War Victims.
On the sixth day of the Youth Academy ‘State of Peace,’ participants will arrive in Sarajevo and visit the European Union Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, getting to know Sarajevo through the “Explore Sarajevo Tour.”
In Sarajevo, they will learn about memorialization, interreligious dialogue, and discover more about the “Ordinary Heroes” project, which portrays stories of rescue and moral courage in times of war, along with an interactive workshop on the behavior of rescuers. They will learn about strategic communication, engage in discussions on education and activism with regional human rights activists. They will visit the Synagogue, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the Bey’s Mosque, the Old Orthodox Church, the Olympic Museum, the Ex-Yu Rock Center, the Museum of Wartime Childhood, and the Tunnel of Hope.
With the aim of creating innovative memorialization practices, young individuals will visit and pay their respects at the Gate in Tuzla, the Kazani in Sarajevo, as well as Ahmići and Osmica in Vitez.
They will indulge into discussions with representatives of international organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, local authorities, and regional human rights activists. They will attend the opening of a photo exhibition featuring stories of interethnic marriages nad relationships, engage with women’s rights activists, and watch the film “Colorless,” which explores the lives of children growing up in multi-ethnic families.
At the “Čardaci” Ethno Village, they will have the opportunity to watch a performance by the Youth Theater of Vitez, engage in discussions with young actors, learn about peacebuilding from the PCRC’s representatives, socialize in the recreational complex of Čardaci, and at the same time, familiarize themselves with environmentally sustainable modern business tourism.
After 14 days, the first Youth Academy ‘State of Peace’ concludes in Sarajevo with the hope that young individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia will take a more active role in their communities and collectively strive for their rights and a better future in the region.

created: August 15th, 2023


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Comparison of the Treatment of Romani People in BiH and the UK | Balkan Diskurs
Ellise Gray
August 17th, 2023
Roma are the largest of the 17 national minority groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the existence of Romani people recorded in Bosnia for over 600 years. Yet, there continues to be a stigma attached to this minority group, which has translated into mistreatment and poor living conditions throughout the country (Minority Rights, Roma, 2015).
This can be compared to Romani within the UK. Although the number of Roma is smaller in the UK than in Bosnia, mistreatment and stigma is still persistent. There are multiple charities within both Bosnia and the UK working to improve and protect the rights of Roma people and attempting to change the negative perception of the minority group among other citizens.
The exact number of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina is uncertain. Due to the stigma attached to the label, many members of this community refuse to identify as Roma on official surveys and censuses, and therefore, their number is consistently underestimated. The 2013 consensus recorded 12,583 Bosnian residents who declared themselves as Roma (Bosnia and Herzegovina Consensus, 2013), while July 2012 estimates from the Council of Europe counted a minimum of 40,000 and a maximum of 76,000 Roma in BiH. This equates to only 1.54% of the total population, meaning that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the lowest percentage of Roma of any Western Balkan population (Council of Europe, Roma Estimates in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2012). Significant Roma communities in BiH are living in Brčko, Bijeljina, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla, Kakanj, Prijedor, Zenica, and Teslić (Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Special Report on the Status of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina).
During the war in Bosnia from 1992-1995, the Roma community suffered mistreatment by all parties to the conflict. With over 30,000 Bosnian Roma expelled from their homes in the course of ethnic cleansing and subjected to inhumane conditions, entire communities were destroyed. Today, many Roma in BiH still live in informal settlements, without access to water or electricity. Most Roma either work in the informal economy or have no means of sustenance. The percentage of Roma who are employed is extremely low, with less than 1% in the Federation of BiH and Brčko District, and less than 3% in the Republika Srpska (RS). Furthermore, a lack of access to education and a struggling skillset adds to problems of discrimination in the labor market. Many Roma people still face obstacles to receiving an education, both in terms of enrolment and completion of primary studies. Only 69% of Roma children in the country complete their primary education, as compared to 98% of the rest of the population in Bosnia (UNICEF, Roma Children).
Roma fall under the category of ‘Others’ in the legal framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina and as such, are discriminated against by law and cannot hold certain public offices (Minority Rights, Roma, 2015).
Access to healthcare services also remains difficult for a large proportion of the Roma population in BiH due to administrative and bureaucratic complications. Lack of school attendance and registration of unemployment leaves many Roma citizens without health insurance coverage. Roma associations estimate that only between 60-70% of the Roma population in BiH have access to health care (Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Special Report on the Status of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina).
UNICEF reported that 69 per cent of Roma families earn below 200 Bosnian marks (102 euros) per month, whereas the national average monthly income is 700 Bosnian marks (Hoi Mun Yee, Bosnia’s Roma Try to Break Out of Isolation, 2017).
The overarching consequence of this is that Roma intergenerational poverty in BiH is extremely high. Roma households lack the funding, skills and education necessary to put children through primary school, which leads to a consistent never-ending cycle of poverty within the Roma population. Roma children have therefore become the most at-risk group in Bosnia, and discrimination against Roma children has become a barrier across all fronts of society.
The OSCE Mission in BiH has worked continuously since 1996 to improve the lives of Roma people. An important early step was the development and adoption in 2005 of the BiH Strategy for addressing issues facing Roma. BiH authorities subsequently developed and adopted the Roma Action Plan, which covers the areas of housing, healthcare, employment, and in particular, education. Since BiH joined the Roma Decade Initiative in 2008, approximately 1.5 million euros have been budgeted every year in the BiH Budget for the implementation of the Roma Action Plan. Furthermore, since 2008, BiH institutions have built more than 1,000 housing units for vulnerable Roma families, implemented numerous employment projects, and worked on better inclusion of Roma women and youth in decision-making processes. It should also be noted that the BiH Council of Ministers established the Roma Board as an advisory body that works on systematic improvement of the position of Roma in BiH.
At this stage, the OSCE is working closely with the BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees on the implementation of the Roma Action Plan. The OSCE also cooperates with Roma civil society organizations across the country and works on strengthening their individual and collective capacities to advocate for the protection of Roma rights. While continuing to focus on combating various forms of discrimination against Roma and holding institutions accountable to their commitments to improve the status of Roma, the OSCE is also conducting research this year on access to safe housing for Roma women who have been the victims of domestic violence. Additionally, it is closely liaising with local authorities on the regularization of informal settlements and addressing the housing needs and rights of the Roma community.
The Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) and the OSCE continue to work together on the project ‘On the Margins,’ with the primary objective to “challenge negative stereotypes about BiH’s Roma community” through providing a platform for Roma individuals to make their voices heard and to combat negative stereotypes attached to them (PCRC, On the Margins).
Bosnia and Herzegovina has had remarkable success in tackling the issue of the lack of civil registration documents and risks of statelessness, thanks to cooperation between the state authorities and NGOs, reducing the number of Roma persons without documents from some 3,000 to 57 in 2017.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, in cooperation with municipalities, is building housing for 150 Roma families in 14 municipalities, thanks to EU funds totaling 4 million euros in 2012 (Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Special Report on the Status of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina). The legalization and improvement of living conditions in informal settlements is ongoing and is still uneven across the country.
In July 2010, the Council of Ministers adopted the Revised Action Plan on the educational needs of Roma. Authorities are also providing textbooks, school transport, meals, and other subsidies. Enrolment of Roma children in primary, secondary, as well as higher education has since increased (Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Special Report on the Status of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The Roma community is also one of the most disadvantaged ethnic groups within the UK today. It is estimated that there are at least 200,000 Roma and Travellers in Britain, although this is thought to be a highly underestimated number due to their lack of participation in the 2011 census (Katalin Barsony & Damian James Lebas, Before You Make Another Offhand Remark About Roma and Travellers in the UK, We’d Like to Tell You This, 2016).
Roma and Traveller communities face challenges in almost every aspect of life in the UK, much like in Bosnia, from housing, education, and employment to continuous negative portrayals in the media. A recent Pew Research Centre Poll found that 50% of people in the UK have a negative view of the Roma community (Katalin Barsony & Damian James Lebas, Before You Make Another Offhand Remark About Roma and Travellers in the UK, We’d Like to Tell You This, 2016).
Roma children within the UK, as in BiH, are among the most chronically under-achieving in the education system. Only 14% of Roma children succeed in reaching the minimum GCSE expectations compared with 60% of their peers, and they are four to five times more likely to be excluded from school (Katalin Barsony & Damian James Lebas, Before You Make Another Offhand Remark About Roma and Travellers in the UK, We’d Like to Tell You This, 2016). This and low attainment and low literacy and numeracy at a young age traps Roma individuals in low paid and uncertain jobs as adults.
Planning applications made by Roma and Travellers in the UK are frequently rejected by councils, making integration continuously difficult. Furthermore, rising xenophobia in the aftermath of Brexit, and potentially the loss of European Human Rights Convention protections risk making British Roma even more vulnerable.
There are various charities working within the UK to help attempt to improve lives for Roma’s within the UK, including the Roma Support Group, Friends, Families and Travellers and the Traveller Movement.
It should be noted that the 2021 UK Census included a ‘Roma’ category for the first time (UK Government, Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller ethnicity summary, 2022).
There have been some improvements in relation to education for Roma and Travellers and an adoption by the Government to include more career related guidance for Roma individuals to explore other career pathways that may not have been previously open to them.
More advice and plans have also been introduced to help Roma gain settled status in the aftermath of Brexit.
Overall, in both BiH and the UK, Roma people are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. In these two contexts, parallels can be drawn between the lack of education and career opportunities available to Roma people as well as the continuous housing and healthcare issues that undermine their quality of life.
Roma are often misrepresented and it is important to counter harmful misconceptions and stereotypes. Drawing attention to Roma voices and Roma stories can help society as a whole understand the position of Roma and the various challenges that they face. As well as educating the public and promoting Roma culture and traditions, these positive stores have the potential to empower and inspire current and future Roma leaders fighting for change.

created: August 17th, 2023

author: Ellise Gray


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‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy gathers 50 young people from the region | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 20th, 2023
At the first ‘State of Peace’ Youth Academy, organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Post-Conflict Research Center, 50 young people from the Western Balkans will learn about peace and democracy through cultural and artistic events, as well as educational workshops. Scheduled to take place from August 18 – 31, the program will encompass activities in Tuzla, Brčko, Sarajevo, and Vitez.
With its diverse activities across BiH, the EU seeks to encourage young people to take a more proactive role in societal development, inspiring them to participate in reform processes on the path to EU integration. The unique program of the State of Peace Youth Academy will enable participants to acquire new skills through workshops and educational visits, as well as provide them with a platform to forge new friendships with their peers from the region.
”Reconciliation programs that connect young people from the Western Balkans are not only bridges for the integration of countries into the European Union, but foundations for lasting peace, common prosperity, and a brighter future for the region. Programs like the State of Peace Youth Academy empower the next generation to overcome divisions, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation. I sincerely hope that this experience will have a positive effect on everyone who takes part in this program,” stated Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Velma Šarić, Founder and President of the Post-Conflict Research Center, said that the goal of the State of Peace Youth Academy is to work together to contribute to a more prosperous future. The two-week program will develop mechanisms for coping with shared challenges based on tolerance and inter-ethnic dialogue, all while giving young people from the Western Balkans a chance to meet and socialize with one another.
”Young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, who applied and were accepted into the academy, demonstrated their desire to contribute to the construction of democratic societies in the region,” explained Šarić, emphasizing PCRC’s work in peace education.
Through a two-week program, participants will engage in a series of workshops, study visits, and discussions with over 30 individuals, including decision-makers, activists, representatives of religious communities, non-governmental organizations, the international community, and human rights advocates from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. The State of Peace Youth Academy began in Tuzla, after which participants will visit Brčko, Sarajevo, and Vitez.

created: August 20th, 2023


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State of Peace Youth Academy: Connections and Cooperation of Youth | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 26th, 2023
A state of peace is not only the absence of war but a full understanding and tolerance of others as well as the realization of human rights without discrimination. This is one of the messages from the meeting of representatives of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU BiH) and participants of the State of Peace Youth Academy, which was held at the headquarters of the Delegation of the EU BiH in Sarajevo.
The two-week-long Youth Academy “State of Peace”, organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Post-Conflict Research Center, gathered 50 young people from Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As part of the programme, participants visited the Delegation of the European Union in BiH and had a fruitful discussion with representatives of the EU Special Representative in BiH.
During the meeting, participants wanted to learn more about the accession process for the countries of Western Balkans, but also curiose about other topics eg. how the EU health system functions in comparison to the region, the EU’s assistance and support to the region, reconciliation, and youth education.
Talking about EU accession and the EU path of the Western Balkans, Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communication and Spokesperson underlined that the EU was founded as a peace project, and this meant that ensuring all of the countries in the Western Balkans join the EU has a particular importance and significance.
„On the day we now celebrate as Europe Day, 9 May 1950, the then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman spoke about making war not only unthinkable, but materially impossible. This vision will only be complete when the entire European continent is united, including the Western Balkans. I am delighted that so many young people have taken two weeks out of their summer holiday to meet others from the region and help realise the ambition of a continent without war“
On this occasion, Fermin Cordoba, Political Adviser said, “Peace cannot be an empty shell; true peace is about access to rights and justice, tolerance, non discrimination, equality or reconciliation. And the EU, with all its imperfections, is probably the best umbrella under which the individual can develop his/her full potential.  When it comes to peace-building, education is a key element: are students being taught to embrace diversity or are the education systems used to deepen the divides? In this regard,  more critical thinking and empathy are needed in the schools of Bosnia and Herzegovina“.
Speaking about the BiH’s and region’s ethnic diversity, legal adviser Todor Skakić, compared it to the EU itself, i.e. a community of cultures and nations that, although they were once at war, have great potential for joint development and a peaceful future, but “more joint work is needed for prosperity”.
When asked how young people can contribute to unity and the process of European integration, program manager Asja Kratovic emphasized that young people must be active, whether politically or through non-governmental organizations, and that they must vote and choose. „The European Union in the region offers numerous opportunities for young people to be active, study abroad or join different activities and projects the EU supports.“, said Kratovic.
After Sarajevo, the State of Peace Youth Academy will continue in Vitez, where it ends on August 31. Young people will also take part in workshops on the Holocaust, religion, and intercultural communication, visits to memorials and religious buildings, and get to know cultural and historical landmarks.

created: August 26th, 2023


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Learning about the Holocaust for a better tomorrow | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 29th, 2023
Participants of the “State of Peace” Youth Academy, organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Post-Conflict Research Center, discussed the lessons and the legacy of the Holocaust in the region, and how these lessons can be used to prevent conflict and strengthen the reconciliation process.
Jakob Finci, the president of the Jewish community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the Holocaust is the most used and abused term in the 20th and 21st centuries. It is a historical tragedy that was perpetrated against the Jewish people simply because they were Jews.
“In our region, in the Balkans, 85 percent of Jews perished. At the beginning of the Second World War, 12 thousand Jews lived in Sarajevo, and at the end of the war there were less than 2 thousand Jews”. Jakob Finci explained that he himself was born in one of the Nazi camps where Jews were gathered, on the island of Rab, and at the end of the Second World War he returned with his family to Sarajevo, where he still lives today.
He described life in Yugoslavia as simple because “we lived normally with all other citizens of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
He also spoke about life during the siege of Sarajevo, the longest siege in modern history, emphasizing the humane role of the Jewish community and the humanitarian association La Benevolentija, as well as the way he fought for survival together with other fellow citizens. Participants of the “State of Peace” Youth Academy come from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The participants were presented with the Holocaust & Peace manual, which is a unique publication on peace education based on 20 years of work of civil society and teachers in the region.
Tatjana Milovanović, program director of the Post-Conflict Research Center, one of the manual creators, said that the manual “Holocaust and Peace” with 14 lessons includes all topics that are currently missing in the educational process of the countries of the region, including peace, tolerance, developing empathy and critical thinking, memorialization, propaganda, and the fight for human rights and against discrimination.
Part of the Holocaust & Peace manual was presented to young participants through several workshops about monuments and memory, as well as ordinary heroes and moral courage, led by teachers Melissa Forić and Đuldina Kurtović. As of this school year, the manual is also part of the curriculum for public primary and secondary schools in Sarajevo Canton, and it is expected to be applied throughout the country in the coming years.
A participant of the Academy, Asja Suljić from Tuzla, stated that through education, there is not much encounter with the subject of the Holocaust. “These informal educations contribute to my development and knowledge to be aware of the Golgothas peoples have gone through just because they are of a different nationality.”
After Sarajevo, the State of Peace Youth Academy continued in Vitez, where it ends on August 31. Young people will also take part in workshops on interethnic relationships and families, photography exhibitions, visits to memorials in Central Bosnia, and music concerts.

created: August 29th, 2023


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By getting to know diversity, we become more tolerant | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 29th, 2023
At the “State of Peace” Youth Academy, young people from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina discussed religious differences, concluding that we must accept and understand differences in society in order to build a more peaceful and tolerant society together.
As part of the program on interreligious dialogue, the young people visited the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos and the Ashkenazi Synagogue and got to know the multi-religious and multi-ethnic capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. The “State of Peace” Youth Academy is organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Post-Conflict Research Center, and is held in Tuzla, Brčko, Sarajevo and Vitez.
One of the program’s lecturers was Dino Abazović, sociologist and professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo.
“As time passes, there is a tendency among young people to be satisfied with the mere fact of difference and draw conformity from it, as we know the other and the different, but there are too few opportunities to give the ‘other’ and the ‘different’ the opportunity to show itself in the light they are. With that, when we talk about inter-religious dialogue, I have always advocated and I think that it is much more important to have a conversation between different confessions at the local level than at high religious hierarchies”. Abazović explains that the lived experience of the ‘other’ and the ‘different’ has always been that bond, the amalgam, which has maintained the thousand-year multi-ethnicity of our spaces and religious coexistence.
Academy participant Nemanja Raičević from Podgorica said that the presence of several religions and multiculturalism in Sarajevo helped him to understand the differences that exist, which help us to be more tolerant towards each other.
“In the Orthodox Church I saw pictures of saints, including my namesake Saint Nicholas. In the Cathedral, I saw frescoes that we also have in Catholicism. I think that religion should unite us and help love and peace conquer all,” Raičević said.
Manuel Jelić from Rijeka learned that when entering a mosque you should take off your shoes, that hafiz are people who know the Koran by heart, and that when it comes to interior decorations, the faces of people and animals should not be shown in mosques. He also expressed his gratitude for visiting the synagogue, which is one of the three largest in Europe, and which shows an extremely affirmative attitude towards Jews, which Muslims, Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians had.
“Sarajevo is not only a multi-ethnic, multicultural but also a multi-religious city,” said Jelić, pointing out that religious buildings symbolize unity, as well as the continuity of the existence of citizens of different religions in our region.


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Youth confront the past | Balkan Diskurs
Balkan Diskurs
August 30th, 2023
Participants of the Youth Academy for “State of Peace,” organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), who come from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, paid their respects to civilian war victims through a series of commemorations in Tuzla, Brčko, Sarajevo, and Vitez. Relying on the …
Participants of the Youth Academy for “State of Peace,” organized by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), who come from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, paid their respects to civilian war victims through a series of commemorations in Tuzla, Brčko, Sarajevo, and Vitez.
Relying on the legal legacy of national and international courts for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, young people have been acquainted with the facts about the committed crimes, thus becoming more actively involved in the process of confronting the past.
Velma Šarić, the president and founder of the PCRC, stated that a special component of the Youth Academy concerns commemorating civilian war victims because the process of confronting the past cannot be sustained consistently if young people are not involved.
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no state law regulating the way civilian war victims should be commemorated. In addition, permits for the construction of monuments and memorial sites are granted by local authorities. This often puts us in a situation where the erected monuments convey messages of hatred and division, lacking an educational component and not being based on established legal facts regarding the committed crimes,” stated Šarić.
As Šarić explains, through the Academy program, it is realized that young people from the region are not familiar with what happened at the Tuzla Gate, which they visited, but also that young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina are unaware of the murder of eight children in Vitez, where they laid flowers at the ‘Osmica’ monument to pay their respects.
Participants of the Academy attempted to lay flowers and pay their respects at the Sarajevo Memorial for Serbian victims at the Kazani Pit, but due to the site’s disrepair and inaccessibility, they were unable to do so. All of this demonstrates the need to do more in the field of remembrance and memorialization, so that young people have access and the opportunity to learn about the history of our society.
In addition to the commemorations in Tuzla, Sarajevo, and Vitez, participants also paid their respects at the Memorial for Civilian War Victims in Brčko, alongside representatives of the city authorities.
Tea Ružić, the advisor to the mayor of the Brčko District for youth and the non-governmental sector, stated that a shared monument for all war victims means that every tear is equal and as such is important in our history. “I think that with such a monument, we have sent a good message from Brčko because I can freely say that Brčko is an example of post-war reconciliation and coexistence.”
Respects were also paid to those killed at the Tuzla Gate, alongside Nataša Perić, the Chairperson of the Tuzla City Council, following which they watched the documentary film Kaprija 95′ produced by the PCRC.
Nikola Pavlović, a Youth Academy participant from Belgrade, emphasized that this was his first time in Tuzla and the first time he heard about the grenade that fell on the Gate. He is pleased that he can, on behalf of all Serbs, express condolences to the families of the deceased.
In Vitez, the youth paid their respects to the 116 murdered Bosniaks in the village of Ahmići and the eight murdered Croatian children in the “Osmica” memorial park. On this occasion, they spoke with Hazrudin Bilić, a survivor of the massacre, who shared with them his personal story and the facts about the attack on Ahmići. During the visit to the “Osmica” memorial park for the killed Croatian children, the youth had a conversation with Ivan Garić, whose sister was killed in this crime. He presented to the young people the efforts made by the families to preserve the memory of their loved ones.
Ahmo Mehmedović, a Youth Academy participant from Srebrenica, believes that memorialization is crucial in creating lasting monuments and memories for the innocent victims. “They carry a special dimension in coming to terms with the past, and it is important for young people to visit them and learn about the facts of wartime actions. Memorials should motivate the youth to protect the victims of war through various activities. With knowledge, emotion, and inspiration gained after visiting these memorials, I believe that the young generation will contribute to this.”
The importance of young people from different nations and ethnic backgrounds visiting sites of suffering for all groups was also emphasized by participant Lora Jurić from Đakovo. “I, too, didn’t grasp the depth of these stories. I used to see our military actions as the Croatian Liberation Movement, but now I see the bigger picture: that these were innocent people who didn’t know why they were dying or what they were fighting for, and they were all victims of a toxic mindset which believed that peace could be achieved through war.”

created: August 30th, 2023


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The story of Teta Ramiza - From Army to Theater | Balkan Diskurs
Džana Borović
September 4th, 2023
Balancing art and army, Ramiza Sarić confronted enemy occupation on two fronts during the wartime period in Bosnia and Herzegovina: the cultural and militaristic. Today, at the age of 77, having traveled the world extensively, she claims that we are “the best country with the best people who are the most cultured and civilized.”
For years, Ramiza had been sewing military uniforms for the national Yugoslavian military, Germany, and Libya. Then, due to “hunger,” she joined the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and because of her refined tailoring skills, she also became a costume designer for the Chamber Theater in Sarajevo, which, as she states, served as a mental escape from the chaos.
Ramiza was born on August 1, 1946 in the town of Gacko, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) where she spent her childhood coming from humble beginnings, tending to the animals on her family’s farm. As a teenager, Ramiza resettled to Mostar for secondary schooling that educated her in the art of tailoring. After mastering these skills she moved to the capital city of Sarajevo in search of better employment opportunities during April of 1970. In this endeavor she was able to successfully secure employment at a military enterprise in December of 1970 where she worked as a skillful seamstress, sewing and producing uniforms for the national Yugoslavian military and also for foreign nations like Germany and Libya.
Ramiza held this position until the time leading up to the war when many essential grocery items were becoming scarce and the need for food led Ramiza to join the military in 1992 and work in the logistics field.
“I joined the army because of hunger. I had nothing to eat at home. I had to survive off of my army rations,” Ramiza recollects. During this period of war preparation, Ramiza’s role as a military logistician had her supervising the movement of supplies, weapons, medical aid, food, etc.
A few months after joining the military, Ramiza was launched into the realm of costume design, all by chance. She met an actor from the Chamber Theatre at her neighbors apartment when she was over for coffee. During their encounter he brought up how the theater was in need of a new costume designer. Fortunately for Ramiza, she possessed the delicate seamstress skills that aligned with the theater’s requirements and when she revealed her hidden skill set, the actor instinctively brought her to the Chamber Theatre. It was here where she was immediately introduced to the Theatre director, Gradimir Gojer, who welcomed her arrival with an unexplained certainty that she would be an exceptional fit for the role. With unquestionable confidence, he assured Ramiza that she would not have any difficulties navigating the world of theater, despite not having any prior experiences related to it.
Ramiza accepted the position on the condition that her military commander would allow it. The next day, Gradimir personally went to her military commander to notify him about her impending employment at the theater and to seek his permission on granting Ramiza time off from her military obligations to assist with staging theater productions. The military commander approved, and within a few days Ramiza’s tale of going from the battlefront to the spotlight would begin.
Whenever Ramiza’s skill sets were needed, Gradimir would send for a car to transport her from her current military post to the theater, no matter the distance between the locations. This arrangement continued even when the conflict began which only increased the risks of the transportation. Nonetheless, Ramiza recalls that they never encountered any issues and that Gradimir’s transportation service ensured her safe return to her military duties.
Furthermore, Ramiza described her time in the army as a dark chapter in her life, having to constantly witness the agonizing scene of wounded soldiers among whom was her son, Asim, who sustained some injuries while fiercely fighting in the town of Vitez. Ramiza not only held these motherly worries for her own son, but she also extended it towards any hungry children/teenagers that she encountered during the war. For them, she would bend the rules to ensure that their famished bodies received some form of nourishment that filled their empty stomachs. Ramiza would cleverly strategize for these children/teens to arrive for their meals, an hour after the army was scheduled to eat lunch.
There would always be an assembly of around 20-30 of them, greeting Ramiza with warm hugs and kisses to show their gratitude for her selfless actions. Ramiza would remind them that if anyone questioned their presence, confidently say that you are affiliated with the BiH army. The only individual that knew a part of the real truth was Ramiza’s commander who she confided in that these were “her children from Gacko” who had nothing to eat.
In addition to these hardships, Ramiza highlighted the uncertainty that the wartime narrative held for everyone.
“No one could predict whether they would be alive in the morning. As soon as you enter the house, a shell hits. Many shells fell. Sometimes, we didn’t really hide or anything,” explains Ramiza.
This fragile existence of life was made clear to Ramiza when her Sarajevo apartment fell victim to a devastating shell bombing that left one of the rooms completely destroyed and unlivable. Yet despite the struggles that the war offered, Ramiza persevered through her involvement in the theater that offered her a mental escape from the chaos. She even went as far as to say that in the end her life changed for the better during the war because of the doors that the Chamber Theater opened for her.
Behind the stage light, Ramiza’s imaginative mind was allowed to flourish in designing and altering the costumes for the productions. At times, her responsibilities would even extend to watching over hair and make-up transformations as well. Ramiza’s work allowed her to forge close relationships with the famous actors/actresses to the point where she became the gatekeeper to eager journalists who sought celebrity interviews with them, attempting to gain access to all of the insider secrets. Some of the famous actors/actresses that Ramiza would regularly interact with include Dragan Bjelogrlic, Ljubisa Markovic, Jasna Diklić, Zoran Bećić, Riad Ljutović, Izudin Bajrović, and Boris Dvornik, all of whom held immense respect for her.
Among these accredited celebrities, Ramiza’s professional collaborations with Enis Beslagic and Mirvad Kurić remain her favorite to this day. Although, Ramiza proclaims that her son, Asim, was always more important to her than any of the actors. She calls him “her hero” for his heroic and courageous actions performed during the war that awarded him the Golden Lily military medal.
After the war ended, Ramiza was able to slowly start to piece her life back together. Her first move was to use her saved theater earnings to entirely reconstruct her destroyed Sarajevo apartment, without resorting to borrowing any financial loans. Ramiza emphasized that she was one of the fortunate ones to have a well paying job in post-war BiH, especially with the rampant inflation at the time that is still vividly marked in her memory. She recalls the usage of “bonovi” which were pieces of paper that were specially stamped and used as a form of currency during and after the war. However, the low value of bonovi combined with the high inflation caused buyers to resort to carrying around stacks of bonovi in order to purchase items on their shopping lists. This situation resulted in the value of cigarettes to grow as a key bartering item and a medium of exchange.
On December 22, 1997, Ramiza was able to fully retire from her military obligations and only focus on her work at the Chamber Theater. This new period of diplomatic peace allowed Ramiza to begin applying her creative expertise in the film and TV show industries. Some notable productions that she contributed to include “Viza za Budućnost,” “Crna Hronika,” and “Mliječni Put.”
Ramiza’s work at the Chamber theater also gave her the opportunity to travel to foreign countries like Spain, Albania, Germany, etc with the Chamber theater crew to put on theater and film productions.
Ramiza retired from her work at the Chamber theater in 2010, but she still holds strong affiliations with them today. After a fulfilling career in theater and film Ramiza’s parting message to the Bosnian youth community is to always cherish their nation and never forget their native origins.

created: September 4th, 2023

author: Džana Borović


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Bosnian National Theater Zenica | Balkan Diskurs
Elma Hasanspahić
September 7th, 2023
The Bosnian National Theater (BNP) in Zenica represents a unique architectural marvel of the former Yugoslavia. Beyond its role as a cultural institution, it has not only contributed to arts and culture but has also played an educational role in the lives of children and youth for over 73 years.
The expertise of its architects, Jahiel Finci and Zlatko Ugljen, gave rise to one of the finest examples of theater architecture in the former Yugoslavia – BNP Zenica. Finci was a regular professor at the University of Sarajevo Architecture Faculty and a member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), while Ugljen was a fellow member of this Academy, as well as a member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Their architectural creations are an indispensable part of Bosnian-Herzegovinian cities, embodying a synthesis of place, the spirit of the times, and exceptional creative prowess.
The BNP Zenica building received the prestigious annual award from the Yugoslav newspaper Borba for the greatest architectural achievement in BiH in 1979. Later, it was also awarded the annual distinction of finest architectural achievement in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, thereby crowning the work of the two architects, Finci and Ugljen.
Elvir Škiljo, the chief of marketing at BNP Zenica, explained that they relocated to the new building on May 7th, 1978. The first play performed at this venue was “Na Drini ćuprija” [“The Bridge on the Drina”]. A year after its founding in 1950, BNP Zenica established the Children’s, Youth, and Puppet Scene (DOLS) as an operational department of the theater, responsible for producing high-quality performances for young audiences.
“Children and youth are still being educated there today, often to become future actors and actresses, and getting acquainted with this form of art,” said Škiljo, noting that DOLS enrolls 50-100 students annually, from various age groups, ranging from six to 17 years old.
He emphasized that through DOLS, they are also cultivating future theater-going audiences.
“With the children, we stage professional performances. We have plays for children in which professional actors perform, but every year we have at least one play where children perfrom for children. This year, we staged just such a play called ‘Free the Artists,’ and that play has opened doors for us to reach a generation that rarely visits the theater,” said Škiljo.
In an effort to attract more young people to the theater, BNP Zenica has developed a marketing strategy, which includes high school visits, where actors engage in discussions with young people about their interests. They have also established strong partnerships with local primary schools, as well as with schools located as many as 50-kilometers outside Zenica.
“We have plays for children up to the sixth grade of primary school. Thanks to these partnerships, children are coming to the theater,” said Škiljo, adding that they have also collaborated with the University of Zenica.
Concerning the socialist era, he reflected that people had the false impression that tickets for cultural, sports, and other events were given away for free. However, the contracts that the Zenica BNP had with the former companies reveal that culture was valued then even more than it is today, with attendance arranged through labor unions, which purchased tickets for their members. “The tickets weren’t actually free,” Škiljo explained, adding that annual passes were cheaper because schools arranged plays for specific age groups.
According to Škiljo, this specific marketing approach, by which companies purchased annual tickets for their employees, disappeared with the advent of the current system. Labor unions no longer have the same influence, and there is no state policy in place to promote culture in this manner.
“The theater audience that experienced the transition from the socialist to capitalist system has completely changed. The Zenica theater adapted very quickly to the new market conditions, but what’s hindering our results in this regard are financial resources. For all these years, local and state authorities have not been participating in supporting culture in that way,” said Škiljo.
He believes that they have achieved commendable results, considering the annual number of theatrical performances and other events, such as acoustic concerts. The number of attendees varies depending on the play and the season.
BNP Zenica employs 68 staff members, with an acting ensemble of 20-25 actors, while the rest are engaged in various administrative roles. The acting ensemble includes actors with degrees from academies of performing and dramatic arts in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, and Mostar. It’s rare for actors from other cities to become part of the permanent ensemble, primarily due to the challenges of finding accommodation.
“As for the preparation of plays in general, once the script is selected, a director is chosen to work on the production. The director is responsible for assembling their creative team, starting with the actors, set designers, costume designers, and potentially the music director. Rehearsals typically begin with table readings for about five to six days, then move onto the stage, incorporating all the elements. The preparation of a play usually takes between 45 to 60 days,” explained Škiljo.
In addition to its regular play productions and performances, BNP Zenica also organizes the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama Festival and the National Drama Festival, as well as hosts the International Festival of Educational Theater (IFET) for children and youth. IFET originated from a dramatical showcase performed by primary and secondary school students and individuals with developmental disabilities. This year marks the 22nd Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama Festival and the 7th IFET.
BNP Zenica also organizes of the Night of Theater for Bosnia and Herzegovina event and is a partner of the 26th International “Zenica Spring”] event, participating in the performance of plays as well as providing space and overseeing much of the event’s execution.
For years, BNP Zenica has been struggling with the challenge of repairing the theater’s roof, primarily due to a lack of financial resources to complete the project. Škiljo mentioned that through advocacy and media outreach, they have managed to secure funding from the City of Zenica for roof repair, and the tendering process is currently underway.

created: September 7th, 2023