You are here: Bosnia and Herzegovina office
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (hereinafter the Initiative) is a regional network of non-governmental organizations with programs on the territories of Serbia, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Initiative was formed by young people from these countries in order to enhance youth participation in the democratization of the society and empowerment of the rule of law through the process of facing the past and establishing new, progressive connections in the post-conflict region of former Yugoslavia. The Initiative was formed in 2003, and more than 30 people work on various projects on a daily basis.
The work of the organization also includes several hundred activists. The mission of the Initiative is to protect the victims of human rights violations, establis new connections in the region among the post-war generations, as well as to include the young in the process of transitional justice, through promoting the truth about the wars in former Yugoslavia.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights promotes the truth, justice, responsibility and equality as the basic values. The Initiative has offices in Belgrade, Pristina, Podgorica, Zagreb and Sarajevo. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia has two programs: Transitional Justice and Human Rights, as well as the Training Center.
Development of regional cooperation resulted in establishment of the YIHR office In Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2007, in Sarajevo. Presence of the organisation in the entire region was achieved through formation of offices in other regional capitals: Prishtina, Podgorica and Zagreb. The organisational activities were completed by registration of Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: YIHR BIH) as independent non-government organisation in 2009.
Such status was a significant step towards strengthening of cooperation between YIHR BiH with all levels of power in BiH, business organisations, culture associations and other civil society organisations that are relevant to our activities. YIHR BiH plans to continue cooperation with other YIHR offices in the region, but also with other non-government organisations sharing the same vision and values in terms of protection of human rights and freedoms, transitional justice, fighting discrimination and segregation, and vision of BiH society in general.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights in BiH (YIHR BH) train young people to critically think of the society and to get actively engaged in changing it. YIHR BH builds new links amongst young people within Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in terms of inclusion of divided communities and encouragement of Europeanization of the Western Balkans through regional cooperation of young people from different countries of the former Yugoslavia. The organisation supports and encourages young people of BiH to promote social and political action related to issues relevant to young people. Such promotion includes advancement of the 1992-1995 BIH war remembrance culture, advocating for human rights protection, minority rights, and promotion of issues related to EU integration processes and democratisation of the Western Balkans region.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully participated in implementation of projects and international events: Regional Youth Conference (Belgrade, 2008), Belgrade Youth Summit (Belgrade, 2009), Civil Society Forum (Sarajevo, 2010), Days of Sarajevo in Belgrade (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
In addition we successfully organized number of workshops for activists aimed to capacity building, which resulted in increased number of trained activists in Sarajevo and the region. In this way we developed an activist network “Moja inicijativa” (My initiative) which currently includes about 50 active members. They carried out independent projects “Postcards for Belgrade” and “Ethnic segregation: Activism in my street”, Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje', and currently, the project developed at the national level and directed towards development of a National Activist Network is being realised, under slogan ‘Citizen, that’s me'.
The activists participated in series of workshops and seminars organised by other associations gathered around 'Youth in action', projects. This was opportunity to make relevant contacts that are one of the pillars and vital elements of our future success. Currently we are regularly communicating with individuals and organisation in all major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which certainly adds to more definite realisation of any future project on local level.
The activists of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights organised series of gatherings and events for young people of the region, either through common programmes of exchange, or through direct participation in cultural events (organisation of Docu-Corner on Sarajevo Film Festival, volunteering on the international theatre festival MESS). During the course of these activities round tables on issues relevant for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region were organised. The discussions were targeted to raising of awareness of young people and motivating them to take a proactive role in society. This contributed to visibility of YIHR operations in eyes of general public and recognition of relevancy of this organisation in the respective area of operation.
Our organisation is one of the leaders of the REKOM campaign, and proactively participates in Peace Building Network and BiH Justice Sector Civil Society Organisations Network. Our activists regularly take part in events related to human rights protection, transitional justice, discrimination issues and ethnic segregation. We continue with projects, broadening visions and acting towards capacity building that will make a permanent change in BiH society.
The Initiative was formed by young people from these countries in order to enhance youth participation in the democratization of the society and empowerment of the rule of law through the process of facing the past and establishing new, progressive connections in the post-conflict region of former Yugoslavia. The Initiative was formed in 2003, and more than 30 people work on various projects on a daily basis.
The work of the organization also includes several hundred activists. The mission of the Initiative is to protect the victims of human rights violations, establis new connections in the region among the post-war generations, as well as to include the young in the process of transitional justice, through promoting the truth about the wars in former Yugoslavia.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights promotes the truth, justice, responsibility and equality as the basic values. The Initiative has offices in Belgrade, Pristina, Podgorica, Zagreb and Sarajevo. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia has two programs: Transitional Justice and Human Rights, as well as the Training Center.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina(YIHR BH)
Development of regional cooperation resulted in establishment of the YIHR office In Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2007, in Sarajevo. Presence of the organisation in the entire region was achieved through formation of offices in other regional capitals: Prishtina, Podgorica and Zagreb. The organisational activities were completed by registration of Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: YIHR BIH) as independent non-government organisation in 2009.
Such status was a significant step towards strengthening of cooperation between YIHR BiH with all levels of power in BiH, business organisations, culture associations and other civil society organisations that are relevant to our activities. YIHR BiH plans to continue cooperation with other YIHR offices in the region, but also with other non-government organisations sharing the same vision and values in terms of protection of human rights and freedoms, transitional justice, fighting discrimination and segregation, and vision of BiH society in general.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights in BiH (YIHR BH) train young people to critically think of the society and to get actively engaged in changing it. YIHR BH builds new links amongst young people within Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in terms of inclusion of divided communities and encouragement of Europeanization of the Western Balkans through regional cooperation of young people from different countries of the former Yugoslavia. The organisation supports and encourages young people of BiH to promote social and political action related to issues relevant to young people. Such promotion includes advancement of the 1992-1995 BIH war remembrance culture, advocating for human rights protection, minority rights, and promotion of issues related to EU integration processes and democratisation of the Western Balkans region.
Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully participated in implementation of projects and international events: Regional Youth Conference (Belgrade, 2008), Belgrade Youth Summit (Belgrade, 2009), Civil Society Forum (Sarajevo, 2010), Days of Sarajevo in Belgrade (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
In addition we successfully organized number of workshops for activists aimed to capacity building, which resulted in increased number of trained activists in Sarajevo and the region. In this way we developed an activist network “Moja inicijativa” (My initiative) which currently includes about 50 active members. They carried out independent projects “Postcards for Belgrade” and “Ethnic segregation: Activism in my street”, Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje', and currently, the project developed at the national level and directed towards development of a National Activist Network is being realised, under slogan ‘Citizen, that’s me'.
The activists participated in series of workshops and seminars organised by other associations gathered around 'Youth in action', projects. This was opportunity to make relevant contacts that are one of the pillars and vital elements of our future success. Currently we are regularly communicating with individuals and organisation in all major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which certainly adds to more definite realisation of any future project on local level.
The activists of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights organised series of gatherings and events for young people of the region, either through common programmes of exchange, or through direct participation in cultural events (organisation of Docu-Corner on Sarajevo Film Festival, volunteering on the international theatre festival MESS). During the course of these activities round tables on issues relevant for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region were organised. The discussions were targeted to raising of awareness of young people and motivating them to take a proactive role in society. This contributed to visibility of YIHR operations in eyes of general public and recognition of relevancy of this organisation in the respective area of operation.
Our organisation is one of the leaders of the REKOM campaign, and proactively participates in Peace Building Network and BiH Justice Sector Civil Society Organisations Network. Our activists regularly take part in events related to human rights protection, transitional justice, discrimination issues and ethnic segregation. We continue with projects, broadening visions and acting towards capacity building that will make a permanent change in BiH society.