Author: Aleksandra Vrbica

BIRN Holds Conference on Future of Transitional Justice

Speakers in Sarajevo say vital opportunity to put subject back into public discourse created by EU accession talks must not be lost.

The future of transitional justice in Europe lies in putting victims and their needs in focus but also in strengthening the cooperation between key advocates who must use the EU accession talks of countries in the region to put transitional justice back into public discourse, a conference organised by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina BIRN BiH on November 15 heard.

During the conference on the future of transitional justice in Europe, which BIRN BiH organised in Sarajevo ahead of the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in Bosnia, participants discussed the problems facing all transitional justice actors in Bosnia but also in Ukraine, where war is still going on.

Yaroslav Simonov, of Ukraine’s embassy in Bosnia, said they had realized that transitional justice was a process coming after the war ends – but it was very important for its institutions to be formed already. For Ukraine, the experiences of Bosnia are important, and they should learn from them that this is a way to heal war traumas and create a healthy society, he said.

He added that Ukraine has already adopted some legal acts and initiatives, but more was needed for a comprehensive system of transitional justice, especially while war is still ongoing in the country.

Alena Lunova, of the Ukrainian ZMINA human rights centre, said they had begun to think about transitional justice already after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

For them, the biggest challenge is that a quarter of Ukraine is still occupied, as well as a public discussion on whether Ukraine really needs transitional justice or not.

“Justice comes in many forms but it must not be delayed. We hope that international experiences will help us,” Lunova added.

Dialogue with victims is essential

Bosnia’s experience in this field is one of those that has inspired Ukrainians to start dealing with transitional justice in the middle of the war – although the process of working on the Transitional Justice Strategy in Bosnia is still in its infancy, said Sanela Latic, of Bosnia’s Justice Ministry.

The process of drafting the Strategy was suspended in 2010 due to a blockade from Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity. The challenges ahead include establishing a working body with representatives of non-governmental and governmental sectors, launching a range of new activities and the risk of a new blockade.

“We emphasized that there will be as many dialogues, debates and talks as possible, in order to collect inputs from all relevant entities for designing the strategy,” Latic said, adding that the funds for relaunching the process would become operational in 2026.

Transitional justice expert Adrijana Hanusic Becirovic said Bosnia has seen many successes in the field but victims still face numerous difficulties. Conducting dialogue with victims and listening to their needs is a foundation for designing transitional justice policies, she said.

“For victims, justice is getting support of society, seeing that war criminals are not glorified, that judicially established facts are not denied and that places of mass suffering are marked,” Hanusic Becirovic explained.

Ukrainian experts said it was important to encourage cooperation with civil society organisations, as they were potential advocates of solutions that the authorities need to adopt. This is especially important when considering the situation of populations in the occupied territories.

Representatives of victims’ associations also referred to the processes of transitional justice in Bosnia, stating that trust and dialogue were crucial, but that political obstacles had to be removed and that, using the experience of Bosnia, Ukraine would have to overcome obstacles if it wanted to achieve reconciliation.

They reiterated that victims must be at the centre of that process and involved in creating solutions.

‘Dehumanization’ is becoming institutionalized

Sofija Todorovic, of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, said that dehumanization, along with denial of crimes, was one of the most dangerous processes, and was being institutionalized in Serbia at present.

War criminals and topics from the past were the basis of election campaigns and in that way, Serbian society was trained in one narrative, she noted.

Speaking about global trends in transitional justice, she stated that they did not work in favour of activists, which was why it was time for societies in the region to rely more on domestic forces. “We have to stop relying on the international community and rely on each other, learn to talk, to cooperate,” Todorovic added.

BIRN BiH director Denis Dzidic expressed concern that fighters for transitional justice had become tired, and there was an urgent need not to come to a point where the process is irretrievably lost.

He also believes that the moment when countries from the region are negotiating on EU accession is ideal for additional efforts to be made in this field.

“I don’t say it will be easy, that we will make up for the 30 years lost, but this is the moment to fight with what we have, to insist on some things and to use mechanisms,” Dzidic said, urging civil society also to use the momentum.

Agnes Picod, senior advisor for human rights at the United Nations in Bosnia, said that, in the global trends of the fight for transitional justice, she saw a big problem with disinformation but also in the fact that dialogue and engagement in that topic are neglected, especially by politicians.

“At the heart of the transitional justice process lie the perspectives of victims and survivors, and I think we need to start from that. I think there are very few politicians who listen to victims,” Picod added.

However, she pointed out that there is also hope and that numerous programmes, such as the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund, support certain segments of transitional justice; the fight for a broader human rights framework can ensure the creation of a society that wants to promote truth and justice.

The discussion was concluded by Todorovic and Dzidic, who stated that the transitional justice process must take into account all new factors, such as malign foreign influences, as well as the fact that as countries from the region negotiate on EU accession, it is an opportunity for transitional justice to become part of the public discourse again – but that this time it must not happen behind closed doors.

The conference was organised as part of the project “Strategic Review of Transitional Justice Process through the Media”, which is implemented with the support of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs of Belgium.

BIRN Grantee Dragana Prica Kovacevic Wins Serbian Equality Commissioner’s Annual Media Award

Dragana Prica Kovacevic, a reporter with Radio 021 and a grantee of BIRN’s Reporting Democracy, won a Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Annual Media Award, which recognises the best articles that contribute to the fight against discrimination and the promotion of equality and tolerance.

Serbia’s Commissioner for the Protection of Equality on November 15 presented the Annual Media Award in the category of online media to Dragana Prica Kovacevic for her article, “Silenced By Scarcity: How Poverty Excludes Serbian Women From Civil Society”.

Prica Kovacevic received second prize for her reporting on the “feminisation of poverty” – a growing trend of poverty she identified that disproportionately affects women, particularly single mothers, retirees and those living in rural areas.

The article was produced as a part of BIRN’s Reporting Democracy project granting scheme, aimed at supporting journalists by commissioning stories and providing grants for in-depth features and investigations.

Serbia’s Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Annual Media Award was established nine years ago and is traditionally presented to mark International Day of Tolerance, with the aim of recognising journalism that has contributed to the fight against discrimination, the promotion of equality and tolerance, and the suppression of prejudices and stereotypes towards minority, marginalised and vulnerable groups.

Call for Applications: BIRN Kosovo Training on Property Rights and Registration

BIRN Kosovo will organise seven one-day training sessions for journalists on property rights and administrative procedures for property registration as a part of the project “Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Kosovo (PIAKOS)”, financed by the World Bank/State and Peace Building Trust Fund.

The training sessions aim to develop the capacity of journalists and local media influencers, including editors and public relations officers on the new cadastre law, trade contracts of movable and immovable property, administrative procedures for property registration and how to report on these issues.

The training sessions delivered by legal experts and editors from BIRN Kosovo will take place in seven municipalities: Prishtina, Prizren, Peja, Gjakova, Gjilan, Mitrovica and Ferizaj

This activity is part of the Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Kosovo PIAKOS project, with BIRN acting as co-implementing party. The project is financed by the World Bank/State and Peace Building Trust Fund.

Deadline for applications: 30 November, 2024

Link to apply: https://shorturl.at/3JZlp

BIRN Kosovo Trains Women Prisoners on Property Rights, Financial Management, and Grant Applications

Four-day course aimed at helping women prisoners reintegrate back into Kosovo society after release.

BIRN Kosovo held a four-day training course from November 6 to 12, 2024, at the Correctional Center in Lipjan with women prisoners.

The course aimed at preparing these 13 female prisoners for reintegration into society,focused on property law, financial management, and grant applications.

Over the four days, they were introduced to key concepts related to property ownership, financial independence, and access to grants.

The training was designed to provide practical skills that would help the women rebuild their lives and their transition back into society after release.

The training was divided into two groups, with each group attending for two consecutive days.

It began with an overview of property law, led by Labinot Leposhtica, Legal Office Coordinator at BIRN Kosovo. He explained the importance of property ownership, methods of acquiring property and the legal processes involved in registering and protecting property rights. This session provided participants with a basic understanding of how property rights can affect their financial security and independence.

The next session, led by Kreshnik Gashi, Editor-in-Chief of KALLXO.com, focused on the legal and institutional frameworks that protect property rights. Gashi discussed the role of mechanisms such as the Free Legal Aid Agency in securing property rights and outlined the steps women can take if they encounter problems with property rights.

The second day focused on financial management and practical skills for self-reliance.

Albulena Sadiku, Senior Programs Manager at BIRN Kosovo, led a session on writing project proposals. She discussed how to structure proposals, define clear objectives and outline activities for successful project outcomes. Sadiku emphasized the importance of project management skills, covering essential steps for effective project implementation and monitoring.

Later, Visar Prebreza, Managing Editor of KALLXO.com, led a session on starting a business and applying for grants. He provided guidance on identifying grant opportunities, understanding eligibility requirements and overcoming the challenges of the grant application process.

The women were encouraged to actively participate by asking questions and sharing experiences. The interactive format allowed for a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical insights that they could immediately apply to their personal situations.

By equipping participants with essential skills in property law, financial management and grant writing, the program aimed to help the women regain control of their lives and achieve long-term stability.

The goal was to give the women the tools and confidence they need to live independently and successfully reintegrate into society. By the end of the course, participants said they had gained valuable knowledge and practical skills.

The training was organized as part of the PIAKOS – Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities in Kosovo – project with BIRN acting as co-implementing party. The project is financed by the World Bank/State and Peacebuilding fund.

Call for Journalists and Researchers on Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety in Albania

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Albania (BIRN Albania) in partnership with the Science for Innovation Development Centre, SCiDEV and Qendra Faktoje is announcing an open call for applications, offering grants to local journalists and researchers to produce research papers and in-depth analyses on media freedom and journalists’ safety in Albania.

BIRN is offering three grants for journalists and researchers to cover their expenses while conducting investigations and research on topics related to media freedom and journalists’ safety in Albania, as well as mentoring by experienced editors.

The call is part of the project “Strengthening Media Freedom, Professionalism and Journalists’ Safety in Albania”, funded by the European Union and implemented by BIRN Albania in partnership with SCiDEV and Qendra Faktoje.

The project aims through training and mentoring to build the capacities of local media and journalists to monitor Albania’s progress on media freedom and flag freedom of expression violations and other issues related to the overall safety of journalists.

The grants to local journalists and researchers to produce research papers or media analyses should prioritize one of the following topics:

  • Impact of media concentration and political interference on editorial independence;
  • Impact of social media and technology on professional journalism;
  • Threats and online harassment of journalists;
  • Protection mechanisms / impunity for attacks on journalists;
  • Challenges in reporting from local and rural areas;
  • Barriers to female journalists’ safety and advancement;
  • Ethical reporting on gender, minorities or marginalized communities;
  • Working conditions and labour rights of journalists and media workers in Albania;
  • Role of disinformation, propaganda or foreign information manipulations and interference (FIMI) in the information ecosystem.

Awarded journalists and researchers will receive a scholarship of 1,500 euros gross (minus personal income tax).

They will have three months to dig deeper and research their ideas. They will also work with experienced editors as mentors to guide them through the process of writing in accordance with BIRN standards.

We encourage the submission of proposals for the production of relevant journalistic content either by individuals or teams. We support various forms, including investigations, data-rich stories and research papers. The call only applies to journalists and researchers from Albania with previous experience on these topics.

All applicants must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities they undertake. Applicants may submit more than one application, but only one proposal per candidate may be awarded.

Interested candidates should send their proposals in Albanian language by email to: [email protected], including: completed application form (click here to download the form); a CV and two examples of their previous work.

Application Deadline: November 20, 2024.

Meet the People Behind BIRN: Vladimir Karaj

Vladimir Karaj has been an editor at BIRN Albania (Reporter.al) since June 2017. Before starting at BIRN, he worked since 2002 for various media outlets as a journalist and editor.

Vladimir also had a stint as the editor-in-chief of a small newspaper. He mainly writes reportages and in-depth stories, predominantly concerning crime and politics. Some stories have marked him, and there are some he sometimes wishes he hadn’t covered because of the scars they left. Despite that, he can’t imagine doing anything else with the same passion and persistence. Recently, he won an EU Award for Investigative Journalism (first prize).

Let’s meet him!

  1. Together with Anesti Barjamemaj, you won the EU Investigative Journalism Awards – first prize for your investigation into environmental crime at the Sharra landfill, exposing toxic waste discharges into the Erzen river. What was working on this investigation like and what were the main obstacles?

How did it all start? Hours of reading official documents, which are typically dull and, more often than not, hold little value for the public. This is a routine part of our work at BIRN. After requesting hundreds of inspection documents from regional offices of the National Environment Agency through FOI requests, we combed through them in search of stories. One of these documents contained details of an inspection conducted at the landfill – a controversial topic in Albania, investigated for years by the Special Prosecution Office. From here, Anesti and I spoke to connected individuals and tried to understand what happened after the inspection and the impact of pollution on the river. The main obstacles in such reporting were the lack of willingness by the authorities to engage or inform the public. For documents that by law should be provided within seven working days, we faced bureaucracy and months of delays.

  1. What does a working day at BIRN Albania look like?

Being part of a small editorial team with colleagues who share the same goals and values is deeply rewarding. We work closely together, fostering a sense of mutual support and shared purpose that is rare in larger newsrooms. The day is filled with discussions, phone calls and hours spent poring over documents and data, all while piecing together stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.

There’s a profound sense of purpose in being part of BIRN in Albania. We know that our work has a tangible impact, both in terms of public awareness and the respect we’ve earned among our readers. The stories we cover are meaningful and frequently provoke public reactions, which reminds us that journalism, even in a small team, can inspire change. It’s this impact, combined with the dedication of the team, that makes the long hours and meticulous work truly fulfilling.

  1. You mainly write reportages and in-depth stories, predominantly concerning crime and politics. Why do you prefer these topics?

It’s not so much a preference as a reality that crime and politics play significant roles in a country like Albania. Both have a deep and pervasive impact on nearly every sector of society, from education and healthcare to environmental issues. Even when you look outside these areas, you often uncover traces of abuse or political negligence because corruption and organised crime are embedded in the very structure of governance and business. This influence seeps into every corner of life, affecting public trust and shaping everyday experiences in ways that are sometimes subtle and other times strikingly overt.

Writing about sports, for example, can easily reveal connections to organised crime and political influence, with cases of match-fixing, money laundering, and favouritism reflecting a broader, ingrained culture of corruption. In countries with high levels of corruption, crime and politics are inescapable – not merely topics of interest but integral forces that shape the economy, social relationships, and the opportunities available to ordinary people. This reality compels journalists like me to focus on these areas, not only to expose the wrongdoings but to help the public understand how deeply rooted these forces are and to bring about some level of accountability.

  1. What would you change if you had a chance to start your career from scratch?

I decided to become a journalist at 17, inspired by a romanticized view of the travel writer, imagining myself uncovering hidden stories. At that age, I saw journalism as a path to adventure, a way to explore unknown places and ideas while sharing them with others. If I were starting over, I’d probably be more rational, choosing this career but with a better understanding of the hard realities it entails – the long hours, the bureaucratic roadblocks, the ethical dilemmas. But even with that more practical view, I don’t think I’d choose a different path.

Over the years, I’ve encountered many stories that, if I had the experience I do now, might have been published and even had an impact. At the beginning of my career, there were investigations that stalled because I wasn’t yet equipped to navigate certain challenges or push back against the roadblocks in my way.

  1. Was there any moment in your career when you thought you should change job to some ‘safer’ profession?

Of course, but not for something safer – I’ve never sought security. There’s a certain drive in journalism that pulls you in, despite the risks and uncertainties. However, there have been moments in my career when I questioned this path, especially after covering events that reveal the darkest sides of humanity. As journalists, we often witness tragedy firsthand and confront raw despair and suffering. These experiences stay with you long after the story is published, leaving an emotional impact that’s hard to shake. There are stories that have marked me, ones I sometimes wish I hadn’t covered because they left scars, moments that haunt you because of the pain and loss they bring into focus.

But despite the moments of doubt, I can’t imagine doing anything else with the same passion and persistence. Journalism has a purpose that’s hard to find elsewhere, and it’s that sense of purpose that keeps me going, even when the job takes an emotional toll.

  1. What would be your message to young aspiring investigative journalists in the Western Balkans region?

It’s hard to encourage someone to choose a job that demands sacrifice and often brings criticism rather than rewards. Journalism can be isolating and challenging, requiring resilience and courage. But the most inspiring message for young journalists comes from seeing impactful work done by those who’ve walked the same path. Knowing others have faced these challenges and still made a difference proves that this work, though difficult, is essential. The reward lies in knowing their efforts contribute to something bigger, inspiring others to keep telling stories that matter.

Open Call for Proposals for CSOs and Media: Society Against Corruption in Montenegro

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Civic Alliance (CA) announce a new opportunity for local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media outlets in Montenegro. Funded by the US State Department, the initiative seeks to combat corruption, a major impediment to establishing the rule of law in Montenegro.

Background:

Montenegro faces significant challenges related to corruption, impacting its economy and human rights. Despite the government prioritizing the fight against corruption, results are often inadequate, contributing to political instability and societal divisions. The project aims to bridge the gap between citizens, civil society and local media, empowering them to collaboratively identify, report and combat corruption, particularly in healthcare, education and the environment.

Objectives:

  • Strengthen capacities of local media, civil society and citizens to identify and report corruption in education sector.
  • Empower civil society and media to report and counter corruption at national and local levels.
  • Improve constructive engagement between civil society, government and private sector on policies related to education.

Outputs and Activities:

  • For Media Outlets: Cases of corruption in education sector throughout Montenegro identified and revealed though developing factual and objective in-depth articles on education based on the needs of local communities
  • For CSO’s: Improved anti-corruption policies, laws and/or practices in education through developing anti-corruption policy papers based on the needs of local communities
  • Increased public awareness in Montenegro regarding the significance of anti-corruption efforts and the mechanisms for public interaction through enforcing anti-corruption campaign via mainstream and social media

Eligibility and Grants:

  • Maximum grant amount: $12,430.00
  • Number of grants: 6
  • Total estimated amount: $74,580.00
  • No co-financing required from applicants.

Application Process:

  • Eligible entities: Registered CSOs and media outlets in Montenegro.
  • Eligible activities: Development of anti-corruption stories/policy papers, implementation of promotional campaigns, participation in capacity-building initiatives.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Relevance of proposed story/policy paper
  • Capacity
  • Financial proposal
  • Potential and social impact

Timeline:

  • Call issued: October 30, 2024
  • Deadline for submission: November 30, 2024
  • Information session: November 11, 2024 at 11:00 (CET) – attend HERE (Meeting ID: 880 6829 7577, Passcode: 082466)
  • Information session: November 22, 2024 at 11:00 (CET) – register HERE
  • Notification to successful applicants: December 2024

To read the full call to apply, click HERE.

For more details, download the application form and budget template.

Join the fight against corruption in Montenegro – Apply now!

Contacts: Vuk Maraš and Hatidža Gušić at [email protected]

Stay tuned for updates and follow our progress in creating a more transparent and accountable society in Montenegro on BIRN Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

BIRN Kosovo Holds Intensive Training for Journalists on Violent Extremism

Five-day training course (24-28 of October 2024) was organised into specific segments, allowing participants to better understand extremism within local, regional, and global contexts.

The training began at Civil Society House in Prishtina, where representatives of GCERF – Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund – and NGOs shared experiences in combating extremism and terrorism, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration in Kosovo.

Organisations including ATRC – Advocacy Training and Resource Centre – the youth organisation RinON, and BIRN Kosovo discussed their efforts to combat religious extremism and ethnonationalism. The second part of the day involved a meeting in Hani i Elezit with Mayor Mehmet Ballazhi, who praised the municipality’s approach towards rehabilitating returnees and engaging the community.

The head of the Referral Mechanism emphasized their active cooperation with civil society organisations and with BIRN Kosovo, particularly on skills like cybersecurity and privacy documentation.

The second day featured an address by Kreshnik Gashi from Kallxo.com, on ethical reporting on violent extremism and terrorism. Labinot Leposhtica, from BIRN Kosovo, presented studies on the causes of extremism and the reintegration of returnees, contrasting Albania’s targeted approach with that of Kosovo.

Lejdi Dervishi, Albania’s National Coordinator on Countering Extremism, discussed the importance of regional cooperation in rehabilitation efforts. Iris Luarasi from the Counseling Line for Women and Girls emphasized advocacy and strategic communication to combat the stigma faced by returnees, highlighting issues surrounding identity exposure in media coverage.

The day concluded with a documentary screening by BIRN, Extremism and Radicalism, which explored various perspectives on the motivations behind joining foreign conflicts.

On the third day of training, Kreshnik Gashi gave a presentation on right-wing extremist groups in the Balkans, followed by Mensur Hoti’s overview of Kosovo’s anti-terrorism strategy, encompassing prevention, protection, pursuit, and response.

Fatos Makolli discussed the current terrorism situation in Kosovo, while Luan Keka led a session on the rise of religious extremism in Europe and its impact in Kosovo. The day concluded with a panel on the reintegration of individuals returning from war zones and a documentary, The Danger from Extremism, highlighting updated perspectives on extremism and terrorism cases.

The fourth day was focused on building communication between security institutions and journalists in crisis situations and lessons learned from the case of Kosovo and building educational media campaigns to educate the public on the prevention of violent extremism, including the importance of building editorial policies to stop the spread of extremist ideologies in the media and social networks.

An important aspect of the day was the protection of privacy and confidentiality of persons involved in the resocialization process and concrete policies, especially for children and women.

On the final day, participants conducted a study visit to the Correctional facility of Dubrava in Istog, Kosovo, and by visiting this correctional centre, gained a more practical perspective on how those sentenced by courts for terrorism are doing their sentences.

The study visit was led by the director of this centre, which is one of the largest prisons in Kosovo, with a capacity for around 1,000 people.

He welcomed the group and explained in detail the process inside this facility, which includes educational and recreative programmes and monitoring of their actions by psychologists and other staff members of the centre.

The training included 20 participants, 10 of whom were women. The participants actively engaged in the training, sharing experiences and asking questions on how to effectively deal with terrorism and violent extremism.

The training was part of the “Resilient Community Programme” funded by GCERF.

BIRN Investigation Wins Second Prize in Regional EU Award for Best Investigative Journalism 2024

Jury praises Sasa Dragojlo’s investigation into people-smuggling gangs in northern Serbia for shining a spotlight on a previously unreported story of great regional and European significance.

A BIRN investigation into armed people-smugglers in northern Serbia along the “Balkan refugee route” won second prize in the Regional EU Award for Investigative Journalism 2024.

Sasa Dragojlo from Balkan Insight received the award for his investigation, “Albanian-Supplied AKs Fuel Violence on Refugee Route Through Serbia”, at the awards ceremony in Ankara on October 25.

The story probes the role of North African gangs in the traffic and the implications for security across Europe.

“I am really happy about the award because it gives new life to the story. In the poor state of journalism, not just in Serbia but globally, the awards are a sign that our work still matters,” he told BIRN.

“The story I did about the war of people-smuggling gangs in the north of Serbia that took so many lives is one of the most complex stories I ever did and crowns three years of investigative work into this type of underworld,” Dragojlo added.

“Over more than six months of collecting evidence, we could describe not only who the gangs were and how they operate – who their leaders were – but also the local Kosovo Albanian mafia that supplied them with weapons as well as the corruption of Serbian police.

“We had so much evidence that we could name the people responsible, practically making a case for the prosecution. The work on this story was so challenging that I think it changed me not just as a journalist but also as a person – for the better, I think,” Dragojlo continued.

The jury classified BIRN’s article as one of the most methodologically complex examples of investigative journalism in the region, taking into account the amount and variety of evidence collected about armed criminal gangs of foreign origin, as well as the Albanian mafia identified as their main arms suppliers.

The jury concluded that a previously unreported story had put a spotlight on an underworld unknown not just to the wider public but also to the expert community.

Conflicts between smuggling gangs in the north of Serbia have claimed a large number of lives, causing unrest among ordinary refugees but also among the local population.

The jury said the investigation has strong regional importance, since it covers the regional issue of migration, the infamous “Balkan route,” and transnational organised crime from several countries, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania, as well as the phenomenon of migrant smuggling gangs of Morrocan and Afghan origin.

According to them it illustrates a broader picture of one of the biggest current structural problems the European continent faces.

Ksenija Pavkov from N1 from Serbia won first prize for her investigation, “Under the Surface: In the Net,” which exposes the hidden layers of criminal networks, revealing collaborations between crime syndicates and corrupt officials.

Vanja Stokic and Ajdin Kamber from e-Trafika from Bosnia and Herzegovina won third prize for their documentary film “Brother,” which chronicles the struggles faced by migrants, weaving a poignant tale of loss and displacement.

The film covers 18 locations across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia revealing more than 50 graves of unidentified refugees and migrants, many of which lack markings. The documentary has received over 30 awards, and an article that was included in the preliminary shortlist for the 2024 European Press Prize.

Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, handed the awarded journalists their certificates, congratulating them and highlighting the importance of investigative journalism.

The jury consisted of Dunja Mijatovic, Drago Hedl, and Can Ertuna.

Mijatovic is a former Commissioner for Human Rights (2018-2024) with previous experience as the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media. Hedl is a seasoned journalist and author who has worked for Radio Free Europe, The Guardian, Time Magazine, and others. Ertuna is an assistant professor at Turkey’s Bahçeşehir University with more than 25 years’ experience, focused on reporting on conflicts and refugee crises for both Turkish and international outlets.

BIRN Webinar: Main Findings of the Global Index on Responsible AI in Southeastern Europe

Join us for an insight-filled webinar on November 12 at 3pm (CET) to hear BIRN researchers discuss the main findings from the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI), with a specific focus on southeast Europe.

The event will provide a comprehensive overview of the region’s progress, challenges and best practices in responsible AI, drawing from the Global Index on Responsible AI’s 2024 report.

Sign up here to attend the webinar.

Date: November 12, 2024
Time: 3pm (CET)

Agenda Highlights:

Introduction to the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI) – Nicolas Grossman, Globar Center on AI Governance

This segment will introduce GIRAI’s methodology, including the framework, key indicators and benchmarks that measure responsible AI on social, technical and political fronts. Learn how GIRAI tracks and evaluates governmental commitments to ethical AI practices.

Key Findings for Southeast Europe – BIRN Researchers

Explore GIRAI 2024’s critical insights on responsible AI governance in southeast Europe, covering EU countries and the Western Balkans. The presentation will include:

  • Regional analysis of advancements and ongoing challenges.
  • Case studies and success stories from selected countries.
  • Lessons learned in the data collection process and the first edition of the global index.
  • Best practices to foster responsible AI development.

Q&A Session

An open-floor discussion where attendees can pose questions to the panel, deepening their understanding of GIRAI’s findings and their implications for southeast Europe.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts on responsible AI governance and learn about key trends shaping AI policy in southeast Europe. Applications are open until November 12, 10am (CET).