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BIRN Report: Freedom of Information in Balkans Still Hampered by Delays and Weak Enforcement

New report says legal guarantees on access to information across region are strong on paper, but journalists still face administrative silence, delays, weak enforcement and inconsistent institutional practice.

Launched on Tuesday, the report, Freedom of Information in the Western Balkans: 2025 Annual Report, is based on BIRN journalists’ work during 2025 and provides a regional analysis of FOI practices across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

The report is BIRN’s seventh annual assessment of access to information practices in the region. It examines the regulatory environment, legislative developments and the practical implementation of FOI laws, drawing on 1,740 freedom of information requests submitted by BIRN journalists in 2025.

While the report notes that the right to information remains constitutionally and legally guaranteed across the region, it warns that legal standards are still not consistently translated into practice.

BIRN’s data shows that 58.22 per cent of FOI requests received full approval in 2025, marking an improvement compared to previous years. However, 28.16 per cent of requests received no response at all, showing that administrative silence remains one of the most persistent barriers to transparency.

The report also identifies a continued enforcement gap. BIRN filed 201 complaints to FOI oversight bodies in 2025, but 58.21 per cent of them remained unresolved by the end of the year. Even where oversight bodies ruled in favour of disclosure, institutions failed to provide the requested information in 76.62 per cent of cases.

Judicial remedies also remained limited and slow. Only 3.2 per cent of FOI cases resulted in court proceedings, while very few were finalised during the year, reducing the value of information that often loses relevance when it arrives too late.

The report highlights that access to information remains essential for investigative journalism, particularly in areas of high public interest such as public procurement, public spending, environmental risks, surveillance technologies, strategic investments and institutional accountability.

However, BIRN journalists across the region reported that they continue to face delays, broad use of exemptions, procedural obstacles and inconsistent institutional responses. In some cases, public institutions relied on administrative silence, personal data protection, confidentiality, commercial secrecy or ongoing proceedings to withhold information.

The findings show that access to information often depends less on legal guarantees and more on persistence, legal knowledge, institutional willingness and newsroom capacity.

Recommendations

The report called on governments and public institutions to improve transparency by:

Applying sanctions against institutions that systematically delay or obstruct access;
Shorter deadlines for information that already exists in documented form;
Greater proactive transparency, including publication of budgets, contracts, procurement data;
Improved digitalisation and electronic access systems;
Stronger independence and capacity for FOI oversight bodies;
Clearer limits on legal exemptions to FOI (e.g. personal data protection, commercial secrecy etc.) and clearer proportionality tests to ensure the public interest prevails.

Independent FOI oversight bodies were urged to strengthen enforcement, prioritise cases of public interest, improve monitoring of institutional compliance and make better use of sanctioning mechanisms.

The report also recommended that journalists and media organisations continue documenting obstruction, use appeal mechanisms strategically and invest in legal knowledge and newsroom capacity to defend the right to access public information.

The findings were presented during the online launch event “Transparency in Focus: Freedom of Information in the Western Balkans 2025”, which gathered journalists, institutional representatives and FoI experts from across the region. The event opened with introductory remarks by Gentiana Murati, followed by a presentation of key findings by Megi Reçi, Research Lead and Author at BIRN Hub.

The launch featured two panel discussions:

– A discussion on the gap between law and practice, with journalists and institutional representatives from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro;
– A discussion on appeals, enforcement and the public interest, focusing on cases where information arrives too late to be useful.

Panelists included BIRN journalists Arbrita Uka, Jovana Damjanović, Vladimir Karaj, Goce Trpkovski and Nermina Kuloglija, as well as institutional representatives Biljana Božić, Krenare Sogojeva Dërmaku, Slavoljupka Pavlović and Petar Gajdov. The panels were moderated by Xhorxhina Bami and Gordana Andric.

Despite some improvements, the report concludes that sustained pressure from journalists, civil society and independent institutions remains crucial to ensure that freedom of information becomes an effective right in practice, rather than only a formal legal guarantee.

The event was organised as part of the Austrian Development Agency-funded project “Paper Trail to Better Governance IV.”

You can read the full report here.

Meet the People Behind BIRN: Irvin Pekmez

Irvin Pekmez joined BIRN BiH (Detektor.ba) in 2020. Almost six years later, he says, BIRN is ’bigger – and expectations of the editorial team and of me have naturally evolved’.

Irvin Pekmez studied journalism at the University of Sarajevo. During that time, he had his journalistic heroes and other role models from the culture of public debate and “wanted to be like them when I grew up”.

“I don’t know how far I got with that,” he jokes modestly, although he has, in fact, been awarded for his work.

He first heard about BIRN in his previous work for other media outlets.

“We relied on the work of the [BIRN] Sarajevo office for specific topics, especially those related to war crimes and trials. Of course, I later learned that BIRN is much more than that,” he explains.

His main focus now at BIRN, in addition to social problems, is foreign influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “The relentless abuse of the BiH system and all the systemic loopholes, along with unfulfilled agendas from the 1990s, require tireless observation and reporting to the public about the fact that the fight for this society is not over.” Irvin says.

There are several obstacles to investigative journalists’ work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he notes.

“One of the biggest burdens is the lack of interest among young journalists to engage in this type of journalism. Pressure on a bad system requires, among other things, people who will apply that pressure. If there were more of us, it would be easier,” he says.

Of all his investigations, he is most proud of some. One is “Black-Clad ‘Humanitarians’ Promote Pro-Russian Agenda in Bosnia”, which was his first significant story published in BIRN.

“The Hostomel Filmmaker: Hunt for war criminals with the help of surveillance cameras” was one of many stories he got from a Kyiv visit in 2023. “A profound and deep human experience that I will never forget and that impacted me for life,” Irvin recalls.

Speaking of Ukraine, Pekmez worked on another investigation, which he came across totally unintentionally.

“From Bosnia to Ukraine: How a Serb Sportsman Became a Russian Fighter” is an example of “how a significant and influential story can be born from a random scroll through clips from Ukraine”, he adds.

“I don’t think there will be a repeat of the story about which I did two investigations with my colleagues,” he recalls, of “Disruptors: Inside Russia’s Balkan Training Camps for Moldovan ‘Destabilisation’”, and “Military Drones, Incendiary Devices: How Russian Trainers Taught Subversion at Balkan Camps” and other significant analyses and news, which eventually received a journalistic award.

“Because the authorities in Republika Srpska, despite all Detektor‘s evidence, continue to deny everything – there is a strange satisfaction in that,” Pekmez stresses.

Recently, with Detektor colleagues Enes Hodzic and Nino Bilajac, and the media outlet CU SENS, he won second place at the Superscrieri journalism awards in Romania in the TV and Video Journalism category.

Together with the organisation FactCheck from Bulgaria, they showed how people from Moldova were being trained in Russia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to use weapons and drones carrying explosive devices for use in potential mass unrest in Moldova. This is a story that had been going on for two years. Irvin is glad they did not give up.

“It took a lot of time, building a network of trust with important people and a network of cooperation with journalists from Serbia and Moldova,” he recalls.

“The security aspect of this story is what, among other problems, moves the journalistic interest the most: the possibility that someone close to you is being trained for violent illegal tasks, and that the police who are in charge of your security belong to a system that denies all of this.

“The essence of danger and proof of how a state can, in peacetime, support a foreign paramilitary factor without having to explain itself,” Irvin explains.

Outside BIRN, Irvin likes to run in his spare time.

For young people who want to work as investigative journalists in the region, he has an encouraging message – it’s more fun than you think.

“Do you want to use your skills and curiosity to fight the system that is rigged against you? Then join us, we are fun and have snacks,” he concludes.

BIRN Kosovo Launches Report on Countering Extremism and Terrorism in Kosovo

On June 30, 2026, BIRN Kosovo launched its fifth and concluding monitoring report on the National Strategy for the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism (2023–2028) titled Institutional Challenges and Progress in Prevention of Terrorism in Kosovo.

The report identifies a growing gap between central strategic planning and practical implementation at the local level. Additionally, the report highlights the lack of local empirical research on radicalization, institutional failure in formalizing Multidisciplinary Referral Mechanisms across municipalities, a critical shortage of school psychologists due to municipal recruitment delays, and the formal functioning of Municipal Community Safety Councils (MSCS), especially in northern municipalities where such mechanisms are non-functional and no concrete steps have been taken to address ethno-nationalism and other forms of extremism highlighted in the four previous reports.

To mark the report launch, BIRN Kosovo organized a conference to present its main findings and bring together partners, representatives of relevant institutions, and civil society. During the conference, Mensur Hoti, director of the Department for Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, Kreshnik Gashi, editor-in-chief of KALLXO.com, and Labinot Leposhtica, team leader of the monitoring team, emphasized the importance of concrete steps and measures to address the current situation with extremism and terrorism in Kosovo.

More concretely, Mensur Hoti highlighted the importance of the National Strategy and the cooperation with various civil society organizations during the implementation phase of the GCERF-funded projects in Kosovo. This cooperation was aimed at since the initial phases of drafting the strategy to ensure, among other things, an independent evaluation by civil society of the institutional work and results achieved. Regarding BIRN’s published reports, Hoti stated that the findings and recommendations offer a crucial mechanism for long-term institutional improvement and future policy steps in Kosovo. By establishing a vital, independent external evaluation, the report ultimately counters institutional subjectivity and self-complacency, ensuring that performance is no longer judged solely by the institutions themselves.

The authors of the report, Kreshnik Gashi and Labinot Leposhtica, presented the report’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations, highlighted the importance of involving civil society organizations in countering various forms of extremism, and argued for the need for Kosovo institutions. Moreover, this is the fifth report published on the implementation of the “Prevention” objective for the period July 2023 – May 2026, comparing the strategic obligations with the actual actions taken by the relevant institutions.

Additionally, as a contribution to the field in Kosovo, BIRN Kosovo has launched an educational platform designed primarily for journalists, offering accessible training at no cost. This platform includes three training modules specifically tailored to equip journalists with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex issues related to extremism and terrorism. By enhancing their understanding of these critical themes, journalists will be better prepared to report responsibly and effectively on these sensitive topics, ultimately contributing to more informed public discourse and awareness.

Present at the launch conference were 23 participants, of whom 12 were women.

The report is accessible in three languages:

The report in Albanian, click here.

The report in Serbian, click here.

The report in English, click here.

The educational platform is accessible here.

This activity falls under the ‘Resilient and Inclusive Community Program’ project, funded by GCERF and implemented by the organizations ATRC, BIRN, CBM, and Rin’on.

BIRN Kosovo Launches Report on Barriers to Equality in Property Rights

Report looks at factors preventing women, non-majority communities and others from exercising their property rights equally to others.

On June 24, BIRN Kosovo launched the research report “Barriers to Equal Participation in the Property Rights Governance System in Kosovo” during a conference organised in cooperation with the Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC), with support from the World Bank’s State and Peacebuilding Fund (SPF).

The report examines the structural, legal and administrative obstacles that prevent citizens from exercising their property rights equally, with a focus on women, non-majority communities and other citizens affected by unresolved inheritance procedures and informal construction.

Opening the conference, ATRC Executive Director Kushtrim Kaloshi said that while Kosovo has a legal framework for the protection of property rights, implementation remains the key challenge.

Dhurata Gutaj, Chief-of-Staff at the Ministry of Justice, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to legal reforms, including the adoption of the Civil Code, which is expected to further clarify and consolidate legislation on property and inheritance rights.

The report’s main findings were presented by PIAKOS Programme Manager, Odeta Naks, who said Kosovo’s property crisis largely stems from delayed inheritance procedures, properties remaining registered in the names of deceased owners, the exclusion of women from ownership despite legal guarantees, documentation barriers affecting non-majority communities, and the widespread informality resulting from unlegalized construction.

The research found that nearly 30 per cent of registered property owners in Kosovo have died without inheritance procedures being initiated, leaving around 200,000 properties effectively frozen outside the formal market. At the same time, women own only 21 per cent of registered properties, while more than 350,000 buildings across the country remain unlegalized.

The report also points to a significant burden on Kosovo’s justice system. As of January 1, 2026, courts were handling 35,496 unresolved property disputes, while the Special Chamber of the Supreme Court would require at least another 15 years to resolve its current caseload if the pace of adjudication remains unchanged.

Digital interoperability between institutions was identified as one of the key reforms necessary to address these challenges. Report co-author and digitalization expert Marko Arula explained Estonia’s transition from paper-based administration to a fully digital governance model, emphasizing the role of electronic registries, digital identity systems and secure data exchange between institutions.

Representatives of public institutions, the judiciary, international organisations, local government and civil society attending the event discussed the report’s findings through two expert panels aimed at promoting a more inclusive and efficient property rights system in Kosovo. There were 54 participants in total.

The first discussion panel, moderated by BIRN Kosovo Director Jeta Xharra, focused on inheritance procedures, legalization of informal construction and institutional coordination in the property sector.

Panelists featured Hajzer Bublaku, Legal Specialist at the Kosovo Cadastral Agency, Violeta Demaj, Senior Political Adviser at the European Union Office in Kosovo, Arlinda Alshiqi, Senior Legal Officer at the Ministry of Justice, Ermir Ahmetaj, Judge at the Basic Court in Prishtina, and Rame Hamzaj, Head of the Housing Division at the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure.

The discussion focused on progress and remaining challenges in Kosovo’s property sector, including the increase in property registration by women following recent legal reforms. Panelists also discussed unresolved cadastral issues, delays in property-related court proceedings, and the need for stronger digital interoperability between institutions.

The second panel, moderated by Kreshnik Gashi, Editor-in-Chief of KALLXO.com and co-author of the research report, featured Burim Tahiri, Director of the Department for Legal Affairs and Research at the Ombudsperson Institution, Adrijana Hoxhić, Deputy Mayor of North Mitrovica Municipality, Arbena Shehu, notary, and Bekim Sejdiu, Professor of International Law at the University of Prishtina.

The discussion focused on the systematic discrimination faced by women and non-majority communities in exercising property rights, challenges related to property registration and legalization, the functioning of institutional mechanisms, and the impact of judicial delays on the realization of property rights.

This report was produced by BIRN Kosovo) for the Public Information and Awareness Services for Vulnerable Communities (PIAKOS) project, financed by the World Bank-State for Peace Building Multi-Donor Trust fund, and implemented by the Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC).

BIRN Kosovo Concludes Town Hall Debates on Missing Persons With Documentary Screening

Closing event attended by Kosovo’s Acting President – who said end of project was not end of search for truth about missing from Kosovo war.

On June 25, BIRN Kosovo concluded its documentary series on missing persons from the war and the lasting trauma this has created in Kosovo society in front of an audience at Reporting House in Prishtina.

The documentary presents the stories of persons who disappeared during the war in Kosovo and the pain endured by families who, for more than two decades, continue to live with uncertainty, waiting and the absence of their loved ones.

Through personal testimonies and moving accounts, the film revisits the memories of those who continue to seek truth and justice for family members who remain missing.

More than two decades after the end of the war, the fate of around 170 people from Prishtina, Fushe Kosova, Obiliq, Lipjan and Gračanica remains unresolved. Behind every case are families who continue to live with the pain of loss and the hope of one day learning the truth about their loved ones.

This closing event was attended by Acting President of Kosovo Albulena Haxhiu, who said the conclusion of this project does not mark the end of the stories or of the families’ search for the truth about the fate of their loved ones who disappeared during the war.

According to Haxhiu, the documentaries and public discussions organised as part of the project “Unveiling the Truth: Combating Monoethnic Journalism and Advocating for Missing Persons in Kosovo” have helped bring renewed attention to the pain and uncertainty endured by families.

“For the families of forcibly disappeared persons, there is only one demand: to know where their loved ones are,” Haxhiu said. She added that while missing persons are often reduced to statistics, documentaries such as Unfolding the Truth restore the human stories behind the numbers.

Acting Deputy Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo Eva Palatova told the audience that while the event marked the conclusion of a project, it did not signify the end of the shared commitment to truth, justice and reconciliation.

She said the documentary and the discussions surrounding it serve as an important reminder that the search for truth and justice must continue.

“Remembering the missing and standing alongside their families is not only an act of solidarity, but also a responsibility. In the European Union, we care about the past, transitional justice and reconciliation,” Palatova said.

Palatova added that the EU has long supported transitional justice and reconciliation processes across the Western Balkans, including in Kosovo, stressing that such processes must be inclusive, locally led and grounded in international law.

Following the screening, a panel discussion brought together representatives of institutions and organisations working on issues related to missing persons and transitional justice.

Participants discussed the challenges to efforts to uncover the fate of missing persons, as well as the importance of institutional cooperation, accountability and preserving public memory.

The panel, moderated by journalist and BIRN executive director Jeta Xharra, featured Ilir Morina from the Special Prosecution Office, Kushtrim Gara from the Government Commission on Missing Persons, Ditor Haliti from the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Aleksandar Rapajić from the Advocacy Center for Democracy and Culture (ACDC), and Kreshnik Gashi from KALLXO.com.

The discussion focused on the challenges in uncovering the fate of missing persons, the importance of inter-institutional cooperation, the role of forensic investigations and prosecutions, and the need to preserve public attention on one of the most painful unresolved consequences of the Kosovo war.

The screening and discussion were attended by family members of missing persons, representatives of institutions, civil society organisations, international partners, diplomats, journalists and citizens, highlighting the continued public and institutional interest in resolving the fate of those who remain missing more than two decades after the war. Of the 49 participants, 26 were women.

This event was organised in the framework of “Unveiling the Truth: Combating Monoethnic Journalism and Advocating for Missing Persons in Kosovo”, a project funded by the European Union.

BIRN Albania Holds Training on Ethical AI and Digital Resilience

Training focused on navigating the challenges that AI and emerging technologies present to media and civil society.

BIRN Albania organised a two-day training in Tirana on June 22–23, bringing together around 20 journalists, editors, media professionals and civil society representatives to discuss the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence, data protection and emerging technologies present for public-interest work.

The training, organised within the framework of the MATRA-supported project “Enhancing Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Resilience in Albania’s ICT Transformation”, aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of how technological developments are reshaping journalism, media and civil society.

The programme was led by Aleksandar Manasiev of NarrativAI and Silva Arapi, an expert on personal data protection and digital rights.

Manasiev explored the growing role of artificial intelligence, AI, in media and information ecosystems, focusing on both the opportunities and risks associated with AI tools.

Participants discussed the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence in journalistic work, emerging regulatory developments, newsroom policies, and practical approaches for integrating AI while maintaining editorial standards and public trust.

Arapi focused on personal data protection, digital rights and organisational resilience. Through practical examples and case studies, participants examined challenges related to privacy, cybersecurity, data governance and the responsibilities of media organisations and civil society actors when handling personal and sensitive information.

The discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional preparedness in response to rapid technological change. Participants exchanged experiences on the practical challenges their organisations faced, including the use of AI tools, data protection compliance, digital security risks and the development of internal policies and procedures.

As a follow-up to the training, BIRN Albania will offer a limited package of technical assistance and mentoring support for media and civil society organisations interested in strengthening their internal capacities, policies and practices related to artificial intelligence, personal data protection, digital security and organisational resilience.

The activity forms part of BIRN Albania’s broader efforts to support independent media and civil society in navigating technological transformation while safeguarding transparency, accountability and public-interest values in the digital age.

BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2026: Don’t Just Report the News – Investigate It!

Fast stories fade. The important ones need digging.
Applications are now open for the BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2026. This is a space for journalists who want to move beyond daily reporting and focus on real investigative work.

This is not about producing more content. It is about learning how to ask sharper questions, follow stronger leads and turn ideas into investigations that matter.

The Programme

From August 17 to 23, 2026 in Ohrid, North Macedonia, participants will join an intensive, hands-on investigative programme focused on cross-border reporting, open-source investigations and data-driven storytelling.

This year’s focus is on how investigative journalism is evolving in a complex information environment, combining traditional reporting with digital verification, OSINT tools and structured data work.

Alongside the main investigative sessions, participants will take part in practical workshops on verification, digital security and visual investigations. These are designed to strengthen both technical skills and editorial judgment.

Who This Is For

We are looking for journalists from the Western Balkans and across southeast Europe who want to move from reporting events to uncovering systems, patterns and accountability.

We especially encourage applications from early and mid-career journalists, particularly those working in difficult or under-resourced media environments where investigative reporting is both challenging and essential.

BIRN is providing up to 30 full scholarships for selected participants from the Western Balkans and across southeast Europe.

Self-funded participation is also welcome.

Mentorship and Editorial Support

This is a working environment, not a lecture series.

Participants will develop their own investigative ideas from the very beginning and receive continuous editorial feedback from experienced international journalists and trainers. The focus is practical and hands-on throughout the week.

Mentorship includes guidance on sourcing, verification, story development, structure and investigative methods, with close support as each project develops.

Trainers

This year’s programme includes Blake Morrison from Reuters, who leads complex cross-border investigations, Jonathan Soma from Columbia University, who specialises in making data clear and usable in storytelling, Sharbil Nammour, a media safety expert focused on secure reporting in challenging environments, and Reade Levinson from Reuters Visual Investigations, known for uncovering stories through open-source and visual evidence.

More trainers will be announced as the programme develops.

Why It Matters

Investigative journalism takes time, patience and space to think. That space is becoming harder to find. This programme is built to give it back.

Join Us

If you have a story idea that has stayed with you, one that deserves more than a headline, this is the place to take it further.

Prepare your pitch, apply and join us in Ohrid.

Applications are now open.

Apply here: Application Form for BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting 2026 | ECR Platform.

The deadline to submit your application is July 10, 2026. Take the next step towards developing your investigative story with leading journalists and trainers from the region and beyond.

BIRN Kosovo Hosts Regional Roundtable on Digital Violence Against Women

On June 15, 2026, BIRN Kosovo organised the Regional Roundtable on Digital Violence Against Women: Strengthening Media, Civil Society, and Institutional Responses, which brought together journalists, researchers, legal experts, civil society representatives and other Kosovo and Albania stakeholders.

The online event focused on the growing challenge of technology-facilitated violence against women (TFVAW) and explored ways to strengthen regional responses through improved media reporting, legal protections and cross-sector cooperation.

Opening the roundtable, Arita Suhodolli, Program Manager at BIRN Kosovo, presented the objectives of the project and highlighted the increasing prevalence of digital violence against women and girls, emphasising the need for coordinated action by media, institutions and civil society actors.

Flaka Isufi, Researcher and Monitor at BIRN Hub, presented the first session on the monitoring of digital violence against women, featuring cases and media reporting practices The presentation highlighted various forms of online gender-based violence, including online harassment and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content, while also examining how media outlets report on such cases. The findings identified both positive reporting practices and challenges related to victim protection, privacy and adherence to ethical standards.

Labinot Leposhtica, Legal Office Coordinator at BIRN Kosovo, led the second session, which focused on the legal and regulatory framework governing media reporting on violence against women. Participants discussed relevant legislation, ethical obligations and institutional responsibilities, while also addressing gaps in implementation and the need for greater compliance with professional standards to ensure responsible and victim-sensitive reporting.

During the third session, Visar Prebreza, Managing Editor at BIRN Kosovo, examined the role of disinformation in media reporting on violence against women cases. The discussion focused on how inaccurate or sensationalised reporting can influence public perceptions, contribute to victim-blaming narratives, and undermine trust in justice processes. Participants emphasised the importance of fact-based reporting and responsible editorial practices when covering cases of gender-based violence.

The final thematic session featured a case study presented by Xhorxhina Bami, journalist at Balkan Insight, on the AlbKings network and TikTok-facilitated online abuse. The presentation explored the ways online platforms can be used to target and exploit women and girls, the mechanisms through which harmful content spreads, and the challenges journalists face when investigating and reporting on online abuse networks.

The event concluded with an open discussion, during which participants exchanged experiences and perspectives on regional trends, challenges and opportunities for cooperation. Discussions underscored the importance of responsible journalism, effective legal safeguards and coordinated institutional responses to address digital violence against women.

A total of 21 participants attended the online roundtable, including journalists, civil society activists and researchers from Kosovo and Albania. Of the participants, 17 were women.

The roundtable contributed to raising awareness of technology-facilitated violence against women and fostering dialogue among key stakeholders on strengthening prevention, improving media reporting practices, enhancing accountability and supporting survivors of digital violence. It also encouraged greater regional cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by online gender-based violence.

This activity is organised by BIRN in the framework of the regional programme “EU 4 Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence against Women,” funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNDP.

The views and opinions expressed in this press release are those of the organizers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of UN Women, the United Nations, or the donor.

BIRN at POINT Conference: Addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence and Strengthening Digital Rights Monitoring

Representatives of BIRN Hub participated in several discussions at the POINT Conference in Sarajevo, focusing on digital rights monitoring, online gender-based violence and the growing challenges facing civic space in the digital sphere.

On the second day of the conference, Megi Reçi, Digital Rights Research Lead at BIRN Hub, held a session titled Maximizing Impact of Monitoring Digital Rights Violations: From Cases to Real-World Change. The session was organised in collaboration with the Coalition for Content Moderation and Freedom of Expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it explored how digital rights monitoring can move beyond data collection to drive meaningful social and institutional change.

Drawing on the European Declaration on Digital Rights, Reçi explained that digital rights encompass rights exercised online and traditional human rights that are increasingly affected by digital technologies. A central part of the session focused on how collected data can be translated into investigations, advocacy initiatives and policy recommendations. Among the key outputs highlighted was BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Annual Report, which documents trends in online freedoms, surveillance, privacy and digital safety.

Among the examples discussed was BIRN’s investigation into organised gender-based digital violence, which exposed a large online network used to share women’s personal information and intimate content without consent. The investigation highlighted shortcomings in accountability mechanisms and contributed to discussions on strengthening legal protections against online abuse.

The session’s participants highlighted concerns about online disinformation, surveillance and coordinated attacks targeting journalists, activists and civic actors across the Western Balkans.

The panel dicussion Crowdsourced abuse: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, moderated by Tijana Cvjetićanin from Zašto ne, brought together Nikolina Tomašević from Osnažene, Miljana Čabrilovski from the Roma Feminist Collective, Jelena Kalinić from Nauka govori and Azem Kurtić from BIRN Hub.

The speakers discussed how digital platforms have enabled new forms of harassment including coordinated online attacks, non-consensual sharing of intimate content, hate speech, doxing and targeted disinformation campaigns. They highlighted that such abuses often extend beyond the online sphere, resulting in psychological harm, self-censorship and reduced participation of women in public spaces.

”Many of the cases monitored by BIRN reveal common patterns across the Western Balkans,” Kurtić said. “Gender-based online violence, for example, manifests in similar ways throughout the region, but each country also has its own specific context. Nationalist rhetoric often intersects with these attacks, giving them a distinct local dimension while reflecting broader regional trends.”

The annual POINT Conference (Political Accountability and New Technologies) brings together civil society organisations, journalists, activists, researchers and technology experts to discuss democracy, human rights, digital governance and the impact of emerging technologies.

BIRN Macedonia Presents Findings on Women’s Rights Violated Online

BIRN Macedonia organised an online national consultation meeting on violations of women’s rights in the digital sphere on June 11.

The online meeting on June 11 was held to present findings from BIRN’s monitoring of technology-facilitated violence against women and encourage discussion on emerging challenges, risks and opportunities for improving responses to such violations.

The consultation brought together representatives of civil society organisations, institutions, legal experts, media professionals and human rights activists working on digital rights issues, gender equality and gender-based violence.

Participants discussed trends in technology-facilitated violence against women, channels where such violations occur, and recommendations for future monitoring and advocacy efforts.

The meeting included a presentation of cases identified through BIRN’s monitoring activities, followed by an interactive discussion.

Participants highlighted challenges related to underreporting, insufficient public awareness, inadequate institutional responses, online hate speech targeting women and women’s rights advocates, identity theft, misuse of personal data, deepfake-related threats and other forms of digital gender-based violence.

The discussion heard the need for stronger cooperation between institutions, civil society organisations, victim support services and the media. Participants also focused on the importance of educating young people and the wider public about recognizing and reporting technology-facilitated violence against women, as well as improving media reporting practices on these issues.

This activity was organised by BIRN in the framework of the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence against Women”, funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNDP.