Category: News and Events

New BIRN Project Explores Balkans’ Alternative Culture

‘Invisible Art’, a new project from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, will be launched with a regional meeting of participating journalists in Belgrade.

Twelve journalists from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo will meet on Friday at the Jump In Hotel in Belgrade for two days of training, discussions and the commissioning of stories about the Balkan contemporary art scene.

They will prepare to start research and about the phenomena that define the Balkan contemporary art scene, such as the marginalisation of alternative artists and groups; political, party or religious control over art; ideological conflicts among artists and groups, and obstacles to artistic freedom of speech and expression.

The journalist will try to explore these phenomena in their countries through individual examples from the various spheres of art – from visual arts and literature to music and film – thus uncovering ways in which the social situation affects artists and how it is reflected in their work.

The selected countries are all non-EU states, characterised by a high tolerance for crime and corruption, conflicts between traditional and liberal values, and strong political and party interference in all spheres of life including art. This, together with the lack of a market for contemporary art and the selective state financing of contemporary art projects, serves to marginalise those with alternative approaches to cultural work.

With this project, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Regional Network, BIRN Hub, continues the mission it started with the Balkan Initiative for Cultural Cooperation Exchange and Development, BICCED project (2010-2012), whose main aim was to train journalists in writing analytical and investigative articles dealing with culture policies in ex-Yugoslav countries.

‘Invisible Art’ is a further step towards the same goal: to use the capacity created with BICCED to provide a detailed and colourful insight into the forces that affect art in the Balkans.

The project was initiated by Balkan Investigative Reporting Regional Network, BIRN Hub and is being implemented with the kind support of the Prince Claus Fund.

Twelve feature articles enriched with videos, photos and audio from the alternative culture of the Balkans, each authored by one of the participating journalists, will be published on the Invisible Art focus page within the Balkan Insight website from March to September 2015.

‘The Silent Scream’ Opens in Brcko District and Zenica

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH) in co-operation with the Centre for Post-Conflict Research, the OSCE Mission to BiH, and the British Embassy presented the International Protocol on Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, and ‘The Silent Scream’ documentary to stakeholders in Brcko District and Zenica last week.

“Victims often believe their cases will not be taken seriously as they do not trust prosecutors and judges to protect them from being re-traumatized,” said Richard Rogers, legal expert of the Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative, adding that history tells us that only a tiny proportion of sexual violence make it to the courtroom.

“We are glad that Bosnia and Herzegovina is taking the leading role in implementing the Protocol and recognising that there must be zero tolerance for cases of sexual violence,” said Christine McNeill, Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in Sarajevo.

The survivors of wartime rape who bravely participated at the panel discussions stated more public discussion is needed.

“It is easier to speak with people with similar experiences but there should be more women speaking up,” said Hasija B.

Zebra Murguz says that victims want to speak up but there are just a few people who want to listen.

It was concluded that society is responsible for providing support to survivors in order for them not to feel guilty for what they had been through.

During December 2014, BIRN BiH will organise screenings and panel discussions of ‘The Silent Scream’ in Prijedor, Bihac, Trebinje and Tuzla.

Last Round of Meetings with Judiciary and Media Representatives

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH) held the last of its annual countrywide round of meetings with representatives of the media and judiciary in Banja Luka, Brcko and Sarajevo last week.

At the meetings BIRN BiH continued to advocate for journalistic ethical standards in war crimes trial reporting as well as better co-operation with judicial bodies. Journalists attending the events agreed personal contacts with judges and prosecutors should be avoided, as more spokespersons are needed to do the job. 

“Having an educated spokesperson is essential in receiving relevant information on time, then we know whom to address, and we do not need to call judges and prosecutors, wasting both ours and their time,” says Dzenita Durakovic, a journalist at RTV Bihac.

Jelena Markovic-Popovic, the spokesperson of the District Court in Banja Luka, stated the journalists reporting from the court should be better informed about legal procedures and that the information shared at the meeting will be of use in improving her work.

Mirsad Arnautovic, journalist at Radio Brcko, stressed the need for more proactive approach of the District Court in Brcko towards the media.

“At least once a year the Court should organize a press conference where the media can be informed about the previous work and future plans”, he said.

Nina Hadzihajdarevic, spokesperson of the Federal Prosecutor in Sarajevo, expressed her concerns about negative image of judiciary institutions in public.

“People in this country are craving for justice, and it is really important for them to be informed about what to expect so their disappointment is lowered,” Hadzihajdarevic said.

In 2015 BIRN BiH will continue to implement workshops and trainings for media and judiciary in order to improve access to information from courts and overall media standards.

BIRN Fellowship First Prize Goes to Jeta Abazi

The top prize in the 2014 Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence has been awarded to Jeta Abazi, journalist from Kosovo at a closing ceremony held in Belgrade, on Friday.

Abazi was awarded for her article “Fighting for their fair share”, showing that women across the Balkans still face a battle to overcome discrimination and exercise their legal rights to inheritance. Abazi said that “I believe that good journalism can truly make a difference in our societies, as the phenomena I was exploring is widespread, beyond ethnic and religious boundaries”.

The second prize and 3000 EUR went to Kostas Kallergis from Greece, for his article “The great leap rightward”, where he presented a generation of Greeks that have embraced the far right despite having long leftist family traditions or relatives killed by the Nazis.

The third prize and 1000 EUR was awarded to Krassimir Yankov from Bulgaria, for his article “Syrian refugees leave Bulgaria for German limbo”. Yankov covered the story of Syrians who use Bulgaria as a stepping stone to the heart of Europe — although EU rules say refugees are meant to stay in the country where they entered the EU.

The publication of ten articles under the title Generations:  Stories of Social Change in the Balkans is the product of original research of ten journalists selected from South East Europe to participate in 2014 Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence. ” By taking part in the fellowship, these journalists have chosen not just to use their considerable skills but to improve them, to push themselves to their limits, to learn both from their experiences and the feedback of the editorial team. Taken together, these 10 stories offer a much more vivid and varied portrait of the region than media coverage often provides.”, said programme editor Andrew Gray.

The Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence, which was launched in 2007, promotes journalistic excellence and encourage cross-border research projects. Scholarships are awarded with the aim to provide financial and professional support in developing and strengthening the quality of reporting in the Balkan countries. Program participants have the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from neighbouring countries and comprehensively cover complex topics that are of vital importance for the progress of reforms in the region and cooperation with the European Union.

The jury members were Florian Hasel, Balkan correspondent for the German daily newspaper “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, Remzi Lani, executive director of the Albanian Media Institute, Gerald Knaus, founder and president of the European Stability Initiative, Milorad Ivanovic, executive editor of the weekly “New magazine”, Elena Panagiotidis, editor of Swiss daily newspaper “Neue Zurcher Zeitung”, and Gerfrid Sperl, columnist in the Austrian daily newspaper “Der standard”.

At the award ceremony held at Mikser House in Belgrade, a regional social media campaign for the protection of professional standards in the media #FreeBalkanMedia was launched by the alumni of the Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence. The campaign will go viral in the entire region.

The next year’s contest will be open for applications as of January 2015.

Balkan Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence is implemented by the Balkan Investigative, supported by ERSTE Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Prague Freedom Foundation. For more information, please visit fellowship.birn.eu.com.

Opposing Opinions at Premiere of ‘The Silent Scream’ in Banja Luka

The premiere of “The Silent Scream” documentary produced by BIRN BiH, provoked debate at the screening in Banja Luka on Monday, November 24 2014.

Richard Rogers, expert on International Law and a member of Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, talking about the International Protocol on Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, pointed out three main problems on prosecuting sexual violence crimes.

“The first problem is the lack of criminalization of those acts. The second concern is victims who are scared to talk about what they survived. And the third challenge is gathering evidence of those acts,” he said.

Bozica Zivkovic Railic, from the Association of Women War Victims, who was featured in the film, expressed her deep dissatisfaction with how the victims of Serbian ethnicity are perceived. Along with several people from the audience she stated her discontent with presentation of facts.

Nada Golubovic, president of the “United Women Banja Luka” said that society has to change the discourse when it comes to supporting survivors of sexual violence in the past war.

“We have to be aware that every time when a victim comes to court, that presents re-traumatization, and we have to ensure that they will receive all necessary support,” she said, also expressing that the Protocol is the most important thing that could have happened to the victims.

After Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka, the presentation of the Protocol and film screenings will be organised in Brcko District and Zenica.

Lack of Support Discourages Rape Victims in Herzegovina from Speaking Up

The non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina should not be alone in carrying the weight of post-war trauma, it was said at the premiere of the film, “The Silent Scream”, in Mostar on Friday, November 21, 2014 .

“Sexually-violated women from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton do not want to speak about because of they do not enjoy the support from their communities or the State for that matter,” said Zeljka Zovko, a former detainee.

According to Teufika Ibrahimefendic, a psychotherapist from Vive Zene, an NGO from Tuzla that provide mental help to rape victims says many professionals and family members want to help but they often do not know how.

At the event, the British Embassy in BiH presented the International protocol on documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict.

“The protocol was supported by 155 countries from all over the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the first country where it is being launched on the State level,” said John O’Shaughnessy, second political secretary of the British Embassy.

The event gathered students from the Faculty of Law who, after viewing the film, expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that they know more about sexual violence in Africa than from the war in BiH.

After Mostar, the presentation of the protocol and film screenings will be organized in Banja Luka, Brcko District, and Zenica.

Curbing Power – A Regional UNDP Conference

BIRN Serbia and CINS (Center for Investigative Reporting of Serbia) are organising a conference entitled ‘Curbing Power’ about partnership and cooperation opportunities between investigative journalists and non-profit organisations in the oversight of public finances.

The two-day conference will bring together more than 70 journalists and CSO activists who will share their experiences of joint investigative activities and analysing alternative perspectives on current events. The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Belgrade on November 26th and 27th.

Participants and speakers from seven countries in the region will discuss subjects including:
–    The government’s attitude towards media and journalists in the region and ways to improve the relationship.
–    Overcoming the illusion of transparency – establishing priorities for opening data sets that should serve as a source of information for investigative journalism and advocacy campaigns, and indirectly as an advocacy tool in order to encourage states in the region to make their data open.
–    “The response to the floods” – investigating the floods in Serbia. Monitoring organisations and investigative journalists look at an alternative picture of the disaster as opposed to the official one.
–    If you follow the money, will the money follow? – Funding the partnership projects between investigative journalists and non-governmental organisations. Is it an opportunity or a trap?
–    The story behind exposing the inner workings of a bizarre dictatorship – Ukrainian journalists’ and activists’ efforts to document a corrupt regime – a story on activism as a symbol of the Ukrainian revolution.
–    The art of investigating public procurements in the completely closed institutions of Macedonian political system.
–    Ethical boundaries between journalism and activism.
–    Experiences in investigating new coal power plants and pollution.
–    New methodologies in the monitoring of public finances and the establishment of a transparent and accountable system resistant to corruption, based on integrity and participation.

Serbia’s Business Registers Agency Urged to Protect Media

A BIRN Serbia debate was told that the Business Registers Agency must do more to protect the identities of investigative journalists using its archive to prevent them from being tracked and targeted.

A debate organised by BIRN Serbia on Monday entitled ‘Limitations to Institutional Freedoms: How to Protect the Information of Those Publishing Information’ heard calls for the Business Registers Agency (APR) to revise its internal procedure for registering people using its archives to avoid additionally jeopardizing journalists.

The debate was addressed by Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Šabić, APR Director Zvonko Obradović, Serbian Centre for Investigative Journalism (CINS) editor-in-chief Stevan Dojčinović and BIRN journalist Slobodan Georgijev.

Investigative journalists often base their work on access to information obtained from the APR archives but the newly introduced procedure for obtaining information of public importance from the agency poses a threat to the safety of journalists, the debate heard.

APR director Zvonko Obradović however said that cooperation with journalists was working well and clarified that the new procedure is no different from the old one regarding records of the information requested.

Obradović maintained that the APR is an institution that is exposed to pressure for it to be transparent.

But Šabić responded that still allows for the possibility of information “leaking” from the APR which could result in danger for the journalists.

Several journalists from the audience inquired why the procedure had been changed just after the recent scandal involving Serbian prime minister’s brother, Andrej Vučić, whose identity was reported to have been stolen.

While not answering the question directly, Obradović insisted that, in cooperation with the Office of the Commissioner, he would do all in his power to revise the procedure and make it as safe as possible for those seeking information.

This would mean that, when paying for services at the APR, an applicant is not required to enter the registration number of the company that he or she is investigating as the reference number on the payment slip.

Šabić: poor standards in personal data protection

The debate also examined the overall situation in the field of personal data protection.

Šabić said that the area of video surveillance, security checks and telephone call records is completely unregulated and that Serbia was dramatically lagging behind in the field of basic standards of personal data protection.

Video surveillance is fully unregulated except for police traffic control, yet thousands of cameras have been installed. Security checks should be regulated by the law yet they are not and telephone call records end up in the wrong hands, said Šabić.

He explained that there are people whose personal data is treated, under the law, as particularly sensitive and this usually involves sexual minorities, those with “compromising” illnesses, people of other nationalities, political orientation or religious affiliation.

Such information should be treated and safeguarded in a special way, he said. The law envisages that within six months the government must pass a decree on archiving and safeguarding particularly sensitive data, he continued, but noted that the law was adopted in 2008 but was not followed by the adoption of a decree.

When a backward society in transition decides to adopt personal data protection standards that are applied in societies in which individuals are very highly valued, it is faced with an extremely difficult task, said Šabić.

He argued that the most important thing is to “change the mentality” so people regard themselves as citizens rather than subjects, and will be willing to speak out and ask the question: “Why are you doing this, and with what right?”

He also said that an investigation carried out by his colleagues had established that information “has not leaked” from APR.

BIRN Macedonia Launches Sixth Call for Investigative Reports

BIRN Macedonia, together with Centre for Investigative journalism – SCOOP Macedonia and the Centre for Civil Communications launched the fifth call for investigative stories on November 25th.

The call is part of the ‘Project for Investigative Journalism and Cooperation Between Media and Civil Society’, part of a USAID programme for strengthening independent media in Macedonia.

In this call that closes on December 8th, at least five journalists will be awarded a grant to cover their expenses while doing the investigation and writing the story.

Journalists will have about three months to dig deeper and research their ideas, but also will have the opportunity to work with experienced editors as their mentors to guide them through the process of writing to BIRN standards.

Topics for investigations include: health; cultural policy; education and youth; human rights; EU integration; good governance; inter-ethnic relations; environment issues; marginalised groups; quality of life.

The call only applies to journalists from Macedonia. More calls for investigative grants will follow in 2015.

Click for more information about the application procedure, with details in Macedonian.

‘The Silent Scream’ Opens in Sarajevo

‘The Silent Scream’, a documentary dedicated to the victims of wartime sexual violence, produced by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH) premiered on Wednesday in Sarajevo.

Presenting testimonies of the victims who survived sexual violence during the war in BiH, the film aims to encourage all victims to speak up and report the crime.

“We wanted to point out that people who survived this violation of their rights are not guilty for what happened to them and that they have to tell their stories so that the crimes can be prosecuted,” Mirna Buljugic, acting director of BIRN BiH said in her opening speech.

Nasiha Klipic and Dobrivoje Bojovic, film protagonists and survivors of sexual violence in the war, shared with the audience their dissatisfaction with the way the state treats victims.

“The only thing that I want is to find my missing ones. I want to be able to go to their graves,” Klipic said.

Bojovic explained how the financial situation is very hard. “I don’t need to be seen as a hero, I don’t need monuments to be built in my honour. I just want a normal life for my children,” he said.

Gordana Tadic, from the Prosecutor’s Office, said that the Prosecution has developed its capacities in the past two years. She also stressed the necessity for victims to tell their stories as it presents the key element in the investigation process.

Amra Delic, neuropsychotherapist, emphasized the urgent need for society itself to break the ‘law of silence’, because “if we don’t recognise victims and their suffering, we all participate in a process of their re-traumatisation.”

The production of ‘The Silent Scream’ was supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom.