December 5-6, 2023
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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AGENDA
December 5, 2023
09:30 – 10:00
Welcome Coffee
10:00 – 10:10
Opening Remarks
A presentation of the work done within the Reporting Digital Rights & Freedoms Project in 2023 and an introduction to the conference agenda: short descriptions of each panel and the two publications that are being launched at the conference: BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Annual Report 2022-2023 and BIRN’s research paper about Bosnia’s youth online. Preview of day two of the conference, which is dedicated to the SEE Digital Rights Network, with a short overview of the agenda for the second day. Introduction of the EC representative.
Speakers:
Fermin Cordoba, Political Advisor and Team Co-ordinator from of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH
Diedon Nixha, Programme Manager, Reporting Digital Rights & Freedoms Project, BIRN Kosovo
10:10 – 10:30
In Focus: BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Annual Report 2022-2023
Presentation of the main findings about digital rights violations in the ten countries in which BIRN conducts digital rights violations monitoring: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. The speaker will highlight the regional trends described in the report and present possible solutions through the report’s targeted recommendations.
Speaker: Ivana Jeremic, Editor at Balkan Insight
10:30 – 11:15
Panel Discussion: Underlying Factors and Major Trends of Digital Rights Violations in 2022-2023
An in-depth exploration of the findings on digital rights violations over the past year, integrating insights from regional trends, discussing potential socio-political influences on the rise of digital rights violations and exploring possible policy interventions and solutions on the national, regional and European levels.
Moderator: Ivana Jeremic, Editor at Balkan Insight
Panellists:
Hamdi Firat Buyuk, Journalist and Turkey Correspondent at Balkan Insight [online]
Aida Trepanic, Digital Rights Monitor for BiH, BIRN BiH
Nensi Bogdani, Digital Rights Monitor for Albania, BIRN Albania
Tijana Uzelac, Digital Rights Monitor for Serbia, BIRN Serbia
11:15-11:30 Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:30
Panel Discussion: Political and Social Influences on the Rise in Digital Rights Violations
The panel will discuss the socio-political context of the unique challenges and trends in the ten countries covered by BIRN’s report, highlighting their common attributes and differences. The panel will also highlight the broader political and social circumstances that led to increased global digital rights violations, emphasising the situation in the European Union.
Moderator: Hamdi Firat Buyuk, Journalist and Turkey Correspondent at Balkan Insight [online]
Panellists:
Maida Culahovic, Head of the Department for Programme Content and Analysis, Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Megi Reci, Researcher, Institute for Democracy and Mediation
Duje Prkut, Executive Director, Executive Director, Politiscope
Lejla Tulic Ivojevic, Representative of OSCE Neretva Group on Cybersecurity
Julian Ringhof, Policy Officer & Case Handler, European Commission, DG Connect, Global Aspects of Digital Services
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:00
In focus: Youth and Digital Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Discussion about the Findings of the Research Paper on BiH’s Youth in the Digital Sphere
Exploration of the findings on digital rights violations in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the research paper ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Youth Online: Victims and Perpetrators of Digital Rights Violations’.
Moderator: Anes Cerkez, Author of the Research Paper ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Youth Online: Victims and Perpetrators of Digital Rights Violations’
Panellists:
Azem Kurtic, Digital Rights Monitor for Bosnia and Herzegovina, BIRN Hub
Anida Sokol, Researcher and Project Coordinator, Mediacentar
Ahmed Kosovac, Council Member, Municipality of Novo Sarajevo
Slobodan Blagovcanin, Project Manager, Omladinski Resursni Centar Tuzla and Citizens Against Terrorism (CAT) Initiative
December 6, 2023
Regional Meeting of Southeast Europe Digital Rights Network
[SEE Digital Rights Network]
10:00 — 11:30
Panel discussion: SEE Digital Rights Network: Digital Rights Landscapes in the Balkans and Beyond
Presentation about the current structure of the SEE Digital Rights Network and examples of past collaborations, followed by a discussion between representatives of SEE Digital Rights Network member organisations about key challenges in their digital rights environments. There will also be short presentations by each country’s representative, showcasing a unique digital rights initiative, tool or policy innovation from their country that has made a positive difference in the past year.
Moderator: Milos Ciric, BIRN Digital Rights Programme Manager
Panellists:
Albania: Orkidea Xhaferaj, Digital and Innovation Policy Expert, SciDev
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Rasid Krupalija, Editorial Board Member, UG Zasto ne
Kosovo: Donika Elshani, Researcher, Kosovar Centre for Security Studies
North Macedonia: Dejan Georgievski, Programme Coordinator, Macedonia Media Development Centre
Serbia: Ana Martinovic, SHARE Foundation
11:30 — 11:45
Coffee Break
11:45 — 12:45
In Focus: Working on the SEE Digital Rights Network’s Joint Statement on the State of Digital Rights in the Balkans
Using the findings, conclusions and recommendations from BIRN’s Digital Rights Violations Annual Report 2022-2023 as a starting point, but also their own reports, policy briefs, and similar documents, the Network members’ representatives will work on a joint, targeted statement with recommendations for policymakers in the Balkans to improve the current environment in which digital rights are threatened.
Moderator: Melisa Gazdic, Senior Expert, SEE Countries Representative and Country Project Director, EPRD Ltd
Participants: All SEE Digital Rights Network Members’ Representatives present at the Conference
13:00 — 14:00
Lunch Break
14:00 — 15:30
Workshop: SEE Digital Rights Network’s Roadmap 2024
A conversation in which members will brainstorm and outline the network’s priorities for the coming year. The session will be used to co-create the Network’s plans for 2024 and draft concrete conclusions.
Moderator: Melisa Gazdic, Senior Expert, SEE Countries Representative and Country Project Director, EPRD Ltd
Participants: All SEE Digital Rights Network Members’ Representatives present at the Conference
15:30 – 15:45
Coffee Break
15:45 – 16:30
Workshop Continued: SEE Digital Rights Network’s Roadmap 2024
Continuation of the conversation in which members will brainstorm and outline the network’s priorities for the coming year. The session will be used to co-create the Network’s plans for 2024 and draft concrete conclusions.
Moderator: Melisa Gazdic, Senior Expert, SEE Countries Representative and Country Project Director, EPRD Ltd
Participants: All SEE Digital Rights Network Members’ Representatives present at the Conference