A three-day regional workshop on documenting and archiving human rights violations and international crimes concluded in Sarajevo this week, bringing together around 20 participants from across the Western Balkans to strengthen skills in open-source investigation and transitional justice practices.
Organised by BIRN Hub in collaboration with Mnemonic, the workshop combined legal, archival and digital investigation methodologies to address one of the most pressing challenges in contemporary accountability efforts – how to reliably collect, verify, and preserve evidence in increasingly digital and high-risk environments.
The first day was dedicated to transitional justice mechanisms, with an emphasis on the role of archiving and documentation. BIRN Senior Project Manager Nejra Mulaomerovic introduced participants to the core pillars of transitional justice, alongside an exploration of the critical role archives play in advancing justice and accountability.
The critical role of archives in supporting justice processes was highlighted. Researcher and consultant Lily Radwan explored how documentation contributes to truth-telling, memorialisation and survivor recognition with a Syria case study; criminal law expert Professor Goran Simic examined the use of archival material as evidence in war-crimes trials, underscoring its importance for strengthening the rule of law.
Practical exercises aimed to translate complex transitional justice concepts into accessible public narratives, developing scripts and communication approaches tailored for wider audiences.
As a result of the workshop, BIRN produced a series of short video reels explaining the main pillars of transitional justice, aimed at making these concepts more accessible to a wider public audience.
The second day shifted to the technical and methodological foundations of open-source investigations, OSINT, led by Mnemonic director Hadi al Khatib. Through a structured workflow grounded in international standards, such as the Berkeley Protocol and the Murad Code, participants were introduced to principles of reliability, provenance and reproducibility in digital investigations.
Sessions guided participants through source mapping in high-risk environments, digital archiving techniques and the development of metadata schemas to ensure the integrity and usability of collected materials.
Emphasis was placed on documenting not only content but also context and decision-making processes – key components for ensuring evidentiary value. Participants applied these methods in practical verification exercises, analysing digital content through source assessment, corroboration and geo-temporal indicators.
The workshop concluded with sessions on ethical and legal considerations, focusing on “do no harm” principles, data protection and the responsible handling of sensitive material. A forward-looking discussion on the use of Artificial Intelligence in open-source investigations addressed both its potential and its risks, particularly around bias and misinformation.
The workshop aimed not only to build technical capacity but also to foster a regional network of practitioners equipped to document violations in a way that supports accountability, safeguards affected communities and preserves historical record.
Workshop Overview and Participant Breakdown
Dates and place: 11-13 March 2026, Sarajevo
Number of participants per country:
Kosovo 5
Montenegro 2
Serbia 5
BiH 12
Germany 1
Total number of participants: 25
The full findings and activities are available in the EDS Report, which can be accessed here.