Workshop in Sarajevo focused on challenges in reliably collecting, verifying and preserving evidence in increasingly digital and high-risk environments.
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.
Croatian journalist Mila Moralic has passed away at the age of 45. She will be remembered as an outstanding colleague whose dedication to strengthening her profession will be deeply missed.
Among her many achievements, Mila was also a fellow of BIRN’s Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence for 2025–2026, a prestigious programme awarded to professional journalists from 14 countries across Central and Eastern Europe.
Mila was born on July 24, 1981, in Split. She held a degree in political science with a master’s degree in Comparative Politics, and for more than 20 years she covered both domestic and international politics. She was particularly recognized for her work as the editor of the weekly programme Točka na tjedan (TNT) on N1 television.
In 2025, she received the Marija Juric Zagorka award from the Croatian Journalists’ Association for television journalism. The award was granted for her 2024 interview with European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, a key figure in the fight against political corruption. In that interview, Kovesi revealed how elements within the Croatian judiciary and political establishment had tried to curtail her office’s remit in investigations involving powerful figures within the executive.
Mila’s investigation for the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence focused precisely on this issue. Her editor on the programme, Neil Arun, said: “Mila had been with the Fellowship for just under a year. We had enormous hopes for the investigation that she was about to complete. She was astute, meticulous and fearless in her work. A true professional, her death is a tragic loss to her loved ones, and to our industry.”
Mila was also a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in the United States.
She also led the Zagorka Connects project, organised by the Croatian Journalists’ Union. The initiative established a mentoring network between experienced women journalists and younger colleagues at the beginning of their careers, with the goal of empowering women in journalism.
Her colleagues from the Croatian Journalists’ Association paid tribute to her. “Without exaggeration, Mila’s passing is a blow to a democratic society in which the media serves as a foundation, and where committed and honest individuals can make a difference. Mila – a mother, journalist, and colleague – you will be deeply missed. We will continue to pursue the goals and mission to which you were so devoted,” they wrote.
On behalf of journalists from across the region, as well as her fellow colleagues and alumni of the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence, we extend our deepest condolences to Mila’s family, her husband Ismar, their children, and to her colleagues.
Journalist Bojan Blazevski’s investigation into the phosphogypsum landfill in North Macedonia won second place in the 2025 competition for the best journalistic story on tackling the consequences of air pollution in the country awarded by the Macedonian Journalists’ Association and UNDP.
“Authorities Guilty of Complacency Over North Macedonia’s Phosphogypsum Dump”, published on Balkan Insight in August 2025, revealed how millions of tonnes of waste, including radioactive elements, have for decades remained in an unprotected landfill in the village of Zgropolci, near Veles, without institutional oversight, despite the risk to public health and the environment.
At the awards ceremony on March 2, Blazevski, an alumnus of BIRN’s Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence Programme, called on institutions to introduce systematic monitoring of this environmental hotspot, which, he reminded the audience, “is not the only one in our country causing environmental problems.”
First prize went to journalist Mihail Miloshevski from the newsroom “360 Degrees” for the story “Five More Cities Discovered What Is Polluting Their Air – What Will the Mayors Do”, which identified specific sources of pollution in Kumanovo, Kavadarci, Gostivar, Strumica and Struga.
Third prize went to Vladimir Kalinski of Radio Free Europe for the story “Every Breath Hurts: Testimony of a Cancer Patient on Life in Polluted Skopje”, which conveys the personal struggle of a Skopje resident battling the disease.
A special recognition was awarded to journalist Orce Kostov from “Fokus” for the story “No Measure Is Delivering Results: Skopje Breathes the Most Toxic Air in Europe Despite an Invention to Disperse Fog and Pollutants.”
The awards were presented by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and the Embassy of Sweden. The prizes have been awarded for several years to encourage the production of higher-quality investigative journalism on this issue and to put pressure on institutions to address air pollution, which claims several thousand lives in the country each year.
Maida Selmanovic is the Financial Director in BIRN Hub’s office in Sarajevo. She studied at the University of Economic Tourism and has been working with BIRN since 2008.
When Maida first learned about BIRN, she was immediately drawn to its mission: building serious, independent investigative journalism in a region that needed it.
“Even in its early stages, the organisation already had a strong sense of purpose and ambition. It was clear that this was not just another NGO but a place with a long-term vision. It felt like the beginning of something that wanted to last and make an impact,” Maida recalls.
Before joining BIRN, she worked in the private sector for over 15 years, combining finance, procurement and brand management. That experience helped her to develop skills in strategic planning, project management and efficient resource management, which she later applied at BIRN.
“I started as a Financial Officer, expecting to manage finances in a relatively small organisation. Very quickly, I realised I had joined something much more dynamic.
“As the organisation grew, so did my responsibilities. In 2014, I became Financial Director. Over the years, I was not only managing numbers but I was also building financial systems that could support continuous growth,” she explains.
Looking back, her expectations in 2008 when it comes to BIRN were not only met but evolved alongside the organization; the change in it since her joining has been profound.
“In 2008, we had five donors and projects. By 2010, that number more than doubled. By 2014, we managed 18 projects, and later, more than 35 projects annually. Growth was not only numerical, it was institutional,” Maida recalls.
While she believed in BIRN’s potential, she could not have imagined the scale of regional recognition and influence it would achieve.
10 years of BIRN, Kopaonik
“That growth was not accidental,” she says. “BIRN is built on vision, passion, discipline, dedication and long-term thinking. Every aspect contributing to its success has been carefully considered: from journalist training, preparing manuals and books such as ‘Digging Deeper’, a book for journalists on investigative reporting published by BIRN in cooperation with Sheila S Coronel, an expert in investigative journalism and professor at Columbia University.
“It is a practical guide with techniques, advice, story examples and tools that help journalists to develop in-depth investigative skills – which is why many in the region refer to it as a ‘primer’ for journalists,” Maida adds.
Special attention has been given to financial transparency and accountability, building strong teams, professionalizing processes, careful risk management and fostering regional cooperation.
Every detail matters to ensure the organisation reaches its full potential, builds donor trust and has a lasting impact on the region. However, there were some big changes over all this time.
“The biggest changes that I have noticed are the scale and complexity of projects, the number of employees and regional cooperation, as well as the professionalization of systems and procedures and stronger internal controls and financial governance. We’ve evolved from a small operational structure into a mature organisation managing multi-donor, multi-country portfolios with high accountability standards,” she explains.
This growth has required an exceptional level of dedication and effort from the team. “During key development phases, we worked for months under intense workloads and extended hours to build systems, meet donor requirements, and ensure the organisation’s stability and credibility. The progress BIRN has made – from five projects up to 35 – is the result of that sustained commitment and hard work,” Maida notes.
And considering all the tasks she is responsible for, when it comes to her everyday business routine, there is rarely a “typical” day.
“My work includes review of all payments made through electronic banking, compliance with legal regulations, reviewing accounting entries, monitoring budgets, overseeing compliance, preparing all financial data for donor reports, and ensuring the accuracy of our internal financial database. Every transaction matters. Financial discipline is not just technical; it is the foundation of donor trust and long-term sustainability,” she adds.
Explaining what she likes most about her work, she says she loves numbers because “they never lie.
“They cannot be altered to fit wishful thinking and they cannot become what they are not. They reflect reality – unchanging, impartial, and clear. If we listen to them, we understand the true story of our work, our challenges, and our achievements,” Maida says.
Maida with Slobodan Georgiev, former editor of BIRN Serbia
What she appreciates most is knowing that strong and accurate financial management creates space for the leadership to focus on key priorities, such as fundraising and strategic development, while journalists can concentrate on producing impactful investigations.
“I have always believed that when finances are stable and transparent, the organisation can operate with confidence and independence. But, if I could change something, I would simplify administrative burdens and reporting complexity, allowing even more focus on strategic growth and long-term development,” she says.
The role of Financial Director, especially managing a large number of projects, is demanding, stressful, and carries significant responsibility. It requires multiple layers of document control and compliance, meeting the requirements of staff, project managers, and audits conducted by authorized firms.
“The work is complex, with many tasks happening simultaneously, and it demands constant attention to detail and coordination. Without a strong and dedicated finance team supporting me – financial officer and administrative officer – managing this complexity and ensuring accuracy and transparency would not be possible,” Maida explains.
In her opinion, one of BIRN’s greatest strengths has always been its leadership and talented people with vision.
“The vision of Gordana Igric, the founder of BIRN Hub, was decisive. Her clarity of purpose, strategic thinking, and extraordinary dedication set the direction for the entire organisation. She worked tirelessly, often beyond limits and her standards shaped our institutional culture.
“Two lessons she shared with me in 2008 have stayed with me ever since: “Never do anything that is not in accordance with the law, and always manage donor funds responsibly and transparently.” I follow these principles every day in my work,” Maida stresses.
BIRN at the Sarajevo Film Festival, 2015
From her perspective, the success of any organisation depends significantly on the strength and vision of its leadership. In BIRN’s case, that leadership created a foundation of ambition, resilience and integrity that still defines BIRN today. Other key strengths are highly committed and long-term donor trust.
After a day filled with numbers, reports, and strategic decisions, Maida values moments of calm and balance; she spends her spare time doing what benefits her physical and mental health.
“Spending time with my family helps me to recharge and maintain perspective. I also practice yoga and Qi Gong, which help me stay grounded and focused. These practices bring both physical and mental balance, especially after intensive working days,” Maida says.
She also loves to spend time outdoors. “Whenever I can, I spend weekends hiking in nature. Being outdoors, walking in the mountains, and disconnecting from daily responsibilities gives me new energy and clarity,” she concludes.
We are offering 8 to 10 fellowships to journalists from Central and South Eastern Europe with compelling story ideas that require on-the-ground reporting, in-depth research, dedicated editorial support, and funding.
Applications are invited under the theme of Environment. An independent selection committee will choose the successful applicants to participate in our annual professional development programme, which provides training, mentorship, and editorial support to produce a long-form investigative or analytical story for publication by BIRN, its media partners, and regional outlets.
Our published work includes features, analyses, and investigative reports presented in depth for a global audience. We focus on strong storytelling and rigorous reporting, core elements of high-quality journalism.
Who Can Apply?
Journalists with professional experience from the following countries are eligible:
Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. Applicants must hold citizenship or permanent residence in one of these countries.
What the Fellowship Offers?
Selected fellows will receive:
A bursary of €3,000 to support reporting
Training and mentorship from experienced editors
Ongoing editorial guidance and networking opportunities within BIRN’s regional journalistic network
An introductory seminar in Vienna (11–15 May) focusing on advanced reporting and storytelling
Additional awards of €1,000–€3,000 for the top three stories
Publication of stories in English and local languages through BIRN’s network
Membership in the Fellowship alumni network, connecting journalists across the region
Here’s what our editor, Neil Arun, has to say about this year’s theme:
At first glance, this year’s topic might give the impression that we want your pitch to focus on a narrow range of themes – climate change, solar farms, pollution and wildlife conservation. Not so. By “environment”, we mean context and setting. This year, we want you to consider the broader structures – social, political, cultural, technological, historical – that lie beneath the story that you want to report. Can you identify the over-arching context that has created the conditions for the story that you want to tell? If the environment has shaped your story, what are the forces that have shaped that environment?
As always, we are looking for pitches that will evolve into compelling, original stories. We want to see evidence that you have done some basic research to test the viability of your pitch. We also want to see that you have the capacity to do an excellent job. The annual theme is here to help you along, not to constrain you. And if you always wanted to report on endangered animals or solar farms, we will still welcome the pitch, as a long as it’s a good story.
About the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence
Since 2007, the Fellowship has supported journalists with funding, mentorship, and editorial guidance to produce in-depth, investigative stories. The programme aims to strengthen independent journalism in the region while advancing the careers of its fellows.
Originally focused on South Eastern Europe, the fellowship expanded in 2020 to include the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Past fellows’ stories are published by BIRN and partner outlets, covering topics of regional and global relevance.
To read past Fellowship stories and learn more about the programme, visit the official Fellowship page.
Elma Bajric has been an HR Officer in the BIRN Hub since September 2022. She graduated with a law degree but later decided to pursue a career in human resources (HR) instead.
In addition to her formal education, Elma has attended trainings and seminars related to administration and human resources to stay updated on industry’s best practices. She started working in a legal department, where she also completed her professional internship.
“My first tasks were legal documentation and employment-related matters, and eventually I became more involved in employee relations and organisational processes,” she explains.
That experience led her into the field of HR.
“Here I am, ten years later, still growing and evolving within the profession. I enjoy engaging, supporting and communicating with colleagues, understanding their perspectives and contributing to a positive and functional work environment. I consider myself a people person who values interaction and the opportunity to help others navigate challenges and grow professionally,” she says.
Elma came across BIRN during her student years, while working on research related to transitional justice and war crimes.
“I had the opportunity to get closer to BIRN’s work, projects, and to topics that are of great importance and relevance. That first encounter left a strong impression on me and sparked a long-term interest in the organisation and its mission. So, when I later came across an open position at BIRN, I knew I had to apply,” Elma recalls.
As the only person dedicated to HR within BIRN Hub, her role is broad.
“It includes the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, contract management and daily communication with staff, to ensuring legal compliance, supporting managers and teams, handling off boarding processes and collaborating closely with all departments across the organization,” she notes.
“I am also involved in maintaining HR records and data, supporting payroll and administrative processes, helping in coordinating professional development activities and contributing to internal policies and procedures. A significant part of the role includes being a point of contact for employees, advising and helping to resolve matters in a constructive and confidential way,” she explains.
Her position often involves balancing operational HR tasks with strategic thinking and continuous improvement of internal processes.
But, what did she expect when she first started working with BIRN, and has it met her expectations?
“What I expected was a working environment where I could grow professionally, meet inspiring people and have the opportunity to grow and gain more knowledge and experience in human resources,” she says.
“I have the opportunity to work on a daily basis with incredible people across the region and beyond, in a flexible environment that truly nurtures the principles I was looking for, not just in a job position, but in a profession I want to build myself. So, yes, it definitely met my expectations,” she adds.
What fulfills her the most is knowing that BIRN’s work does truly make a difference, and that one can positively impact other people’s lives.
“Not just only through formal processes, but also through organisational culture and everyday interactions and at the end of the day. At the end of the day, soft skills matter, and HR has a unique opportunity to bring positivity into a workplace simply by being present, by listening and engaging with staff,” she says.
Being part of people’s growth and development is also especially rewarding and it motivates her to improve herself and to learn and adapt.
“Every morning brings something new, different questions, conversations with employees or organisational needs to address. HR is about adapting and solving problems and every challenge is a chance to learn and improve. In today’s workplace, I would say HR plays a crucial and complex role. I am happy to be part of that journey,” she says.
BIRN is constantly growing. Back in 2005, five women from the region decided to establish it. Now, around 300 people work with it in various capacities. BIRN Hub has also grown and is constantly changing and improving its work.
“I am grateful to be part of an organisation that has existed for more than 20 years and has managed to preserve its mission and core values throughout different periods of change. Growth brings challenges, work dynamics evolve, teams expand and everything moves very fast in today’s world,” Elma observes.
She explains also how technological changes are a significant challenge in her work.
“HR needs to adapt quickly learning new platforms, supporting others through transitions and ensuring that processes remain efficient and accessible. This can sometimes be demanding, but it also pushes us to stay curious and look forward,” she says.
While it can be demanding to keep up with these changes, strong teamwork makes it achievable, she believes.
“The key is to continuously learn from new situations and use them as motivation to improve and move forward together. For me, this also means staying open to adapting, learning something new every day and applying those lessons in practice. When approached like this, change becomes an opportunity for growth,” she explains.
Elma says people are BIRN Hub’s greatest strength – dedicated professionals who work hard and actively contribute to BIRN’s mission.
“The level of commitment, knowledge and motivation you see across the team really creates a positive and supportive working environment. We collaborate with a large, diverse team, both regionally and internationally and the opportunity to work, create and learn together is amazing. Being exposed to different perspectives and experiences helps us grow professionally and keeps the work interesting and dynamic,” she says.
At the same time, it is important to remain aware of ongoing changes and to continuously invest in all aspects of work.
“As the organisation evolves, there is always space to strengthen and improve our internal processes. This also includes investing in human resources, strong HR systems, people-focused policies and continuous learning that is essential for sustainable growth,” Elma says.
After her working day, she likes to spend her spare time in specific ways. “I’m someone who truly enjoys the simple, beautiful things in life – a good book, lots of coffee, good food and spending time with people I care about,” Elma explains.
She especially loves cooking. “It allows me to slow down and be creative and share moments with others. I also enjoy creative activities, so outside of work you will often find me taking part in creative workshops.
“I really enjoy travelling and discovering new places, and I am using every opportunity to step outside my routine and explore something different,” she concludes.
Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and Civic Alliance (CA) announce a new opportunity for local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and media outlets in Montenegro and Kosovo. Funded by the US State Department, the initiative seeks to combat corruption, a major impediment to establishing the rule of law in Montenegro & Kosovo.
Corruption remains one of the main obstacles to strengthening the rule of law across the Western Balkans, undermining democratic governance, public trust, and fair access to public services. Politicised decision-making, weak oversight, and limited accountability mechanisms continue to create space for abuse of power, particularly where public resources and appointments intersect with narrow political or private interests.
In Montenegro, corruption continues to affect public confidence in institutions and the credibility of reforms. Progress on transparency and accountability remains uneven, and civil society and independent media have repeatedly flagged gaps between formal commitments and practice. For example, reporting has highlighted how the state still lacks key transparency tools in areas like public procurement and access to data that would enable meaningful scrutiny and oversight. Reporting has also underlined the importance of ensuring that anti-corruption bodies have the independence and resources needed to function effectively.
In Kosovo, corruption and clientelism remain persistent challenges, particularly in areas such as public contracting and institutional governance, where accountability mechanisms are often perceived as weak or inconsistently applied. Balkan Insight’s country governance profiling similarly points to ongoing issues linked to corruption risks and the need for stronger transparency and oversight in public decision-making.
Across both contexts, education, healthcare, and the environment remain sectors vulnerable to politicisation, conflicts of interest, and misuse of public funds. Addressing these risks requires stronger cooperation between citizens, civil society, and local media, so that community concerns translate into credible evidence, public scrutiny, and pressure for institutional follow-up.
This initiative in a broader sense aims to contribute to free speech, open debate and free sharing of information, reducing corruption, all forms of organised crime including drug and human trafficking, influence from hostile entities and countries, creating a more favourable democratic and business environment.
Objectives:
Increase capacities of local media, civil society and citizens to identify corruption in their communities, report it to responsible authorities and hold institutions accountable;
Empower civil society and media to report and counter corruption at national and local level and influence changes with special emphasis on environment, education and healthcare;
Improve constructive engagement among civil society, government(s) and/or private sector and policies, laws and/or anti-corruption practices.
Outputs and Activities:
For Media Outlets: Cases of corruption in Montenegro and Kosovo identified and revealed
Developing factual and objective in-depth articles based on the needs of local communities
Increased public awareness in Montenegro and Kosovo regarding the importance of anti-corruption efforts and available mechanisms for citizen engagement and public oversight
Enforcing anti-corruption campaign via mainstream and social media
For CSO’s: Recommendations developed and delivered to improve anti-corruption policies, laws, and practices
Developing anti-corruption policy papers based on the needs of local communities
Increased public awareness in Montenegro and Kosovo regarding the importance of anti-corruption efforts and available mechanisms for citizen engagement and public oversight
Enforcing anti-corruption campaign via mainstream and social media
Eligibility and Grants:
Maximum grant amount: $12,430.00
Number of grants: 16
Total estimated amount: $198,880
No co-financing required from applicants.
Application Process:
Eligible entities: Registered CSOs and media outlets in Montenegro & Kosovo.
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: January 27, 2026
Deadline for submission: February 21, 2026
Information session: The Info sessions will be held on Zoom, on Monday, February 2, 2026, at 11:00 CET.
Meeting link: Click HERE
A regional training on the role of investigative journalism in transitional justice processes was held in Sarajevo from 20 to 23 January, bringing together 23 journalists, students and NGO professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro.
The training focused on strengthening journalists’ capacity to report responsibly and evidence-based on war crimes, accountability, and transitional justice in post-conflict societies. The programme combined theoretical grounding with practical skills and was led by expert trainers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The training opened with a public panel discussion on the state of the transitional justice process in Bosnia, held at Europe House in Sarajevo. The panel gathered around 60 participants, including victims associations, members of international organisations and embassies, journalists and civil society, and provided a platform to reflect on three decades of transitional justice efforts, ongoing challenges.
Over the following two days, participants engaged in intensive training sessions covering the theoretical foundations of transitional justice, as well as the role of domestic and international criminal justice mechanisms. Particular attention was given to monitoring criminal court proceedings, interviewing war victims in line with safeguarding and ethical guidelines, and reporting on the issue of missing persons.
The second day of training focused on the development of investigative journalism in the Western Balkans in the post-war period. Participants explored methodologies for fact-checking, countering disinformation, and responding to genocide denial, with an emphasis on responsible reporting and the protection of historical truth.
As part of the programme, participants also attended a screening of the BIRN Bosnia and Herzegovina documentary Justice and Truth at the Historical Museum of BIH, which explores the themes of peace, transitional justice, and accountability through the experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina and war-torn Ukraine. The screening provided an opportunity for reflection on the relevance of transitional justice beyond the region and the importance of documenting crimes in ongoing conflicts.
By bringing together journalists from across the region, the training aimed to foster cross-border exchange, strengthen professional networks, and contribute to more accurate, ethical, and impactful reporting on transitional justice issues in the Western Balkans.
As a result of a BIRN training program on the role of investigative journalism in transitional justice, held in January 2026 in Sarajevo and bringing together journalists, civil society actors, and students, a training guide was produced and can be found here.
Workshop Overview and Participant Breakdown
Dates and place: 20 to 23 January 2026, Sarajevo
Number of training participants per country:
Kosovo 14
BiH 15
Serbia 34
Montenegro 11
Croatia 1
Total number of participants: 75
The full findings and activities are available in the EDS Report, which can be accessed here.
A panel discussion in Sarajevo shed light on three decades of transitional justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as panellists reflected on the achievements, shortcomings and steps still needed to ensure justice for the victims of the 1992–95 war.
A panel discussion held in Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, on Tuesday focused on the transitional justice efforts that the country went through since the end of the 1992-95 war, which took more than 100,000 lives.
The discussion brought together representatives of victims’ associations, international organisations, legal experts and EU officials, all of whom agreed that while some progress has been made, the burden of seeking justice has largely fallen on victims themselves rather than on the state.
Bakira Hasecic, founder and president of the Association of Women Victims of War, warned that many survivors remain excluded from legal protection and basic rights. She said that civilian victims who survived torture and abuse are not recognised under existing laws if they no longer hold Bosnian citizenship.
“Survivors who went through those ordeals are not recognised under this law and cannot exercise their rights because they are not citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Hasecic said, adding that although authorities have promised to correct this injustice, months have passed without progress. “It is obvious that this is a political issue,” she said.
According to Hasecic, such legal barriers have far-reaching consequences. “In this way, we are losing witnesses, justice and truth,” she said, stressing that survivors are being systematically discriminated against. She urged institutions to recognise the rights of victims who took another citizenship after the war, noting that they endured torture while they were still Bosnian citizens. “We, the victims, are doing the job that the state should be doing,” she said.
Klaudia Kuljuh, head of programmes at TRIAL International BiH, said Bosnia and Herzegovina still lacks a comprehensive state-level law on civilian victims of war, despite repeated attempts and international pressure. While entity-level laws exist both in the Federation and Republika Srpska, their implementation remains incomplete.
“The UN also put pressure on the authorities and nothing was done,” Kuhulj said, explaining that international recommendations allow for the absence of a state law only if entity laws are fully harmonised and implemented, which is not the case.
She noted that while some financial support has been secured, other crucial aspects, such as rehabilitation, access to information and memorialisation, remain unresolved. “Biology does its work, and we have fewer and fewer beneficiaries of this law,” Kuhulj warned. “The state owes a lot to those who remain – support, information about places of disappearance, marking sites of suffering.”
Legal expert Prof. Dr Goran Simic questioned the broader impact of war crimes trials, arguing that the expectations placed on the judiciary were unrealistic. “We naively believed that war crimes trials bring justice – they do not, or they do so only in a very small number of cases,” he said, noting that compensation was awarded in only a handful of cases out of more than 900 adjudicated.
Simic also criticised the tendency to reduce responsibility for wartime atrocities solely to convicted individuals. “You cannot transfer responsibility for war crimes onto just 1,000 people,” he said, adding that despite those convictions, genuine reconciliation has not been achieved.
He identified education as a critical missing link, saying that court verdicts rarely find their way into school curricula. “Our problem is not that we do not have verdicts; the problem is where those verdicts are,” Simic said, pointing to ethnically divided narratives that portray one side exclusively as victims and others as perpetrators.
Lejla Gacanica, human rights officer for transitional justice at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNHCR, said most progress so far has been driven by victims’ groups and civil society organisations, a model she described as unsustainable. “It is time for the state to take bigger steps in relation to current needs,” she said.
Representing the EU Delegation, policy officer Fermín Córdoba stressed the importance of institutional cooperation, particularly in the context of EU accession talks. He said transitional justice falls under the first cluster of negotiations and key priority Number Five, but acknowledged persistent resistance from authorities. “We tried to negotiate with the authorities, but we always hit a wall,” Córdoba said.
The panel concluded that without stronger political will, full legal implementation and meaningful engagement with victims, Bosnia risks allowing time to erode both justice and truth, leaving reconciliation an unfulfilled promise, three decades after the war.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the panelist(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or BIRN. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Workshop Overview and Participant Breakdown
Date and place: 20 January 2026
Number of participants per country:
BiH 28
Austria 1
Netherlands 2
Belgium 2
Czech Republic 2
France 2
Spain 1
Germany 2
Sweden 2
Total number of participants: 42
The full findings and activities are available in the EDS Report, which can be accessed here.
BIRN Hub in cooperation with Mnemonic invites students, journalists, researchers, civil society activists and human rights practitioners from the region to apply for a three-day regional workshop on documenting and archiving human rights violations and international crimes, to be held in Sarajevo from 11 to 13 March.
The workshop will focus on practical and ethical approaches to the documentation, preservation and use of information related to international crimes and human rights violations, with particular attention to contemporary challenges in digital archiving. The training will be delivered by the Mnemonic team, an internationally recognised organisation specializing in digital archiving, open-source investigations and the preservation of evidence of human rights abuses.
Through a combination of expert-led sessions, participants will strengthen their capacity to responsibly collect, verify, archive and manage sensitive materials related to human rights violations.
Key Topics Include:
Principles and standards of open source investigations
Digital archiving methodologies and tools
Verification and contextualization of digital content
Ethical, legal, and security considerations when working with sensitive data
Practical case studies and hands-on exercises
The use of AI in open source investigations.
Who Can Apply
The call is open to participants aged 20 to 36 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia who are actively engaged in:
Law studies (including international law and international humanitarian law), political science, transitional justice studies, or related fields.
Human rights documentation and advocacy.
Investigative journalism.
Research and archival work.
Transitional justice, memorialization, or accountability initiatives.
A strong interest in transitional justice, archiving and documenting international crimes and human rights violations is essential.
Practical Information
Dates: 11–13 March
Location: Sarajevo
Working language: English
Costs: Travel, accommodation, and meals will be covered by BIRN for selected participants.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to:
Fill out the application form with a short biography (up to 200 words) and a brief motivation statement explaining your interest in the workshop and how it relates to your current work.
Register for the Info session for all those interested, to be held on January 23 at 16:00 CET. Register here.
Applications should be sent no later than 29 January at 17:00 CET. Only selected participants will be notified, in the first two weeks of February.
By submitting this application, you confirm your availability to participate in the workshop from 11 to 13 March, including travel days on 10 and 14 March. Please note that accommodation and travel arrangements will be organised in advance, and the associated costs will be covered accordingly.
Early applications are strongly encouraged, as they will facilitate timely selection and the organisation of travel and visa arrangements, where applicable.
