As Sofia Todorovi\u0107, YIHR Serbia Program Director, explained, peace can not be achieved without large scale-reconciliation. We must look to the past, critically examining the actions of the governments on behalf of the people. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe wars of the 1990s are some of the most documented conflicts in history. We need to use this knowledge, this documentation to build a better future,\u201d said Todorovi\u0107.<\/span><\/p>\n Building on Todorovi\u0107\u2019s remarks, Branka Vierda, program director for YIHR Croatia, emphasized the role of civil society within the reconciliation process. Vierda explained the importance of building a diverse coalition of young activists, civil society organizations, and academics. <\/span><\/p>\n The panel included program directors of the YIHR offices – Sofija Todorovi\u0107 (YIHR Serbia), Branka Vierda (YIHR Croatia), Marigona Shabiu (YIHR Kosovo), Aleksandra Vuk\u010devi\u0107 (YIHR Montenegro), founder and president of the Post-Conflict Research Center Velma \u0160ari\u0107, and moderator Milan Nikoli\u0107 (journalist).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStrengthening and Enhancing EU Perspective: Lessons Learned\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Within the past couple of years, the EU has moved its focus away from enlargement, focusing on the pandemic\u2019s economic and psychological impacts, migration, and other regional conflicts. In response to Russia\u2019s war of aggression against Ukraine, enlargement has been brought back to the forefront of the EU\u2019s agenda. Given the renewed relevance of enlargement, moderator Sr\u0111an Hercigonja from Belgrade Center for Security Policy and panelist discuss the Western Balkan\u2019s path to membership.<\/span><\/p>\n Starting off the panel, Naim Leo Be\u0161iri, from the Institute for European Affairs, noted that accession negotiations between the EU and Western Balkan countries have slowed, reflecting growing euroscepticism throughout the region. Panelists attributed the drop in enthusiasm to failures of both the EU and the candidate states. Serbia and other candidates have failed to fully commit to the accession process, demonstrating limited progress on membership criteria. The EU also bears responsibility as Be\u0161iri explained prior to 2020, the commission reports were not critical enough of Serbia. For years, the union failed to implement sanctions against candidate states that have acted counter to EU ideals. <\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, activist and consultant, Mario Ma\u017ei\u0107, explained that Croatia\u2019s membership has also negatively impacted the accession process for the rest of the Western Balkans. Croatia has failed to fully align with EU values and policies post accession, consistently refusing to accept International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) conclusions. Ma\u017ei\u0107 remarked, \u201cwhy would Serbia and other candidate states ever ascribe to European ideals and accept the conclusions of the ICTY, if Croatia, an EU member state, doesn\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The panelists included Naim Leo Be\u0161iri from Institute for European Affairs, an activist and consultant Mario Ma\u017ei\u0107, a journalist Serbeze Haxhiaj, Policy and Programme Manager, War Crimes and Transitional Justice, Penal Reform, Victims\u2019 rights and support to the Ministry of Justice, Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Una Kelly and moderator Sr\u0111an Hercigonja from Belgrade Center for Security Policy.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNew Wave of Solidarity – Retrospective Through Injustice, Fear and Success\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n To end the day, we heard the stories of youth activists in the region – their activist journeys, how they define their work, and the challenges they face. The panelists pointed out what’s the role of activism and how it influences their societies. However, when talking about activists living in a bubble, Anja Zloporubovi\u0107 explained that “we, activists, have to remind ourselves to get out of that bubble and talk about the topics we work on with people who have different opinions and do not do the same things as we do because otherwise activism doesn’t serve it’s purpose and doesn’t leave an impact” Alternatively, activist Dhurata Sefa, explained that growing up in Kosovo, marginalized on the basis of her ethnic identity, gender, and age, activism was never a choice, it was a necessity. Sefa explained, \u201cActivism is a part of me. I have never thought about not being an activist.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The discussion ended by highlighting the challenges faced by young activists. Dino Salihagi\u0107, an activist from Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced serious attacks as an activist. Despite these attacks Salihagi\u0107 does not back down, explaining that \u201cour activism has consequences but what we do and what we advocate for is much more important than the people that oppose us.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The panelists included activists from the region: Dhurata Sefa (Kosovo), Dino Salihagi\u0107 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Anja Zloporubovi\u0107 (Serbia), Kristina Jankovi\u0107 (Montenegro), Marina Mlakar (Croatia), and moderator was activist and co-founder of Albanija.rs Fiona Jeli\u0107i.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Funded by the European Union<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Conference is implemented under the project \u201cReclaim our civil space!\u201d. Project benefits from a 1,8 million \u20ac grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for regional cooperation.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Youth Initiative for Human Rights celebrated 20 years of youth empowerment on November 16th, with the \u201cWhat Is Peace For Us,\u201d conference bringing together 70 youth activists and civil society leaders from the whole region, as well as representatives of the EU delegation from Serbia. The day was highlighted by three panels that addressed truth, reconciliation, and peace in the region: \u201cNavigating the New Regional Context\u201d, \u201cStrengthening and Enhancing EU Perspective: Lessons Learned,\u201d and \u201cNew Wave of Solidarity – Retrospective Through Injustice, Fear and Success\u201d. \r\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yihr.rs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/DSC03932-250x167.jpg\")
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