Western Balkans Network
Franjevačka 78b
88000 Mostar
Bosnie-Herzégovine
- Democracy and community development
- Heritage
- Human rights
- International/Cultural relations
- Youth and education
WEB seeks to pursue, on a national and regional level, the breaking the taboo of Yugoslav history, generating dialogue between the people, groups, and countries that stopped communicating constructively; bringing together and encouraging cooperation between different generations (primary schools, high schools and universities, professionals) as well as between disenfranchised interest groups (youth, women, professional associations, labor unions, social justice activists and minority groups).
Model International Criminal Court - Western Balkans (MICC WeB) is an adapted simulation of war crimes trials, where students take on the role of prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, the press. In an intense six-day program, they cover topics of human rights dilemmas, history, and identity de/construction, they interview contemporary witnesses from the wars in former Yugoslavia. The education culminates in the actual trial simulation, where well-known war crimes trials are re-enacted.
By tackling taboos prevalent in the region marked by recent turbulent past, MICC WeB seeks to open up the space for communication in order to digest the difficult history – and not let it hold hostage any longer the region’s young people’s present and future.
The main goal of ”Anne Frank – History for today” exhibition is to raise awareness and encourage discussion about the recent history of nationalism, exclusion, prejudice, discrimination in the region and promote debate and dialogue on our common past. The project also tended to promote critical thinking about historical events and their relevance for contemporary challenges, as well as to inspire an interdisciplinary, civic-education oriented history education.
We can contribute with projects and workshops, in which the recent history, nationalist conflicts, divisive rhetoric, and extremist views are discussed through dialogue and debate, building long-lasting bridges, friendships and networks in the process. Since Bosnia and Herzegovina has so many problems and challenges in the present, our activities bring together disenfranchised interest groups (youth, women, educators, professional associations, labor unions, social justice activists and minority groups), providing an opportunity for exchange of experiences, and building their capacity for advocacy and problem solving in their communities.
Currently, we are connected with other organizations regionally, and we would like now to continue spreading our network internationally.