Vijesti Informativnog centra o Međunarodnom krivičnom sudu za bivšu Jugoslaviju (MKSJ) Sarajevo

Students from Sarajevo and Utrecht at the City Hall: Interactive Work and Research on Social Issues and the ICTY Legacy

Oct 26, 2026 | News

As part of the fourth international seminar “Social Issues in an International Perspective”, a group of 60 students and researchers from the Netherlands visited the Sarajevo City Hall today.

This is a joint academic activity of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Sarajevo (Department of Social Work) and the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht (Netherlands).

Accompanied by yunior teaching assistant Vasva Smajlović Duranović (FPN UNSA) and Professor Alma Mustafić (HU), who co-coordinates the project alongside Professor Sanela Bašić (FPN UNSA), the students were welcomed and greeted by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić.

On this occasion, the mayor emphasized the importance of international academic cooperation and the role of young people in the processes of facing the past.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you here today as we connect in our city for the first time. The exchange of knowledge and experiences among students is of utmost importance for the functioning of local government. You provide us with fresh ideas and energy that we wish to harness. Sarajevo will always remain open to supporting and empowering young leaders,” said Avdić.

Following the welcoming remarks, the visit continued in an innovative, interactive format. Instead of a traditional lecture, the 60 students were divided into smaller working groups to explore the museum exhibition space within the City Hall, engaging in discussions about the contemporary challenges faced by post-conflict societies. In addition, the young researchers gained a detailed insight into the legacy of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).An expert lecture on the Tribunal’s mandate was delivered by Ismena Čaušević, Expert Advisor at the Information Centre, who presented authentic documents, photographs, and witness testimony excerpts that served as evidence in The Hague.

Students' statements

“Physical evidence stands as a testament not only to resilience, but also to defiance against what happened in Sarajevo and the war in Bosnia more broadly. Every time we walk past it, it reminds us of the consequences that deep-rooted divisions can inflict on a society. If the physical evidence disappears, ‘never again’ loses a great part of its meaning. This is also why it is important to incorporate emotional connections into memory. It helps us understand how we can prevent such things from happening again by keeping collective memory tangible.”

Seda Yildiz – The Netherlands

Mick Bens – The Netherlands

Jasper Bambacht – The Netherlands

Adna Bukvić – Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amina Bećirević – Bosnia and Herzegovina

“History is not for sale. Justice is not for sale. Human dignity is not for sale. How can we build a united community when people are still pointing fingers at each other, blaming one another instead of working towards reconciliation? A community needs more than shared spaces. It needs collective memory, shared history, and mutual understanding. The possible sale of the ICTY building and its archives is not just about losing physical spaces. It disrespects victims, survivors, and the identity of an entire community. Just as the burning of Sarajevo’s City Hall was an attack on cultural memory, losing these archives risks erasing history and denying people’s suffering. Sarajevo’s resilience reminds us that rebuilding communities requires more than restoring buildings. It requires acknowledging the past, respecting victims, and creating spaces for dialogue.”

Cora Deinhofer (Germany)

Leonie Wennink (Netherlands)

Bryan Kalshoven (Netherlands)

Selma Bojadzija (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“Today showed us what resilience means in a place like this, where such a tragedy took place. The rebuilding of this site makes the memory more alive than ever. In times of polarization, standing together means everything. It is also representative of the rebuilding of the community. It shows that we need to be aware that heritage can be attacked by others. While rebuilding allows heritage to endure—at least in part—the possibility that it could be sold shows that it can come under attack again. We need to protect it at all costs. We need to stay united, with everyone!”

Sedina: Bosnisch

Ermina: Nederlands/Bosnisch

Josephina: Duits

Ize: Nederlands

”Standing inside the restored Vijećnica, we see that resilience is more than rebuilding walls. This library was burned, yet its reconstruction has returned a shared space for memory, learning, and public life. Meanwhile, the physical heritage of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Netherlands, including its courtroom and archives, is at risk of disappearing. Losing these places could weaken the tangible connection between evidence, accountability, and those affected by war.

As future global changemakers, we must protect both the spaces where communities recover and the sites where injustice is confronted. Justice and reconciliation depend on collective memory. True resilience means safeguarding truth, listening to survivors, and transforming painful histories into a lasting commitment to human dignity, dialogue, and peace.”

Elin Pronk, Minor genocide in Srebrenica in context (Netherlands)
Florian Meer, Minor Global Changemakers (Germany)
Amina, Social Work master degree (Bosnia)
Yousef, Minor genocide in Srebrenica in context (Netherlands)

“We, as future changemakers, believe that it is important to preserve this legacy in its original form. This helps future generations gain knowledge and become aware of their own culture and history. It also allows the victims of the ICTY to feel heard and understood when sharing their experiences.

Furthermore, we emphasize that people should be able to tell their own stories instead of having others speak for them. By preserving original stories, listening to different perspectives, and sharing historical facts, we can create a more complete understanding of the past. This is important not only for remembering the victims, but also for learning from history and preventing similar tragedies in the future. Our responsibility as future changemakers is to protect this legacy, respect the experiences of those affected, and ensure that future generations continue to learn from it.”

Raissa Dwi Putri Budiman / Indonesian

Robin Janssen / Dutch

Sljivo Mela / Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mirela Suljic / Bosnia and Herzegovina

“During our visit to the City Hall, we learned how important it is to remember history and rebuild what was lost. The destruction of the library was not only about losing a building, but also about losing culture, memories, and identity.

The restored Vijećnica shows us how strong a community can be after experiencing war and destruction. We also learned about the ICTY courtroom and how crucial justice is for victims. The establishment of this reconstructed courtroom inside Sarajevo’s City Hall reminds us that we must continue protecting history and safeguarding the truth.

We believe that both justice and rebuilding communities are necessary for healing. As future Global Changemakers, we learned that we must listen to people’s stories, respect their experiences, and protect their history. True resilience means not only rebuilding structures, but also restoring trust, hope, and connections between people.”

Renee (Kroatisch)

Teun (Nederlands)

Adna (Bosnisch)

Nel (Belgisch)

Dino (Bosnisch)

“We believe that true reconciliation requires both justice and the rebuilding of relationships within society. Sarajevo’s Vijećnica suffered devastating physical attacks in 1992, symbolizing an attempt to destroy not only a building but also the cultural memory and identity of a community. The ICTY prosecuted war crimes that constituted a massive violation of political and human rights, striving to bring justice to the victims.

These examples show that both cultural heritage and international justice are vulnerable when confronted by violence or political interests. Rebuilding the Vijećnica demonstrates that societies can recover from destruction, while protecting international courts is essential for accountability.

However, justice alone cannot fully heal the wounds of the past. Reconciliation also requires dialogue, shared public spaces, mutual respect, and recognition of victims’ suffering.

As future Global Changemakers, we believe resilience means protecting both our cultural heritage and the institutions that defend human rights. Peace cannot exist without justice, truth, and responsibility. We must learn from history to build a future where dignity and accountability prevail.”

Tasnim Abba (Maroccan)

Hannah Deges (German)

Tom Goutziers (Dutch)

Amila Smajlovic(Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“The Sarajevo City Hall is a symbol of a city’s cultural heritage, history, and resilience. Its destruction during the war demonstrated the vulnerability of cultural institutions and historical monuments, while also highlighting the vital importance of preserving the elements that constitute a people’s identity. Its reconstruction symbolizes hope, recovery, and a commitment to continue building a future, despite a painful past. Yet, physical restoration is insufficient without justice, the acknowledgment of the damage inflicted, and the preservation of the memory of the past. As future global changemakers, we must understand that the recovery of a community requires solidarity, mutual respect, and responsibility. The City Hall teaches us that resilience does not mean forgetting what occurred; it means drawing lessons from the past and working toward the creation of a more just and peaceful society. True peace entails both justice and the restoration of trust among people.”

Mila van der Hulst – Dutch and Croatian

Ema – Bosnian

Anouar El Moussati- Dutch and Moroccan

Kjell Prins- Dutch

Jessica Evans – British

“We found the visit really interesting and impressive. The entrance plaque was beautifully written and made us think about what happened in the past. The rebuilding exhibition showed us how serious the fire was and how much was lost. We were shocked to hear that around two million books and documents were destroyed in the National library. It was amazing to see how beautifully the building was rebuilt after everything that happened.

The ICTY exhibition room also had a big impact on us. Reading the stories and seeing the pictures made everything feel more real. Seeing the people who were convicted and their prison sentences was interesting, but sometimes we wondered why some of them received such short sentences.

Finally, we thought the central hall looked beautiful. This visit showed us how important it is to remember what happened and make sure these stories are never forgotten.”

Tufan: Nederlands

Anniek: Nederlands

Mingus: Nederlands

”While the ICTY was responsible for delivering justice through legal accountability, true reconciliation requires more than judicial decisions. Lasting peace can only be achieved when legal justice is accompanied by social and physical justice. The reconstruction of Sarajevo’s City Hall represents an important step in this process. By restoring a building that was deliberately destroyed during the conflict, affected communities regain a space for remembrance, cultural expression, and collective identity. It allows people to reconnect with cultural traditions and historical memories that were targeted during the attempted genocide. However, rebuilding physical structures alone cannot fully address the suffering caused by the conflict. International recognition of the atrocities is equally important, as it acknowledges the experiences of victims and helps preserve historical truth. Together, legal accountability, cultural reconstruction, and international recognition contribute to reconciliation. They provide affected communities with opportunities to heal, rebuild their identity, and work towards lasting peace and justice”.

Blazica: Bosnisch

Sude: Nederlands

Thymen: Nederlands

Maissa: Nederlands

Eva: Duit

”The erasure of books is akin to the erasure of a culture and ethnicity. Books and people constitute the history of a country—and what is a country without its history? The rebuilding of Vijećnica demonstrates the strength and resilience of the people of Sarajevo, and of Bosnia as a whole. It reflects optimism and hope for the country’s future. It reminds us that even when broken down, the spirit of a community cannot be destroyed. This was powerfully demonstrated when the concert was performed within the ruins”.

Group members: Bart, Kaysha, May, Bente, Meliha
Photos of the exhibition by Milomir Kovačević Strašni

”The war ended in 1995, but its consequences persist across generations, just as we have seen today. That is why preserving the legacy of the ICTY is so vital, especially after witnessing how devastating the destruction of all evidence can be.

For Bosnia, this legacy helps to preserve the truth, particularly at a time when historical facts are still being denied or questioned. It grants victims and survivors the recognition they deserve and ensures that their stories are never forgotten. The tragic story of the murdered girl, Iman, showed us just how crucial this is. The importance of protecting and preserving this legacy is best illustrated by the few remaining books that were not completely destroyed by the fire.

For the Netherlands, this legacy holds equal importance. The Tribunal was based in The Hague. Preserving this legacy is not just about remembering the past; it is about educating future generations and preventing history from repeating itself”.

Britt Maurix – Nederlands

Jacob van Munster – Nederlands

Marit Huijser – Nederlands

Iman – Bosnisch

Nejra – Bosnisch