Participants of the Sixth Transitional Justice School Visit Vijećnica and the ICTY Information Centre Sarajevo

As part of the program for the sixth Transitional Justice School in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a group of young students visited the Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica) and the Information Centre on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today. The association “PRAVNIK” and UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the European Union, are the organizers of this school titled “The Role of Transitional Justice in Rebuilding Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Post-Conflict Societies,” held from April 17 to 26, 2026.

The participants were hosted by Emir Bićo, Deputy Chairman of the City Council of the City of Sarajevo, who highlighted the importance of Vijećnica as a guardian of heritage:

“Today, I am honoured to greet you and welcome you to the city’s home – Vijećnica, a symbol of unity and peace, a guardian of the past’s legacy, and a treasury of education. By uniquely blending the artistic conventions of East and West, it has earned its place not only in the city’s topography but also in the hearts of its citizens. This is not merely a city landmark; it is a monument to which citizens are bound by profound emotions.”

Bićo specifically emphasized the role of the Sarajevo Information Centre, which operates as an organizational unit of the City Administration. The centre was opened with the intent to transmit and make the Hague legacy accessible to younger generations.

Victor Munteanu, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH, stated that through the project “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans,” UNDP seeks to support youth education. According to him, this is a continuation of UNDP’s thirty-year activity in BiH in the fields of state reconstruction and the building of lasting trust.

During the visit, participants underwent intensive training on how to use and access the ICTY archives. The sessions were led by:

Rada Pejić-Sremac, Coordinator of the Mechanism Information Programme (MIP).

Nemanja Stjepanović, Researcher (MIP).

Ismena Čaušević, Coordinator of the Sarajevo Information Center.

Following the practical portion, the participants presented their work on topics related to the conflicts of the 1990s, utilizing authentic materials from the archives of the ICTY and the Mechanism.

This activity is implemented with the assistance of the project “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans,” funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).