Post-Conflict Research Center and the City of Sarajevo: A Seminar Dedicated to Remembrance and Justice

The Srebrenica Youth School, organized by the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), was held at the Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica)—an architectural gem and one of the most significant symbols of both the suffering and the defiance and rich history of our capital. A walkthrough of the City Hall’s museum exhibitions served as an introduction to deep learning about the past.

Today, Vijećnica is also home to the ICTY Information Centre Sarajevo, which continues to attract significant attention from the international public, researchers, and students from all over the world. During this study visit, over 40 young participants of the School from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region (Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro), and around the globe (USA, South Africa, Switzerland, India, Bulgaria, Germany, Peru, Netherlands, Italy) took part in the intensive educational modules of today’s seminar.

Through a discussion with Ismena Čaušević, an expert advisor at the Information Centre, the youth actively analysed the role of the Hague Tribunal in the restoration and preservation of peace in the region, the importance of establishing judicial facts, and the impact of court verdicts on the regional reconciliation process. The discussion was followed by a tour of the permanent exhibition, which provided students with a direct insight into key ICTY judicial proceedings through authentic documented exhibits of verdicts, excerpts from witness testimonies, and poignant testimonies of victims. The displayed material clearly demonstrates the historical significance of the ICTY as the first international criminal court since Nuremberg and Tokyo. The strongest impression on the visitors was left by spending time in the authentic replica of a courtroom—the space where historic verdicts for war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina were handed down over the past decades. Exactly through this blend of education and documentary testimony, the Centre’s work provides a lasting contribution to the global fight for justice and the dignity of victims.

Following this introduction, two exceptionally important lectures were held, further illuminating painful historical truths: “Srebrenica: Timeline of a Genocide” – Nemanja Stjepanović, a researcher at the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), spoke about the chronology of the Srebrenica genocide and the significance of the judicial facts established before the court. Stjepanović, co-author of the book Killing Culture, is one of the leading experts in international criminal and transitional justice in the former Yugoslavia.

“Construction of Denial” – Hikmet Karčić, a research associate at the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law at the University of Sarajevo, analysed the mechanisms of denying genocide and mass atrocities. Karčić is the author of the highly acclaimed book Torture, Humiliate, Kill: Inside the Bosnian Serb Camp System (University of Michigan Press, 2022).

The lectures generated extraordinary interest among the participants, who sought to delve deeper into these critical topics through numerous questions and an active discussion with the educators. These young people will utilize the acquired knowledge and insights in creating their research papers, theses, and professional articles. In this context, the readiness of all lecturers to remain available to the youth from BiH, the region, and the world for further cooperation, mentorship, and assistance when working on transitional justice topics is invaluable.

By supporting such educational programs, seminars, and workshops, the City of Sarajevo, led by Mayor Samir Avdić, permanently reaffirms its commitment to educating young generations who will be the future spokespersons for the truth, forever preserving the dignity and memory of the victims.