In the efforts to address hate speech and fight discrimination in the local communities of Ilijas in Bosnia and Herzegovina the initiative “Countering hate speech in the Municipality of Ilijaš” was successfully concluded.

This initiative supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the grantee “Education Builds Bosnia and Herzegovina – Jovan Divjak”, in co-operation with the Municipality of Ilijaš, aimed to reach representatives from the local communities, civil society organisations as well as media, to discuss and exchange about the ways to fight hate speech and promote diversity.

The first training took place on May 25, 2024, focusing on recognising, and preventing discrimination, with a detailed analysis of stereotypes and prejudices. During the open discussions, participants learned and shared they personal experiences about the presence of discrimination in various aspects of society.

Nermina Lemezan, information specialist from the Municipal Council and Mayor’s Office, emphasised the importance of these capacity building activities: “The trainings were useful because I learned to recognise different forms of discrimination and the legal framework within which I can seek protection. I believe it is essential for all employees to undergo some form of training and familiarise themselves with this topic, as many are not aware of what discrimination is, its forms, nor its consequences.”, stressed Lemezan.

The second training, held on June 6, 2024, was dedicated to recognising hate speech. Key topics of this session included the definition of hate speech, its harmful effects, and strategies for preventing it.

“Participation in this training was useful and educational. We had the opportunity to learn how to recognise hate speech, how to react to it, and its harmful effects. It will help us in the efforts to build a more tolerant society, reducing hate speech, and promoting mutual respect in the community.” said Sedina Lukođa, specialist in the Department of Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection of the Municipality of Ilijaš.

The trainings provided participants with a valuable chance to acknowledge previously unconscious biases they were having when working with citizens and supported their commitment to be more vigilant in the future to prevent discrimination. This initiative marked a crucial step towards fostering a more inclusive and tolerant society in Ilijaš, and served as a model for other municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on how education can effectively combat discrimination and hate speech.

This initiative was organised with the support of the action "Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina", implemented within the framework of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye"