A joint awareness-raising initiative of the European Union and the Council of Europe, “Block the Hatred. Share the Love!”, will be officially launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Home of the Armed Forces in Sarajevo (Zelenih beretki 2) on Monday, 28 March 2022 – from 11:00 to 13:00.

The event, which will be held in a hybrid format and streamed online, will be addressed by:

• Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union and the Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bojana Urumova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo
• Anja Margetić, Deputy Mayor of City of Sarajevo
• dr Jasminka Džumhur, Ombudsperson of the Institution of Ombudsperson in Bosnia and Herzegovina (video message)

Young European no-hate speech ambassadors will also take part in the event, which will name several more public figures no hate speech ambassadors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Matea Tavić and Milica Deura, members of BiH national basketball team, Dragan Bursać, journalist and writer, and a handball team member, Boris Vrhovac.

The “Block the Hatred. Share the Love!” campaign aims to combat various forms of hate speech targeting specific communities and individuals in society of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be rolled out online through the social media dedicated channels and in the mainstream media, as well as through public events. These activities will involve prominent public figures, institutions and activists, who will promote diversity and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region, through personal storytelling, testimonies and exchange of good practices.

The campaign is implemented within the action “Promotion of diversity and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, that is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022".

The event is open to the media. Pre-registration needed due to COVID-19 restrictions by sending an email to [email protected] no later than 26 March, 14:00.

The event will be livestreamed via the Facebook page of the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo. Interpretation in English/BHS will be provided, including for the online livestreaming event.

 Agenda of the event

 Webpage of the campaign and its activities

 Follow the campaign Facebook; Instagram; Twitter

Contact:

Marija Simić, Communication Officer, Council of Europe - [email protected], +381 63 60 13 37
Ilarija Bašić, PR Director, MITA Group – [email protected], +387 61 76 55 02