The second phase of the European Union and Council of Europe awareness raising initiative “Block the Hatred. Share the Love! 2.0” was launched today with a children’s football tournament at the FK Sloga stadium in Vukosavlje, bringing together boys and girls from five municipalities to promote diversity, equality and inclusion.

Cheers from the stands, colourful banners with messages of friendship, and mixed teams of boys and girls on the pitch turned the FK Sloga stadium into a celebration of diversity and inclusion.

Young players from Vukosavlje, Modriča, Šamac, Brod, and Odžak were split into mixed teams named Tolerance, Equality, Respect, Diversity, Solidarity, and Inclusion, showing that, on and off the field, unity and respect always win. Cheers from the stands, colourful banners with messages of friendship, and mixed teams turned the FK Sloga stadium into a celebration of togetherness.

The event was officially opened by Zekerijah Bahić, the Mayor of Vukosavlje, who welcomed the campaign to his municipality, said that he strives to make Vukosavlje a place where every child can thrive and never become a victim of hate speech. “Sport has the power to unite us across all boundaries, such as gender, ethnicity, skin color, disability, and other identities,” Bahić noted.

The Assistant Minister of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kemo Sarač, emphasised that respect for diversity represents one of the first conditions for understanding, appreciation, and respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. “The more we are ready to adapt ourselves in terms of respecting others, the more prepared we are for a democratic society,” Sarač added.

According to Ajna Karić, a girl from the Women’s Football Club Odžak 102, stated that girls are indeed capable of playing football and that she is glad the village of Jakeš managed to host such a gathering.

The “Block the Hatred. Share the Love!” is an awareness raising-initiative that aims to combat various forms of hate speech and discrimination on the local level targeting specific communities and individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will include ‘No Hate Ambassadors’, well-known local or public figures, relevant institutions and the Young European Ambassadors (YEA), who will act as multipliers to promote positive messages through both online and in person activities.

This activity is organised under the action “Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina” as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” and by the Council of Europe project “Combating discrimination, hatred and racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in partnership with the Municipality of Vukosavlje.