Mechanism Information Programme participates in webinar about challenges of transitional justice in education

On 7 June 2022, the Mechanism’s Information Programme for Affected Communities (MIP) participated in a webinar titled “Challenges of Transitional Justice in Education”. The event was organized by the History Teachers' Association of North Macedonia (ANIM) in cooperation with the Western Balkans Fund (WBF) and the European Association of History Educators (EUROCLIO).

MIP Youth Outreach Coordinator Ms. Anisa Sućeska spoke about the legacy of the ICTY and the Mechanism and the importance of their archives for future generations. She also discussed the ICTY’s major achievements and its influence on the transitional justice processes in the former Yugoslavia.

Together with Ms. Sućeska, a number of other speakers took part in the webinar: Mr. Mirko Klarin, director of SENSE Center for Transitional Justice; Ms. Carolyn McNanie, representative of EUROCLIO; and Mr. Goran Taleski, Peacebuilding Coach of the Peace Action and Centre for Nonviolent Action. The discussion was moderated by ANIM president Mr. Mire Mladenovski.

The participants spoke about the role of transitional justice in education in the former Yugoslavia and in the context of the 1990s conflicts in that region. They discussed current challenges in teaching about the conflicts, as well as different approaches to overcoming such obstacles.

Ms. Sućeska explained that the MIP works with history teachers from across the region, training them on the use of the ICTY and Mechanism archives in teaching about the conflicts of the 1990s. She also highlighted the importance of the regional perspective, noting that through the MIP’s activities, teachers from the countries of the former Yugoslavia are together developing teaching material based on judicially-established facts from cases before the ICTY and the Mechanism.

The MIP’s participation in the webinar is part of the Programme’s efforts to support projects and events organised by civil society organisations that are active in the field of transitional justice in the region of the former Yugoslavia.

The aim of the MIP is to improve the knowledge and understanding of citizens and communities in the countries of the former Yugoslavia about the crimes committed during the conflicts of the 1990s, based on ICTY and Mechanism cases. The MIP is generously supported by the European Union and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.