Regional conference on the role of media and civil society in the Western Balkans

Sarajevo, November 18, 2011 — Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH), in cooperation with Civil Rights Defenders, organizes a two-day regional conference “Role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: challenges as opportunities.”

Twenty years after the events in Eastern Europe had happened, which have irretrievably  changed the whole Europe, was a period in which civil society, citizen activism and the media were trying to take back the position they originally possessed in developed democracies. Their development path in the Western Balkans was far more difficult since it was led by eventful years of dramatic armed conflicts, crimes of inter-ethnic intolerance and consolidation of countries with organized crime.

The contribution of civil society organizations, effective citizen engagement and a free media to the normalization of countries in the Western Balkans has been invaluable, often requiring a great personal courage and sacrifice. Although the situation in the countries of Western Balkans has changed over past twenty years, there is still a constant necessity for a strong civil society and a free media. Their contribution will essentially determine further progress and reforms in the Western Balkans countries, with the objective of preventing corruption and organized crime, and human rights protection, reconciliation and strengthening the regional cooperation

Numerous obstacles and threats to their activities are still very much present – from political pressures and threats to an open attack to physical integrity of journalists and activists. How to ensure the independence of civil society organizations, citizens and media, their influence on those who take decisions while simultaneously ensuring a safe environment in which they operate, as well as using capacities offered by new technologies, are the questions to which prominent journalists, activists and NGO representatives from the countries of Western Balkans will try to respond..

The conference will include 4 panels, i.e. key themes:

• “Accountable and transparent government: Role of civil society and citizens”
• „Media in the Western Balkans: Between conditional discharge and unconditional responsibility”
• „Who protects the protector ( of human rights and freedom, freedom of the media, public interest) “
• „Online activism – future has begun”

The conference will take place on November 22 and 23, 2011. in the hotel “Europa” in Sarajevo and the event will be open for media representatives. Please find enclosed the agenda of the conference.