On 20 October 2016, the Tribunal’s representative in BiH, Mr Almir Alić, held a one-day ‘train the trainer’ workshop in Mostar for teachers from six high schools. The aim of the workshop - organised as part of the Tribunal’s Youth Outreach Project - was to train school teachers in giving quality presentations on the work and legacy of the Tribunal to students.
Teachers of history, sociology, democracy, and human rights were briefed on the Tribunal’s establishment, mandate and key achievements. They were also introduced to didactical material and information sources that could be used in presentations.
A high school teacher, Mr Haris Duraković, highlighted the importance of interaction between judicial and educational institutions: “The 1992-1995 war is a taboo subject in the education system of BiH, or it is discussed in a partial and biased way, and the attempts to deal with the past, which is very important for the future, are avoided. It would be good to introduce more students and teachers with such workshops, not only in BiH, but also in the neighbouring countries.”
Other participants emphasised the importance of presentations for high school students on the Tribunal and its work. "Presentations are very useful for raising awareness and helping young people form objective and independent opinions and views about the events of the last war," said Ms Amira Džeko.
Teachers from Mostar’s “Fra Grge Martić” Gymnasium, the Second Gymnasium, the Medical High School, the School of Economics, Trade, and Catering, the School of Electrical Engineering, the School of Mechanical Engineering and Traffic, and the High School for Building and Geodesy, will give their first individual presentations on the ICTY in November and December 2016.
Similar ‘train the trainers’ workshops were previously organised in the cantons of Sarajevo and Tuzla, BiH.