The Goodness Within Us

Sister Blanka and Mualima Šejla traveled on quite different paths through life, but those two paths left them with the same desires and motivations. Sister Blanka’s journey began in flat Slavonian County. Mualima Šejla, along with her mother and two sisters were forced out of Bratunac, a town in eastern Bosnia near Srebrenica, during the …

Mala Sirena: An honest and sincere fight for our children

This story is about people, from a small town in central Bosnia, making an effort to provide children with disabilities the support they need to grow up, receive a proper education, and socialize. Adisa Mahovac founded Mala Sirena (Little Mermaid) Association in 2012, with a mission to make children with disabilities equal members of society. …

Štefica Galić’s School of Critical Thinking is Shifting Reality

Štefica Galić is an editor and journalist, but above all, a human rights activist from Ljubuški. As founder and editor-in-chief of Tacno.net, she covers topics like freedom of speech and hate speech.  Her activism, however, began earlier–in the midst of the Homeland War.  Galić and her husband Neđo rescued Bosniak civilians from the Croatian Army by forging their documents so they couldn’t be taken to Heliodrom, Dretelj or Gabela camp, even though she’s Croatian herself.   …

About Us

Balkan Diskurs staff is composed of both local and international members who possess experience and expertise in a wide range of disciplines, ranging from journalism and human rights to peacebuilding and transitional justice. As a team, we are dedicated to supporting young talent, challenging stereotypes and providing viewpoints on society, culture, and politics that cannot be found in other media.

Balkan Diskurs awards
Winner of the Intercultural Achievement Recognition Award by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs.
Uniting a City: The Ele Mostar Project
Project Ele Mostar was intended not only as a contribution to reconciliation in Mostar, but as an example of reconciliation to the whole country.  The project was launched in 2019 with the idea to bring Bosniak and Croat university students at Dzemal Bijedic University and the University of Mostar closer together by showcasing Spanish culture …

A Contested Attempt at Transitional Justice: the Kosovo Specialist Chambers
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (SC), adopted by the Kosovo Parliament in 2015, is widely touted as a new, more promising attempt at achieving justice for unpunished war crimes.

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Changemaker Edhem Custovic Invests in BiH Youth for a Better Future
In a recent interview with Balkan Diskurs, Edhem Custovic discussed the recent establishment of the BH Futures Foundation (BHFF) and the launch of the Futures MakerSpace center in Srebrenica.

The Rock School That Unites: Creating Demand for Multi-Ethnic Activities in Divided Mitrovica
Amidst the few civic initiatives that have succeeded in transforming themselves into popular centers that thrive and expand upon the demand of citizens from different ethnic groups is the Mitrovica Rock School.

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Educational Exclusion of BiH’s Most Vulnerable (Part III): Harun’s Story
Recently, photos were released showing the terrible conditions within the Pazaric Institute, a care home for children with special needs, after the ruling parties refused to address the problems. This action sparked protests across the country.  In light of the recent events, Balkan Diskurs has been working on a series about the challenges faced by Bosnian children with special needs and their families.

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The Death March Mementos: A Return to Udrc Mountain
Rising 1,042 meters above sea level is Udrc Mountain, the highest elevation point in central Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Podrinje region, also known as the Drina Valley. This mountain and the nearby Kamenica Hill are two sites often referenced in recollections of the Srebrenica genocide and are of great significance to the country’s wartime historical narrative.

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