Music is not a magical tool that can be used in isolation to ensure the construction of lasting peace and reconciliation. However, if utilized correctly as a medium, it can provide an excellent means of facilitating dialogue that enables conflict to be discussed in an artistic setting.
The second State of Peace Youth Academy has concluded, bringing together 50 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Organised by the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with the Post-Conflict Research Center, the conference actively engaged Western Balkans youth in the process of reconciliation for a second year in a row.
Young people coming together to honor the civilian victims of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, irrespective of ethnicity, contributes to efforts to face the past and build sustainable peace.
According to available data, there were 657 detention camps and centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Men, women, and children were imprisoned and subjected to various forms of torture, many of whom did not survive.
The International Youth School “Prijedor24” brought together 20 young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Europe, and around the world. The aim was to allow students to learn about BiH’s past based on court-established facts. Moreover, students were encouraged to develop a commitment to building a culture of remembrance, advocating for justice, and fostering reconciliation.
Tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and the absence of violence, along with respect for universal life values, are necessary for building sustainable peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.