Among the 14 key priorities outlined in the European Commission’s Opinion that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) must fulfill to genuinely open EU membership negotiations, young people are not explicitly mentioned, yet each priority concerns youth. Given the time needed for our country to harmonize its legislation with the EU acquis, today’s youth could play a crucial role in completing this process.
Within the project “DIGI:MON – Monitoring and Improving the Status of Youth through the Digital Youth Center,” jointly implemented by World Vision BH Foundation and the Association “Naša djeca” Sarajevo, with support from the European Union in BiH and in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, a study visit was organized in Sarajevo from May 12 to 14, 2025. Over 40 children and young people from Donji Vakuf, Bugojno, Zavidovići, Žepče, Banovići, Lukavac, Kalesija, Mostar, Doboj, Tuzla, Zenica, Brčko, and Sarajevo participated. The visit focused on strengthening understanding of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration process and on monitoring and protecting human rights through UN mechanisms.
The first part of the training covered the basics of EU integration, with special emphasis on the 14 key priorities from the European Commission’s Opinion. Participants were informed about the current status of these priorities and the challenges the country faces in this process. Discussions also addressed the role of civil society, especially youth, in monitoring and advocating reforms through shadow reporting and ways to organize non-governmental actors in this process. Practical examples of engagement models were presented, along with the first steps youth can take.
The training continued with a focus on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a key UN mechanism for monitoring human rights through reporting cycles. The goal was to develop critical thinking and perspectives among youth, which can serve as a foundation for future advocacy activities and contribute to preparing youth reports within the UPR process. This session was led by Alen Gudalo, an EU integration expert and representative of RYCO, who also presented opportunities for youth through this organization.
A significant contribution to participants’ understanding of BiH’s progress in EU integration came during a visit to the Directorate for European Integration of BiH. Maja Rimac, Deputy Director of the Directorate, provided a child- and youth-friendly overview of BiH’s EU path, the roles of various national actors, and opportunities for youth and civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in the negotiation process.
The second part of the training focused on children’s and CSOs’ participation in monitoring and reporting on the status of children’s rights in BiH to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Berina Ceribašić, representative of “Naša djeca” Sarajevo—the coordinating CSO for submitting and presenting reports to the UN Committee since 2004—explained the state’s obligations under the Convention, the process of submitting the State report, shadow reports, and the development and presentation of the first Children’s Report to the Committee in 2019.
With mentorship from Ilma Brezac, former member of the Children’s Parliament and current facilitator, children from the Children’s Parliament of Novi Grad Sarajevo municipality presented the necessary steps for meaningful children’s participation in monitoring rights at the local level, based on their experience preparing the Children’s Monitoring Report on the State of Children’s Rights in BiH, presented in 2023. Besides practical presentation of required activities, the children shared their experiences and impressions at each stage, offering useful advice on how children and youth involved in the DIGI:MON project can organize their work in communities.
Through practical exercises, participants explored areas such as education, social and health protection, inclusion, children’s leisure time, and child safety in digital environments. They also proposed ways to organize research and report preparation through group work. The training concluded with emphasis on ethical issues and sensitivities involved in working with children.
The study visit also featured two presentations of EU-supported resources available to youth for education, capacity building, and promotion. A representative of the Center for Civil Initiatives (CCI) joined the participants to present the EUresurs.ba platform and the services and benefits offered by the Resource Center for CSOs. Emphasis was placed on high-quality, free services accessible to associations and groups regardless of their geographic location within BiH. Participants expressed interest in trainings, mentoring, and technical support provided by the Resource Center and expressed a desire for continued cooperation, especially with the upcoming establishment of the Digital Youth Center within the DIGI:MON project.
During the program segment focused on exploring Sarajevo’s city center, participants also visited the central office of the EU Delegation’s communication project in BiH, Europe House. Participants were introduced to the purpose and services of Europe House, particularly for CSOs and youth, and were encouraged to follow its activities via social media and utilize its offerings.
Finally, a special impression on all participants was made by the visit to the National Museum of BiH. The museum’s curators presented the treasures preserved by this institution, inspiring everyone to further engage in preserving and advancing Bosnia and Herzegovina.
We conclude this presentation with a quote from Sumeja Karačić, member of the Children’s Parliament of Novi Grad Sarajevo, who served as a kind of host for this study visit:
“We are thrilled to have brought together so many young people from all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina on this occasion. We are proud of all our participants who recognize the importance of youth activism and who actively create change. Together, with mutual support and cooperation, we are building the foundations for a better, fairer, and more encouraging environment for all of us.”
Photos: Berina Ceribašić, Najda Hajdarević
