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Projects
Through its projects, the CSS aims to promote
educational and training initiatives. In particular,
our projects work towards the remedy of deficits
in existing educational structures towards the
provision of knowledge and information pertaining
to the latest concepts and approaches to security
and politics on a global and European plane.
In particular, these initiatives are aimed towards
young security experts, parliamentarians and parliamentary
personnel, as well as members of the government,
journalists and academics.
ONGOING
PROJECTS
The
Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Security Sector Reform
|  This research initiative
seeks to establish what lessons can be learnt
form the OHR involvement in peacebuilding
in Bosnia in terms of security sector reform.
Funded by the Geneva Centre for Democratic
Control of Armed Forces, the research will
also focus on theoretical and policy-frameworks
of international involvement in post-conflict
peacebuilding, as well as assessing and
evaluating state-level security institutions
in Bosnia created through this reform.
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UNICEF Mine Action Programme
One of the toughest challenges facing BiH and one of the most enduring and threatening legacies of the 1992-1995 war is the wide presence of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition. The accumulation and misuse of SALW is a problem with broad humanitarian and socio-economic consequences for children, their families and communities. Small arms and armed violence affect children, either directly or indirectly. These effects are not only manifested in homicide and injury, there is also a large and negative list of outcomes such as psychological trauma, poorer quality of life, reduced productivity and the disruption of formal and informal institutions. In cooperation with UNICEF BiH, CSS has begun with the implementation of a Small Arms and Child Safety Survey 2009. The purpose of this Survey is to contribute to the protection and well-being of children, through a comprehensive research process to define the impact, and related dimensions, of small arms proliferation and misuse on children. The findings from the survey will be used to support the overall goals of the UNICEF Mine Action Programme 2005-2009 and the development of sustainable local capacity to tackle the landmine, unexploded ordnance and small arms threat in the long-term. The project is funded by UNICEF BiH.
Civil Society Capacity Building to Map and Monitor Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkan
The project’s main goal is to increase the capacity of the civil society in the Western Balkan region to effectively oversee security sector reform both on the national level, and through a cooperation network on the regional level. CSS is one of the six cooperation partners to the project which is funded by the Norwegian Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Cost and Benefit Analysis of BiH Membership in NATO.
One of BiH’s main political commitments is to join NATO, and as such, this commitment is expressed as one of the priorities of foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina (General directions and priorities for the implementation of foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina ). The analysis will evaluate the costs of NATO membership and the benefits which would be introduced with the eventual membership, or during the pre-accession phase of the process. These benefits, like much of the costs, have thus far focused primarily on the outcomes that would occur primarily within the military arena. However, not much attention has been devoted to the ‘governance’ aspect in relation to financial-budgetary benefits of putting in place operational mechanisms that would ensure a fully-functional governance aspect of democratic civilian oversight. This project is funded by the Department for International Development, UK .
Research and Roundtable on Human Rights in the Military Structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The aim of the project is to achieve an improvement in the levels individual human rights, labour rights, and political rights of employees in the military structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina . The financial support for the project is provided by the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
Research Project into the Private Security Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The research study will incorporate all of the recommendations from the beneficiary organisations, starting with the client organisations, private security companies, cantonal and entity regulating authorities, and parliamentarians. In this aspect, the beneficiary organisations will have a concrete input into the possible policy formulations for improved regulation pertaining to PSC in BiH. This project is funded by the Department for International Development, UK .
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Support for the Establishment of EU Information Centre (EUIC) in Sarajevo and EU Information Points (EUIPs) in Foca, Zenica and Gorazde, Bosnia and Herzegovina
|  Centre
for Security Studies in cooperation with
the delegation of European Commission, has
opened a European Union Information Centre
(EUIC) in Sarajevo and EU Info Points in
Zenica, Foča, Goražde in the spring
of 2007. The aim of the project is to increase
awareness within BiH society about the European
Union’s institutions, the Stabilization
and Association Agreement and its implications,
and about the EU in general in order to
more fully influence the policies and actions
of the Government concerning Stabilization
and Association Process.
Moreover, the EUICs will serve to create
an access point for the local population,
especially students, professors, and local
decision makers, as well as for the broad
public, to structured and comprehensive
information on the European Union, its structures,
activities and policies, legal system, documents
and publications, programmes and decision
making processes.
In order of initiating information exchange
between providers of information on the
EU in BiH and target audiences, EUICs are
going to be hosts to an array of debates,
seminars and roundtables.
Activities in the framework of EU Information Centre,
 Within the framework of the project 'EU Info Centar' , Centre for Security Studies organised a workshop on the 18th of March 2009, on the topic of ‘Process of integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina to EU: View on the implementation of the SAA’.
The opening statement was held by Mr. Denis Hadzovic and Mr. Ibrahim Hazibajric, Old Town Municipality Mayor and the thematic part of the workshop was headed by H.E. Imre Varga, Ambassador of the Hungarian Embassy in BiH and Mrs. Dzenana Hodzic, the Chief of Section for Strategical Issues at the Directorate for European Integrations in BiH.
The aim of the workshop was to inform the representatives of the local government, political parties and students with the topical proces of EU integration. This occassion also provided the Municipality officials who attended the workshop to participate in a quality discussion on the topics of the role of local communities in the process of integration.
Seminar on new financial
facility for Civil Society under the "Instrument
for Pre-accession Assistance Funds",
Sarajevo, 7 October 2008
 EU
Info Center Sarajevo in cooperation with
the Delegation of the European Commission
to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Directorate
for European Integrations of BiH has been
organized a 1-day seminar on new financial
facility for Civil society under the "Instrument
for Pre-accession Assistance IPA",
which was held on Wednesday, 8 October 2008,
from 09.30 to 16.00 hrs, at the premises
of the Delegation of the European Commission
to BiH.
Ambassador Dimitris Kourkoulas, Head of
EC Delegation to BiH addressed participants
together with Mr Yngve Engstroem and Hank
Visser, representatives of the EC Directorate
General for Enlargement, Mr Osman Topcagic,
Director of the Directorate for European
Integrations BiH and representatives of
donor and non-governmental organisations
in BiH.
The primary objective of this seminar was
to provide a forum for a discussion between
international and local representatives
on how the funds that the EU allocated for
strengthening civil society in BiH.
The new facility will cover three areas
of intervention:
- support for local civil society initiatives
and capacity building, reinforcing the role
of civil society in the candidate and potential
candidate countries
- People-to-People Dialogue programmes aimed
at familiarising journalists, young politicians,
trade union leaders, teachers, etc. with
EU policies and institutions
- support for building partnerships and
developing networks between civil society
organisations in the enlargement countries
and the EU to promote transfer of knowledge
and experience.
Civil society has a key
role in democratic public life. The EU's
strategy for enlargement has increasingly
put an emphasis on civil society dialogue
and development in the EU candidates and
potential candidates. Since 2005, the European
Commission has granted financial support
to projects on civil society dialogue with
and between Western Balkan countries. The
EU's financial support to civil society
activities in Western Balkans and Turkey
will approximately amount to 130 million
euros over the period 2008-2010.
AGENDA,
Presentation
EU Information Centre Exhibition
 The celebratory period, marking the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and EU Day, was deservingly manifested by the recently established EU Information Centre (EUIC) in Sarajevo, BiH with the aim of making EU presence more visible. With this goal in mind, EUIC organized an open-air exhibition which ran from 22nd March – 31st May 2007. The exhibition was comprised of 45 laminated panels, photographic images and general information regarding 27 EU capitals and general information about EU. Moreover, furthering the commemoration of EU 50th Anniversary, an accompanying catalogue and leaflets were handed out, promoting the banner ‘’Together Since 1957’’.
This event was both cultural and educational, providing information about each of the EU member states. The on-going promotion campaign targeted at an array of groups, particularly schools. This ensured the event had reached many people directly, most of them youngsters as well as the general public through media coverage.
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Activities in the framework of EU Information Centre, 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and EU Day 2007
On the 22nd March 2007,
Centre for Security Studies officially
opened an EU Information Centre (EUIC)
in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The
overarching aim of EUIC is to raise awareness
in BiH concerning the EU. In light of
the two landmark dates, the Treaty of
Rome Anniversary and EU Day, CSS has organised
several debates between the Ambassadors
of EU member states represented in BiH
and certain target groups, such as students,
local governance representative, journalists
etc. Alongside debate-stimulation, EUIC
has organised a cultural and educational
exhibition, whose informative content
concerned the general structure of EU
and images and details of member states’
capital cities. |
Declaration
on European future of BiH signed in
Goražde
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From 18th October 2007 until 8th
of May 2008, Delegation of the European
Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
together with institutions of European
Union and the Directorate for European
Integration BiH, as well as EU Info
Centres, are organising twenty two
Roundtables “Together with
Europe” ("U susret Evropi").
The goal of the roundtables is
to provide more information on the
process of European integration
and requirements awaiting BiH on
its European path, through discussion
with the citizens and non-governmental
sector. Furthermore, through signing
of the "Declaration of the
European Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina"
better cooperation will be established
with local community and citizens
and raise EU awareness among BiH
public.
The roundtables are designed in
a way to provide EU Family and DEI
representatives with possibility
to discuss the significance of the
EU integration process for Bosnia
and Herzegovina. They also represent
an opportunity for local community
representatives, citizens and NGO's
to gain better understanding of
requirements, benefits and stakeholders
within EU integration process.
The first roundtable which was
the responsibility of CSS was the
one in Goražde. The Declaration
on European future of BiH was signed
there on the 06th of December 2007
by Mr. Mustafa Kurtovic, Mayor of
Goražde, Mr. Marek Šafin
Deputy Ambassador to BiH, and Mrs.
Darija Ramljak, Deputy Director
of Directorate for European Integration
of BiH.
“Symbolically, after initialling
the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement (SAA), Goražde is
the first city in BiH where this
round table was organised”,
said Mr. Kurtovic. He also stressed
that local communities can make
significant contribution in the
process of European integration.
“Only two days after initialling
the SAA, credit rating in BiH has
increased” said Mrs. Ramljak.
She added that some key priorities
set in the document “European
Partnership with BiH” are
still not accomplished, such as
police reform, full cooperation
with International Criminal Tribunal
for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),
public administration reform, as
well as the reform of the public
broadcasting system.
Accomplishment of these priorities
is the precondition for the signing
of the SAA.
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Declaration
on European future of BiH signed in
Foca
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The Declaration on European future
of BiH was signed on the 28th of
February 2008 by Mr. Zdravko Krsmanovic,
Mayor of Foca, H.E. Miroslav Mojžita,
Slovakian Ambassador to BiH, and
Mrs. Dženana Hodžic Head
of Unit from the Directorate for
European Integration.
“It is our wish to portray
a message from this local community
that we truly and without a doubt
support and uphold European values”
said Mr. Krsmanovic
“In the future, BiH will
be able to take full advantages
of European resources as the SAA
will enable a single market economy
in BiH. In the next six years, BiH
will also be able to gradually implement
a no-customs policy on all export
items to the EU member states”
stressed Mrs Hodžic.
The signing of the Declaration
was part of a public debate „Together
with Europe“, which is one
of 22 public debates organised by
the Delegation of European Commission
in BiH, Directorate for European
Integration BiH and EU Info Centres.
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EU Information
Point in Zenica
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On 24th April 2007, an EU Information
Point (EUIP) was opened in Zenica
in the framework of the project
aimed at raising awareness of European
Union. The EUIP contains publications
concerning European integration
that are intended as educational
materials for the end user. At the
opening of EUIP, officials from
the Municipality of Zenica and the
local media were present, as well
as a large number of local citizens.
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EU Information
Point in Gorazde
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On 17th May 2007, an EU Information
Point (EUIP) was opened in Gorazde
in the framework of the project
aimed at raising awareness of European
Union. The EUIP contains publications
concerning European integration
that are intended as educational
materials for the end user. At the
opening of EUIP, officials from
the Municipality of Gorazde and
the local media were present, as
well as a large number of local
citizens. |
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Debate session
at EUIC, Sarajevo, 15th May 2007
‘’European Union –
The First 50 Years’’
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On 15th May 2007, the EU Info Centre
in Sarajevo hosted a discussion
with H.E. Miroslav Mojžita,
Ambassador of Slovakia in BiH. H.E.
Mojžita had an opportunity
to inform the participants on EU
enlargement process and experiences
of Slovakia after the 2004 accession.
Among participants of the round
table discussion were members of
the municipality council Centar
in Sarajevo, with Director of EU
Info Centre Ms. Olga Palinkašev
as round table moderator with media
coverage by the newspapers Dnevni
Avaz and Oslobođenje, and news
agency Fena. |
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Debate session at EUIC, Sarajevo, 25th April 2007
‘’European Union – The First 50 Years’’
On 25th April 2007, the EUIC in Sarajevo hosted a discussion with H.E. Maryse Berniau, Ambassador of France. H.E. Berniau had the opportunity to inform the participants on the role of France in the creation of European Union and Schuman Declaration. The attendees of this round table discussion were members of the press core in BiH and NGO's representatives from ‘’Boram’’ with Director of EU IC Ms. Olga Palinkašev as round table moderator as well as members of the newspaper Dnevni Avaz.
‘’The interest for EU is present more than ever especially among young people which even more highlights the importance of this Centre’’, declared H.E. Berniau. |
Debate session at EUIC, Sarajevo, 18th April 2007
‘’European Union – The First 50 Years’’
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On 18th April 2007, the EUIC in Sarajevo hosted a discussion with H.E. Imre Varga, Ambassador of Hungary. H.E. Varga had the opportunity to enlighten the participants on the experiences of Hungary joining the European Union. The attendees of this round table discussion were members of the council of the municipality „Stari grad“, staff from EU Info Center and their Director Ms. Olga Palinkašev as well as members of news agencies from Sarajevo (ONASA, Fena) and newspapers Dnevni avaz and Dnevni list.
‘’Any candidate country wishing to join the EU must meet the political and economic criteria and has to fully transpose and implement EU laws and standards’’, commented H.E. Varga. |
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Debate session
at EUIC, Sarajevo, 4th April 2007
‘’European Union – The First 50 Years’’
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On 4th April 2007, EUIC organised and hosted a first in a series of six debate-stimulating and awareness raising sessions. The guest-speaker of this session was Mr. Bernhard Abels, Deputy to the German Ambassador who informed the participants on the creation of EU. The participants included students from the Faculty of Political Science, Faculty of Criminal Science as well as members of CSS, EUIC staff and Ms. Olga Palinkasev, Project Director. Furthermore, this event was covered by the local media agencies, BH Press and Fena.
‘’The men and women who founded the EU in 1957 had great vision. But even they couldn’t have imagined what Europe - and the world - would look like 50 years later. Nowadays, the EU comprises 480 million citizens in twenty-seven Member States. The EU now accounts for 20 % of world trade and 25 % of global GNP. It also provides 55 % of the world's overseas development assistance’’, commented Mr. Abels. |
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COMPLETED PROJECTS
Supporting Community-Based Policing in Bosnia and Herzegovina through Safer Community Plans
Centre for Security Studies and our partner organisation Saferworld from UK have committed to implementing three Community Safety Plans in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is designed to support community safety at the local level, but at the same the project is designed to support National Community-Based Policing Strategy by establishing better links between the police, local government and local communities. The Community Safety Plans will be used to facilitate debate on crime, policing and community safety issues in the regional, entity and national media. As such, the sites in which the Community Safety Plans are taking place are intended to provide momentum for replicating community safety projects across the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the National Community-Based Policing Strategy. The project is in the initial stages of the implementation and is deemed to be completed in mid 2008.
The initial phases of the site selection have already been completed. Chosen local communities, according to the selection criteria, are located in Brcko District, Bijeljina and Mostar. Focus groups with local residents have been carried out enabling further identification of safety and security problems in those areas.
Simultaneously, this
project has been unofficially approved and
ratified in accordance with the activities
foreseen in the framework on the National
Community-Based Strategy. Further planned
activities are municipal-level seminars
which are going to provide an opportunity
to brief the participants on the project
and raise awareness of the comprehensive
nature of human security
Implementation of Safer Community
Plan in Brcko District, February 2008
Within the framework
of the Community-Based Policing Project,
being implemented under the auspices of
Saferworld organization from London, UK,
CSS has improved and strengthened local
capacities in the local community of Grcica,
Brcko District. Local citizens have organized
and formed a Security Forum, which has become
active during the project implementation,
and remains so during the first phases of
the Safer Community Plan implementation.
This local community has recognized and
prioritized security-related problems, and
has actively lobbied for the solutions.
In January 2008, local administration finally
put forward a plan of action which suited
the needs of the citizens, and the first
and second phase of the Safer Community
Plan will soon be finished. The Security
Forum remains as an official and active
body, soon to be incorporated into a wider
Municipal Forum, envisaged as part of the
National Community-Based Policing Strategy.
Implementation of Safer Community
Plan in Mostar, May 2008
 Within
the framework of the Community-Based Policing
Project, being implemented under the auspices
of Saferworld organization from London,
UK, CSS has improved and strengthened
local capacities in the two local communities
of Town of Mostar, MZ Podhum and MZ Brankovasc.
There, local administration, local police
and citizens have organized to form a
two Security Forums, which have become
active during the project implementation.
These two local communities have recognized
and prioritized security-related problems,
and have actively started to lobby for
the solutions with the local administration,
in cooperation with the local police.
The Safer Community Plans of both Forums
are a long-term initiative, and will get
incorporated into the larger Municipal
Security Forum, envisaged as part of the
National Community-Based Strategy.
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Evaluation of the Structure, Standards and Efficiency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The focus of this research topic is the evaluation of the structures, human resources, existing standards and overall Ministry of Foreign Affair's efficiency in the realisation of its assigned duties and responsibilities. The motives which generated this research arise from the evident halt Bosnia and Herzegovina is experiencing on the road towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Obviously, this halt cannot be viewed solely from the perspective of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs functioning, but it does support overall the internal political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
SALW Awareness
Raising Campaign
Centre
for Security Studies, in cooperation with
the United Nations Development Programme
in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) have
jointly embarked on a Small Arms and Light
Weapons (SALW) National Awareness-Raising
Campaign. The aim of this initiative is
to raise awareness amongst the population
regarding the dangers of illegal possession
of firearms and to educate citizens how
to recognize individual and collective threats
to security. Activities which will be implemented
in the course of the project will seek to
inform the designated target groups about
these dangers via a media information campaign,
on the local as well as national level and
through sporting activities targeted at
population below the age of 25. The implementation
of the project is already under way, and
is envisaged to be completed in January
2009.
Presentation of the study on liberalization of the visa regime for BiH citizens
On September 27th, in the Building of Institutions BiH, CSS in cooperation with the Directorate for European Integration BiH (DEI), held the presentation of the results of the Study “Softening of the visa regime for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina: What are the requirements that the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to fulfill in order to ease the transfer of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the “Black List” the “White List” of the visa Schengen Agreement”.
Denis Hadžović, CSS General Secretary, and Osman Topčagić, Director of DEI, introduced the Study, giving an up-to-date reflection on the status of visa regime liberalization for Bosnia and Herzegovina and current negotiations with the European Union. The Study was presented by Stela Vasić. The Study was prepared and financed through support of USAID and the Urban Institute.
English version (318KB)
Bosnian version (469KB)
Challenging
insecurity: engaging civil society in decision
making on arms control and community safety
A CARDS project implemented
by Saferworld from United Kingdom whose regional
partners are: Centre for Security Studies (CSS)
BIH, CIVIL – Citizens' Association for Civil
Society from Macedonia, Balkan Youth Union (BYU)
from Serbia & Montenegro and Forum for Civic
Initiatives (FIQ) from Kosovo/a
It is an 18-month project
designed to enhance access to, and participation
in, decision making on community safety and
arms control issues at the local, national and
regional levels across the western Balkans,
through developing the capacity of civil society
organisations to act as leaders and positive
advocates for change. The project started on
the 1 st of April 2005 with the opening meeting
held in Popova Sapka, Republic of Macedonia.
This project aims to contribute
to positive changes in government policy and
practice by increasing civil society participation
in decision-making on community safety and arms
control issues. It focuses on three key areas:
1) developing institutional capacity of partners
to act as leaders in the process of change;
2) encouraging local participation in making
communities safer; and 3) supporting development
of the regional NGO network on small arms. Target
groups include local NGOs, residents and the
general public, and a wide range of community
leaders. It will create sustainable local links
between the civil sector and local democratic
structures, strengthening the democratic process
and contributing towards lasting peace, development
and security across the region.
The overall objective of
this project is to contribute to sustainable
peace, development and respect for human rights
in the western Balkans, through developing the
capacity of civil society organisations in the
fields of arms control and community safety
in order to strengthen democratic processes
and build sustainable links between civil society
and local decision making structures.
LIBRARY (books and articles on SALW and Security issues)
The Sarajevo Process, “Improving the Conduct and Regulation of the Private Security Industry in BIH”
The launch of the Private Security Companies (PSC) Code of Conduct and Guidelines for the Procurement of the PSC was held on the 20th of September in Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo.The following draft code of conduct contains a set of basic standards of professionalism and quality, which should be applied by all employers and employees in the private security and military industry. This code of conduct is intended for use in addition to national legislation and all firms should also meet the basic conditions imposed by national legislation, complying strictly with both their spirit and the letter. The code is based on European and international best practice in this area and draws on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (proposed by the US Department of State and supported by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office).
According to the code, where there are gaps in national rules, employers and employees should work to improve them. The code covers a wide range of areas, ranging from the selection and recruitment of workers and vocational training to health and safety at work, and it includes non-discrimination and relations with clients, the police and other security firms.Companies will support the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Companies in the sector will apply these principles and guarantee that each employee is fully integrated and not discriminated against on grounds of ethnicity or social background, skin colour, union affiliation, sex, religion, political opinion, nationality, sexual orientation or any other distinctive characteristic. Steps should be taken to discourage companies of exclusive ethnicity operating over the longer term.
The Sarajevo Process, “Improving the Conduct and Regulations of the Private Security Industry in BIH”, Sarajevo, 20 September, 2006
THE SARAJEVO CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES
English version (580KB)
THE SARAJEVO CLIENT GUIDELINES FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF PRIVATE SECURITY
COMPANIES English version (514KB)
Awareness
Rising Project on Dangers of Small Arms and
Light Weapons
This project included the
education of children form seventh and eighth
grade of primary schools in Sarajevo about dangers
of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Lectures have been held in 12 primary schools
in Canton Sarajevo within the implementation
of the above-mentioned project, as well as in
3 primary schools in East Sarajevo. The lectures
took place in schools that belong to four municipalities
in Sarajevo (Center, Stari Grad, Novo Sarajevo
and Novi Grad), as well as the municipalities
Kasindo, Pale and Lukavica that belong to East
Sarajevo.
The lectures consisted of
four parts:
- The first part consisted
of the introduction of instructors, introduction
of CSS, Presentation of the very project,
as well as few words on the Small Arms and
Light Weapons problem.
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In the second part the
instructors tried to familiarize children
with the fact that weapons today present an
alarming problem in the world and in our country.
In order to make them think more seriously
about this problem, few facts regarding the
danger and consequences of the use, that is,
misuse of weapons. Emphasis was placed on
the fact that every minute one person dies
from SALW and that it is foreseen that the
misuse of SALW will take more lives in the
future than any epidemic.
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The third and most interesting
part of the lecture both for the instructors
and children was the interactive dialogue.
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At the end of the lecture
we tried to com to a conclusion together with
children regarding this problem.
After the visits to schools
and conversations with a large number of children
(around 1500 of them), the CSS team is satisfied
with what it had achieved. In the interactive
dialogue with children, which was the most important
part, we received data which helped us to learn
the thinking of these children regarding this
problem. The misuse of SMAL in the world, especially
in post-war countries as is BiH, represents
an alarming and big problem. That is why the
aim of this project was to point out the dangers
of SALW to children since we assumed that children
in this period (early puberty) are inclined
to experiment, so we assumed that children will
be tempted to play with weapons if they accidentally
found it. This is not impossible at all since
there is much hidden SALW remaining in BiH.
Due to such a situation,
this project attempted at educating children
on all consequences and dangers of SALW in order
to reduce eventual risks to a minimum.
During the implementation of the project and
conversation with children we encountered various
opinions and experiences of children.
Pilot weapons collection project – „Predaj oruzje Osvoji orudje“ 5 Nov.-5 Dec. 2006, Sarajevo
Trained CSS staff performed their role in monitoring and verification of the collection process of the illegal weapons owned by the civilians. Project under
the auspices of the UNDP office in Bosnia and Herzegovina was organised for
the first time in cooperation of the Entities Ministries of Interior Affairs with aim to
improve security environment in five municipalities in Sarajevo. This pilot project
achieved good results in improving human security and demonstrated that with
adequate planning it is possible to realize a project that goes beyond the scope
of political obstacles.
Another positive effect can be seen in terms of mobilization and gathering of different actors, such as law enforcement agencies, civil society, media, and local
authorities in working together towards creating safe and secure environment for
citizens.
Presentation of the study on liberalization of the visa regime for BiH citizens Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 27 September, 2006.
 
Dialogue
on the Constitution of BiH
The Dialogue on the Constitution
of BiH project will bring together a group of
individuals form Bosnia and Herzegovina , who
do not have a direct party political affiliation,
but who command a serious amount of respect
in the country and outside – opinion makers,
who influence people without having direct powers.
Local ownership is of the essence. The select
group of people will be kept as small as possible
– the larger it gets, the more cumbersome it
is likely to be. These people will be brought
together several times to discuss what they
and their communities will need to be able to
accept that they will live in the state of Bosnia
and Herzegovina . They will receive all support
needed from the two NGOs - the Center for Euro
Atlantic Integration and Democracy in Budapest
and the Center for Security Studies in Sarajevo
- which will be the conveners of the meetings
and host the project. The entire project will
be conducted under the auspices of the Government
of Norway.
Since the conclusion of the
Dayton Accords in 1995, much progress has been
made in the consolidation of the situation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina . That being said there
is also widespread feeling that progress has
not been sufficient to make the overall process
self-sustaining. The attention of the International
Community is beyond doubt declining, as is the
inflow of foreign aid. The Dayton process, we
also feel, is about to reach its limits. We
think a new approach is necessary, which does
not call the achievements made to date into
question, but rather builds on them, in a slightly
different context.
The group will use the Dayton
Accords as a starting point and put its emphasis
on paving the way for BiH's integration in Euro-Atlantic
structures. The group of experts will at the
outset focus on the parts of the constitution
and the political system that function well
or at least passably well. From there the group
will proceed to consider those parts of the
Constitution that do not function as well or
that do not function at all. The group will
then propose and develop, on the basis of the
proceeding discussions, concrete amendments
to the constitution in order to deal with current
shortcomings and problems, outlining the basic
principles of a new constitution. Finally, the
findings of the group will have to be fed into
the political process in an appropriate way
and at an appropriate time in order to bear
effect.
Survey results: Dialogue on the Constitution of BiH (.pdf)
Rezultati istraživanja: Dijalog o Ustavu Bosne i Hercegovine (.pdf)
Security
Education Development Initiative – SEDI
This programme began in May
2002 and will be held over a period of four
years. SEDI focuses on the countries of former
Yugoslavia – plus one, minus one; that is with
the inclusion of Albania and exclusion of Slovenia.
Precisely these countries have been chosen as
they share similar problems and the search for
common solutions to our regional issues remains
the cornerstone of lasting peace and advancement.
The project site will vary
from year to year, changing from country to
country with the inclusion of Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro (events to be
held in the territories of both Serbia and Montenegro).
The project commenced with a summer school held
on 17 – 21 July in Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The programme will endeavour
to create a lasting mechanism of cooperation
and key skills development that will be held
annually and involve the participation of individuals
from the country focus area that is mentioned
above.
Although the objectives
of the project are numerous, the primary aim
is to cater for the education of young security
experts from the South East European region.
Young experts would like to actively participate
in government policy formulation and decision-making;
however, existing cadres, practice and lack
of information regarding contemporary procedures
often hamper their participation. Moreover,
the ability to effectively exercise that role
has been impaired by archaic administrative
and political structures and practices, and
insufficient access to new ideas and innovations.
At the same time, the work
of lecturing security subjects has been further
constrained by many of the inefficient practices,
styles and norms that were inherited from the
university administrations of the socialist
period, as well as a lack of relevant curricula
and materials. Consequently, the academic and
professional development of young security experts
is almost wholly disregarded and the project
aims to make remedy towards these deficiencies.
The project will target
young professionals from government ministries,
parliaments, academia, and the media, as well
as students within security subjects and other
related areas; and the subsequent focus will
be the inclusion of these persons from the project's
country focus areas.
The Security
Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina
This project aimed to serve
towards the development of a state-level security
policy for Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the
major problems in the security policy document''s
formulation was that there lacked the sufficient
means and knowledge in order to commence with
its elaboration. Consequently, the project aimed
to furnish those responsible for its development
with the necessary background and expertise
to ensure that the document reflected Bosnia
and Herzegovina''s needs in the changing European
security environment.
The principal aim of the
project was to provide expertise and a medium
in which issues pertaining to the development
of the BiH Security Policy could be formulated,
and to provide a forum whereby issues relating
to the elaboration of the security policy could
be discussed.
The project was devised
in June 2001 and commenced with the Seminar
on Security Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
held in Sarajevo on 16 – 17 July 2001. A security
policy concept document was presented that contained
the important thematic elements that the security
policy document should contain; it was upon
this document that the project was further elaborated.
Within the framework of
the project, three round-tables
on aspects of the security policy were held.
These round-tables covered the following topics:
foreign and financial policy aspects, intelligence
services, and internal policy, which covered
the multitude of issues that were contained
in the security policy concept document.
The events included participants
from the state and entity level governments
and parliaments, from the Ministry of Defence
of each entity, from the Standing Committee
on Military Matters, from academic circles,
political parties and from the media.
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