Dealing with the past
The set of actions under specific objective “Dealing with the past” will target relevant Kosovo institutions and governmental bodies demanding development of ethnic-sensitive and victim-sensitive national strategies and policies dealing with transitional justice and reconciliation process in Kosovo. Only once national legislative framework and governmental bodies/institutions, sensitively and justly address the need of all Kosovo communities, victims of past atrocities of all ethnic backgrounds, the governmental enactments will become a factor contributing to the reconciliation in Kosovo. The proposed intervention aims to offer the government those information and insights that prerequisite responsible and ethnic sensitive governmental enactments in the process of dealing with the past and reconciliation.
Dealing with the present
The set of actions under specific objective “Dealing with the present” aims to assure active involvement of grass-root community (women, youth) and professional groups (journalists) in efforts that address currently dominating and conflict-fuelling ethnic misperceptions. This will be achieving through structural efforts in labelling/addressing ethnic stereotypes, promotion of cultural diversity as well promotion of ethnic-sensitive and affirmative public discourse (through media involvement). Cumulatively these actions will increase understanding and sensitiveness of community actors to the interests, views and needs presented in other ethnic groups in Kosovo stripping down the conflictual ethnic misconceptions and barriers.
Dealing with the future
These set of actions tackles the growing conflict drivers, i.e. those deficiencies/beliefs in Kosovo that are growing as the time passes by, reducing the capacity and willingness of Kosovo ethnic groups to engage in reconciling dynamics. Such an investment in future of Kosovo will tackle language differences, pioneer the Cultural Diversity Day in Kosovo and involve emerging youth leaders of various ethnic backgrounds in promoting these values. This will enable beneficiaries, especially the youth groups in Kosovo to gain a better insight in shared cultural values, gain a new perspective of history of ethnic conflict in Kosovo (deprived of nationalistic and populistic misconceptions) as well as set the groundwork and awareness of needs for institutional response to language barrier in Kosovo. All the listed factors are essential to future of ethnic coexistence in Kosovo.
Partner Organizations
Humanitarian Law Center
The Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) Kosovo was established in Prishtinë in May 1997, by a well-known human rights activist Mrs. Nataša Kandić, as a branch office of the Humanitarian Law Center.
Artpolis
ARTPOLIS is a Kosovo-based NGO that promotes culture, arts and multiethnic co-existence through social dialogue and use of theatre as a tool for promoting diversity and social change.
AKTIV
Aktiv was founded in the divided city of Mitrovica. Since its inception in 2009, Aktiv has successfully implemented an array of projects and has become an active part of local civil society.
Documenta
Centre for Dealing with the Past in an attempt to encourage the process of dealing with the past and establishing factual truth about the war and to contribute to shifting of the discussion from the level of dispute over facts (the number of killed people, etc.) towards a dialogue on interpretations.