Observatory

Browse practices and methods that have proven useful in the work against radicalisation

Resonant Voices Initiative

The "Resonant Voices Initiative" has been implemented by the CIJA US, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and Talks 2.0, and tries to challenge extremist narratives in the public discourse throughout the Western Balkans – in particular those disseminated online. In addition to that critical voices in the target countries should be equipped with the skills, know-how and resources to counter radicalization, the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters and violent extremists as well as other dangerous trends. The initiative will empower a diverse group of civil society actors like activists, journalists, bloggers, educators and other on- and offline influencers to become the resonant voices, able to counter violent extremism, to push back against extremist propaganda and to increase and amplify alternative, positive messages.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina there are currently 30 ongoing investigations at the state prosecution on crimes that could be associated with terrorism and with Bosnian citizens travelling to foreign battlefields. Several investigations associated with threats to domestic and international institutions have also been opened, while the state prosecution says it will focus on prevention in the upcoming period.

Moreover the state has launched a project for helping the reintegration of violent and extremist prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina and people who committed terrorist acts will be covered with the aim of preventing the return of prisoners to violent extremism following their release into their local community.
One remaining problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the fact that it has numerous police agencies with sometimes overlapping mandates and the communication between police agencies around the fight against terrorism is still a problem. Half of the agencies do not attend their meetings and individuals from police agencies do not attend meetings of operational groups! All institutions, starting from the strategic group and the operational group for fighting terrorism, are not set up properly and don’t know anything about what leads to criminal activities. Another problem is that the people convicted of terrorism were given only short sentences and some of them are even able to swap their one-year sentences for fines. The maximum of five years in jail hasn’t been handed down in any case, so the existing laws aren’t really used to discourage those who were ready to go from going.

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