“When it comes to protecting whistleblowers, the issue is that judicial institutions are not fulfilling their responsibilities. Appeal to the judiciary: The slow pace of the judiciary erodes public trust in the system and discourages citizens from reporting corruption. When these institutions perform their duties more effectively, people will feel more confident and brave when reporting corruption,” said Emir Kustura, project coordinator at the Centers for Civic Initiatives.
At the end of 2019, Reinhard Priebe presented a report on the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The report indicated that the judiciary fails to combat serious crime and corruption effectively. The situation has not improved since.
“We are aware that we need to focus on legislative changes and protecting whistleblowers, and we hope to see progress in these areas. Transparency International is currently implementing a USAID project focused on legislative changes and the protection of whistleblowers in corruption cases. We need to begin with ourselves and our local community. Corruption isn’t limited to government institutions and public companies; it’s pervasive throughout society. When someone wants to take our river from us to make a profit, that is also corruption. When someone takes away our clean air, that, too, is corruption. It is corruption when you’re forced to give money in exchange for employment. Unfortunately, multiple generations in BiH have grown up surrounded by corruption to the extent that they have become desensitized. We have to change that, and young people have the power to stand up to this and speak up,” says Emir Kustura.
Research in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including surveys conducted by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, highlights corruption as a major factor driving young people to leave the country. Overall, the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is grim, with corruption impacting all areas of life, particularly employment.
How can young people help?
Speak Up Against Corruption! “The Role of Young People in the Fight Against Corruption” was an event that brought together young activists and representatives from youth organizations and associations in Sarajevo Canton. The goal was to discuss and learn about how young people can contribute to combating corruption. Through the discussion and exchange of information and opinions, our guests from the Center for Investigative Reporting, Centers for Civic Initiatives, the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption tried to motivate young people and encourage them to proactively engage in the fight against corruption.
“We have always considered education and proactive youth participation as fundamental pillars of society. Through sustained and systematic efforts with key groups whose knowledge and activism shape society, the Agency runs a long-standing public call project for primary and secondary school students. This project involves both teaching staff and students,” said Tahani Komarica, Senior Expert Associate for Development and Implementation of Educational Programs at the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight Against Corruption.
Activists and representatives of youth organizations agree that educating young people about corruption, its different forms, and ways to combat it should be a priority.
Young people also believe that addressing corruption at the local level is crucial, which includes demanding answers from authorities about any observed irregularities, whether related to government services or community infrastructure.
The role of the media and non-governmental organizations is crucial, and their consistency in fighting corruption and informing the public is even more important.
According to the participants of today’s event, the areas most affected by corruption are education, health, and employment.
Young people are a crucial part of the fight against corruption. As they themselves have noted, being well-organized will help them make a bigger impact.
“Today, I had the opportunity to talk to other young people from various youth organizations about our perspectives and opinions on the fight against corruption. Although this topic might not initially seem appealing to young people, today’s discussion highlighted how much we can contribute to this fight and the importance of our involvement. Whistleblowing carries significant responsibility, so it can be easier for us to come forward and report corruption as a group. It’s also important to highlight positive outcomes from reporting corruption to show young people it’s worth the effort. Corruption is not part of our mentality, and we must not allow that argument to be used to justify it,” says Amila Čengić from the Youth Council of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo.
“The Institute for Youth Development KULT is an organization I have worked with on various youth projects, and my experiences with them have always been extremely rewarding. This time I’m attending as a young persons, but also as someone who can share the perspective of the NGO sector on these topics. The topic of today’s event was corruption. We can all agree that corruption is a key factor driving young people to leave the country, as it hinders not only their progress but also the progress of society in general. The participants included prominent investigative journalists, international representatives of various initiatives, and individuals who work on exposing numerous incidents of corruption and illegal activities. The concept of today’s event was modern and tailored to young people, resulting in a productive discussion and a positive atmosphere,” said Emin Alić from the Muharem Berbić Foundation.
The fight against corruption and organized crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hampered by inconsistent legislation and inadequate institutional cooperation and coordination. In reports from the European Commission and GRECO (Group of States Against Corruption), the supervisory body of the European Commission for the fight against corruption, BiH was told to take concrete steps to combat corruption. Corruption is not cheap. It takes a political toll by undermining democracy and the rule of law, draining public finances, repelling investors, and increasing citizens’ mistrust of government institutions and leaders. Bosnia and Herzegovina should adopt and implement laws to regulate conflicts of interest and protect whistleblowers, ensure the anti-corruption body’s effectiveness, harmonize and regulate legislation, and build capacities for public procurement.
The Institute for Youth Development KULT’s initiative, Say NO to Corruption in Sarajevo Canton, addresses setting up a strategic framework for combating corruption, managing conflicts of interest in government institutions, and informing and educating citizens, especially young people, about the harmful effects of corruption.
Today’s event for young people was organized with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH.
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