Background

The Project aims to increase accountability for war crimes in the Western Balkans region, strengthen overall support of the public for these processes as well as to foster dialogue within societies and between ethnic groups about crimes committed during the 1990s, all with the vision of achieving sustainable peace in the region and leaving more resilient communities with stronger social cohesion.  This will strengthen the rule of law, help the EU accession processes, and contribute to establishing a more favorable environment for solidarity, reconciliation and sustainable peace in the region, leaving more resilient communities. 

Objectives

• Better equip judicial and law enforcement authorities in handling war crimes cases at the domestic level including through a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach.  
• Improve conditions for regional cooperation in handling war crimes cases through bilateral and multilateral high and technical level peer-to-peer meetings and policy dialogue.
• Provide expertise and support to enhance a stronger victim-centered and gender-responsive approach in the handling of domestic war crime cases and increase the delivery of support services to victims and witnesses, including by strengthening the capacities of CSOs through the rolling out of a sub granting scheme.
• Support grassroots actors and young opinion leaders, including through the provision of grants, to raise public awareness of past crimes and promote dialogues and exchanges amongst youth, journalists, historians, academics, students, local community actors, and others.