With a focus on four countries in the Western Balkans region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia), IPPFoRB together with Dr Mine Yildirim (author of the report) launches the ‘Strengthening the Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Western Balkans: A Roadmap for Parliamentarians’.
Thursday 25 November | 10.00-11.30 CET
A one-of-a-kind operational tool for parliamentarians in the Western Balkans region, this report presents common trends and patterns and also opportunities to help increase the impact of parliamentarians’ work on freedom of religion or belief for all. Each country chapter provides a legal framework of a focus country together with key challenges in the area of freedom of religion or belief, which emerged from conversations with 85 key stakeholders who were interviewed in person by Dr Yildirim and the IPPFoRB Secretariat. The report also identifies a diverse range of country-based actors such as inter-governmental organizations, civil society and religious and belief communities who might be relevant for parliamentarians to engage with on this issue. Finally, in the report, Dr Yildirim sketches a way forward for parliamentarians so that their engagement on promoting freedom of religion or belief in their own country and region is effective, focused and meaningful.
KEY DOCUMENTS
PROGRAMME
Introductory remarks by Liv H. Kvanvig, Director of IPPFoRB
The report and recommendation presented by Dr Mine Yildirim
Panel discussion by parliamentarians from the four focus countries on the recommendations from the report and advancing the right to freedom of religion or belief in the region through national and regional collaboration:
Moderator: Susan Kerr, Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
· Besa Ismaili, Professor and Former Member of Parliament, Kosovo
· Vladimir Gjorcev, Former Member of Parliament, North Macedonia
· Vesna Markovic, Member of Parliament, Serbia
· Senad Šepić, Former Member of Parliament, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Q&A session
Concluding remarks from Liv H. Kvanvig
The event will be in English and simultaneous interpretation in Bosnian, Macedonian, Albanian and Serbian will be offered. The IPPFoRB Secretariat cannot guarantee simultaneous interpretation in other languages however, we are currently trying to secure interpreters for other relevant languages in the region. More information will follow soon.