Serbia-Kosovo

Serbia-Kosovo

In Serbia-Kosovo, we work side by side with activists, journalists, and civil society organisations to strengthen relationships within and between communities.

Overview of our work in Serbia-Kosovo

Peaceful Change initiative has been working in the Western Balkans since 2020, with a focus on Serbia-Kosovo.

We work side by side with activists, journalists, and civil society organisations to increase the diversity of voices calling for peace and the effectiveness of those working to make peace happen. We build networks and relationships across conflict divides, building common ground on issues of mutual concern. We also help local voices to be heard within national and international decision-making circles.

For example, we have helped establish partnerships between media companies operating in different languages, a fellowship scheme for journalists, a media award for positive journalism, and a series of dialogues between journalists aimed at identifying effective approaches to counter conflict-generating messages.

"This award is exceptionally valuable because it promotes professionalism, respect for the journalists’ ethical code and – primarily – tolerance and dialogue in Serbia’s media scene. Awarding those people who do not dehumanise “the other” and keep their eyes open to the reality is a bridge building exercise between nations. It is also the right alternative to a heated media atmosphere and helps to cool those negative passions.”  Media Award winner, Serbia

Serbia-Kosovo Rapid Response Mechanism

The Kosovo-Serbia Rapid Response Mechanism (KSRRM) brings together approximately 20 civil society leaders representing a wide range of geographic and ethnic communities in Serbia and Kosovo. The RRM has successfully cooperated at times of heightened tension, producing joint statements that seek to minimise the harm done by divisive narratives. Such co-operation builds foundations for future peacebuilding efforts and helps normalise working together. The KSSRM has also produced several joint policy and research papers focusing on economic development, access to justice, and peacebuilding in the town of Mitrovica. The work of the KSRRM is underpinned by the principles of working towards the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. 

PCi has developed a unique methodology for providing support and accompaniment to civic organisations in Kosovo and Serbia to strengthen their ability to carry out their core missions and build their relationships with constituents in their own societies. PCi has supported Naš svet, naša pravila‘ from Vranje to mainstream youth priorities, Local Peace to strengthen its peacebuilding work in north Kosovo, Radio Goraždevac to build media partnerships to expand its coverage, Media Centre Čaglavica to conduct more publicly-oriented debates, Be Active 16 to further the integration of the Albanian community in south Serbia, Zeri Rinor to building an alliance of youth organisations in Gjilan/Gnjilane as a means of improving inter-ethnic relations, and the Institute for Public Research from Gračanica to find ways to mobilize Kosovo Serbs south of the Ibar to develop a vision for building a life inside Kosovo. 

“Our organisation was formed by young people wanting to make a difference. It followed different thematic directions to engage young people. The institutional support allowed us to work on a specific outcome in our community, working on the development of a local youth strategy, its adoption and a budget allocation. As a result of this partnership, we became more recognisable in our community, established cooperation with neighbouring communities, extended our network of activists, and built a partnership with local media”.  Youth activist leader, Vranje, Serbia 

PCi has been able to test a variety of approaches to working across communities in conflict through tackling issues of common concern to communities on both side of the divide, such as human trafficking, education, and hate speech. Our flexible and innovative approach has meant that we have been able to keep work going where other more formal processes have stalled. In partnership with the Universities of Belgrade and Pristina, PCi has supported joint research into the state of civil society in Serbia and Kosovo, an academic fellowship programme, and workshops on adjusting to a changing academic environment. PCi has built a network of young activists from south Serbia to promote UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security and seek the incorporation of youth perspectives into the seven point plan on the integration of the Albanian community. In south Serbia and east Kosovo, a network of civil society organisations is helping combat human trafficking by filling the vacuum created by a lack of police cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo. PCi also assisted an initiative called ‘Hack the Hate’, comprised of young people from Kosovo and Serbia using social media to confront instances of hate speech.   

“I believe that academia plays a significant role in conflict resolution[…] Therefore I am overjoyed that this project was realised, it serves as a perfect example of cooperation with a “spillover” effect, and hopefully soon there will be a possibility for the exchange of students in addition to academic staff.” 

Researcher, University of Pristina 

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