OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina marks International Day of Tolerance with youth in Jajce

SARAJEVO, 16 November 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today supported the municipalities of Jajce and Jezero in organizing a roundtable discussion and opening of the hiking trail “Otomalj” in Jajce, as part of its activities to mark the International Day of Tolerance. The Mission also hailed the intention of the dedicated citizens in Jajce to form an additional Coalition against Hate, building on the success of other coalitions throughout BiH.

The events gathered students, municipal officials and non-governmental representatives to talk about how to promote tolerance and learn more about the role of coalitions against hate in local communities.

Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Jonathan Moore joined the students and municipal officials and said: “I am delighted to be back in Jajce, especially with the courageous secondary school students whose message of mutual respect and community values is inspiring. As we see with our Mission’s Youth Advisory Group, whose members have also joined us in Jajce, young people are the best asset of this country.”

The importance of marking the International Day of Tolerance in Jajce was stressed by the Mayor of Jajce Edin Hozan. “I believe that the citizens of BiH by respecting their differences, promoting co-existence and reinforcing the culture of dialogue pursue the path of the more tolerant society.”

The Jajce Coalition against Hate becomes the 20th coalition of this kind to join the OSCE’s Super Citizens initiative.

Mirko Ljubez of the Coalition against Hate from Jajce says that establishing the Coalition is an important step toward strengthening trust and improving mutual relations. “Preventive measures are the best model for recognizing and preventing negative phenomena in our society.”

This year, the OSCE Mission to BiH marked the International Day of Tolerance with 60 events in 24 cities across the country.