MIP holds a lecture and workshop on ICTY legacy in Podgorica
On 15 and 16 October 2025, the Mechanism Information Programme for Affected Communities (MIP) organized a lecture series and workshop in Podgorica, Montenegro, aimed at journalists, historians, archaeologists, social science researchers, museum professionals, and civil society representatives. The activities focused on deepening knowledge about the legacy of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), with topics covering their historical significance, practical work with archives, and the importance of preserving and interpreting judicial records for understanding the conflicts of the 1990s.
The activity was part of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) project “Mapping Memories through the Path of Dialogue and the Stories of Victims”, implemented as part of the regional programme “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans”, funded by the European Union (EU) and executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
MIP researcher Nemanja Stjepanović delivered lectures on the legacy of the ICTY, emphasizing its role in transitional justice and regional reconciliation. Special focus was given to key cases, including trials related to war crimes in Dubrovnik and Srebrenica. He also led practical workshops on navigating the ICTY and Mechanism archives through the Unified Court Records, where participants selected research topics, defined approaches, and applied their skills to investigate cases. The groups later presented their findings, discussing methodology, sources, and conclusions.
Additionally, the activity included the creation of a digitalized database of the Information and Documentation Centre (IDC) in Podgorica, designed for use by legal professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders. This database will be integrated into the YIHR website and developed in cooperation with MIP, which provides expert support in processing, classifying, and archiving materials.
This initiative forms part of MIP’s efforts to support projects and events implemented by civil society organizations active in the field of transitional justice in the region of the former Yugoslavia.
The aim of MIP is to improve the knowledge and understanding of citizens and communities in the countries of the former Yugoslavia about crimes committed during the conflicts of the 1990s, based on the jurisprudence of the ICTY and the Mechanism.
The MIP is funded by the European Union.