The past weekend, from June 9 - 11, 2023, a seminar, "Hate Speech and Hate Crimes," was held in Sarajevo in cooperation with the organization Youth for Peace and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The seminar was attended by 15 young people who come from cities and towns throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as Sarajevo, Čapljina, Novi Travnik, Žepče, Zenica, Visoko, Hadžići, Bugojno, and Banja Luka. During the seminar, the participants discussed hate speech with the Youth for Peace facilitators, how it arises, how it can lead to hate crimes, and how to recognize and identify hate speech and hate crimes. In addition, participants learned how to react to hate speech and influence its reduction.

Our invitation to be guest lecturers at the seminar was answered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amer Osmić from the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Emina Dedić Bukvić from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo, and Senka Kurt, editor of Interview.ba. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amer Osmić talked with young people about hate speech in the process of political campaigns and elections, while Prof. Dr. Emina Dedić Bukvić talked about stereotypes and prejudices as one of the causes of hate speech. Senka Kurt spoke to the participants about hate speech in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian media.

The seminar ended with a reflection and evaluation session, where young people could evaluate the sessions, focusing on facilitators, lecturers, and the methods and approaches used during each workshop. In addition, the participants could also suggest which topics interest them and which the organizers should consider when preparing for future educational activities. Youth for Peace wants to shape its work to the needs of its participants. Therefore, the opinion of young people will undoubtedly influence the selection of topics and the way of organizing future educational activities.