Mandatory information for internal use
This information will not be published in any circumstances without prior official
approval.
Each story and experience from the last war in Kosovo is unique, valuable and very
important to revealing the truth. Tell your story to contribute to the process of dealing
with the past, to let your voice be heard and have your testimony recorded and
documented. Your story will be considered as a potential candidate for production of
Narrative Documentary Films “People and Memories Talk”, or any other publication
activity of Integra NGO.
Executive summary
The region of the former Yugoslavia experienced brutal wars and gross human rights violations in the 1990s. With the collapse of the state, new ethno-political nation-states were formed, often leading to policies of exclusion. As a result, members of one community are often incapable of empathizing with victims in other communities. Victims are too often reduced to statistics, and their unique destinies and histories generally ignored. This lack of capacity to recognize the suffering of victims and empathize with victims in the different communities represents a significant obstacle on the path towards reconciliation between communities.
Integra is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization based in Kosovo, which works on supporting conflict victims and communities across the Balkans in their efforts towards Dealing with the Past and Transitional Justice. Through this, Integra aims to make a tangible contribution to peace building and conflict transformation in the region. Integra has extensive experience in the area of Dealing with the Past and Transitional Justice, and specifically in efforts to collect the memories of victims in written and video formats.
Integra’s “People and Memories Talk – Short Narrative Documentary Films” project consists in the collection of unique destinies and histories of up to 50 victims from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia in the format of short documentary films for serial broadcasting on television channels across the region. Of all popular media, television illustrates best the power of mass communication to inform, educate and influence the general public. Documentary films have grown popularity and impact, affecting social and political change, as well as introducing audiences to new ideas, practices and philosophies. By producing attractive video products suitable for broadcasting to the general public and broadcasting them across the region, Integra will leverage the power of television as mass media to not only help restore victims’ dignity, but also contribute to the processes of inter-community trust-building, coexistence and conflict transformation in the Balkans.
The project will be implemented over two years. It will be managed by Integra and will involve the development of close cooperation with a network of partner organizations which will provide support in working with victims and securing air-time on television channels across countries in the region. The sustainability of the project will be ensured through the serial approach, the uploading of the films on a dedicated web page, and the availability of the films for broadcasting at any time after the end of the project. The output of the project might also represent a useful base for authorities and stakeholders in the field of Dealing with the Past and Transitional Justice to establish the status of victims and develop reparation programs.
Context - Problem to be addressed
Usually, the destinies and histories of victims from the last wars in the region of ex-Yugoslavia are generalized and directly transformed into numbers, with no attention either names or personal histories. However, each direct victim of war has its own story and its own history. Each story is original and very meaningful for victims themselves, and each story should be important to the society as well and not just be treated like just another statistic. Such stories should be as much as possible documented and published, contributing directly to mass awareness about the past and to the transitional justice process.
It is proven that identification and solidarity with members of the same community accused of war crimes is very strong, while members of other communities suspected of committing war crimes are accused arbitrarily. There is therefore a need to create a regional public platform to document and publish the stories of victims of war crimes during the recent wars/conflicts in the region and disseminate these stories widely across the region, thereby contributing to building up a strong base for peace in the region. Such a platform can eventually trigger empathy from the public and respect and solidarity with not only the victims with whom the public already sympathises but also with those whom they were unable to recognize in the past. It puts what is the most important back in the spotlight: The unique stories of the victims, disregarding their membership to a group of individuals.
Because of the previous events in the region and the current political circumstances (newly formed states as a result of the breakup of the ex-Yugoslavia), the process of Dealing with the Past (DwP) and Transitional Justice (TJ) in the ex-Yugoslavia requires a regional approach. Through the production of narrative documentary films on individual victims of the conflict, a broad public across the region should hear memories of victims from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia (ethnic Serb victims from Serbia and other ex-Yugoslavia countries as well as other minorities from Serbia) and Kosovo.
A regional approach will not only restore the dignity to victims and their families, but also contribute to mutual understanding and empathy between victims across borders and foster greater understanding and tolerance between societies.
Youth and Diversity in Europe – OFEU 2012
Truth Telling in Kosovo – Which Way Now – An Empirical Research
Transcripts – English – People and Memrories Talk – Integra
I Want to be Heard – Memory Book
DwP Presentation – INTEGRA NGO
A Conceptual Framework for Dealing with a Past – Swiss Peace
Terms and Conditions
The Narrative Documentary Films “People and Memories Talk” are subject to copyrights owned by the Non-Governmental Organization Integra. Any reproduction, use or republication of all or a part of these documentaries is prohibited, unless expressly NGO Integra has given prior consent.
Names, service marks and logos of Non-Governmental Organization Integra and/or project partners/donors that appear in video products and/or the website cannot be used for the advertisement or publicity without prior written permission from Non-Governmental Organizations Integra and project partners/donors.
Disclaimer
These products/publications are responsibility and property of Non-Governmental Organization Integra and in no way can be considered as donors or partners attitude.
Non-Governmental Organization Integra takes no responsibility for personal stories and opinions presented in productions of narrative documentary films.
Rules and Guidelines
Non-Governmental Organization Integra is pleased to offer space for comments, discussion and social media interaction. The use of offensive language and insults is prohibited. Insults and banal use of words will result in immediate exclusion from commenting. Integra holds the rights to publish or not to a particular comment. The content of the comments does not reflect the attitude of the Non-Governmental Organization Integra nor the donors who have supported this project.