Accreditation of the Program Y(outh) in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in cooperation with OSCE and our organization organized the Third Conference on the Prevention of Violence and Juvenile Delinquency in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, on 15 June 2016.

As part of the Conference “The Program Y(outh)” was presented as a positive practice and as an example of successful cooperation between the Ministry and our organization. Strategy and Action Plan for the prevention of violence and juvenile delinquency, by which “The Program Y(outh)” is accredited and incorporated into the formal education in high schools in the Canton. The Program was created as part of the project “Promoting Healthier Lifestyles Among Youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Challenging Gender Stereotypes”. This project is supported by the Swiss Government and the OAK Foundation, and we implement it with the support of CARE International Balkans.

It is important to emphasize that the mayor of Mostar, Mr. Ljubo Bešlić, supported the work of the Be a Man Club Mostar and that he is glad that our project has become a part of the Strategy.

The Conference participants were presented the following topics:

• Monitoring the implementation of the Protocol on the procedure in cases of violence in schools,
• Presentation of the Analysis on the application of school action plans for the prevention of violence,
• Presentation of the Guide for the Protocol on the procedure in cases of violence in schools for children / young people, parents and teachers “Zero tolerance to violence in schools”
• Presentation of the Strategy and Action Plan for the prevention of violence and juvenile delinquency in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton,
• Presentation of the Program for early identification of risky behavior at early school age,
• Award of recognitions and presents to schools for the successful implementation of the action plans for violence prevention.
• Recommendations and conclusions of the Conference.

The Conference participants were addressed by: Andreja Pehar and Edna Haznadarević – Institute for Education Mostar and Pedagogical Institute Mostar, students Nina Haračić and Dino Hasić, Ms. Rebeka Kotlo – Head of the Center for Human Rights, Ms. Nefiza Dautović – Adviser in the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Minister Rašid Hadžović and Ambassador Jonathan Moore.