On 26th October 2022, Representatives of the City of Bijeljina, its Roma community and other partners, with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe organised an activity with the aim of sending a message of condemning hate speech and discrimination towards Roma people. The activity included discussion with pedestrians and pupils about the dangers of hate speech and those of stigmatising certain segments of the society, sending the message of equality and inclusion to the Roma community.

Armin Poljak, Young European Ambassador for Bosnia and Herzegovina, also participated in this activity in Bijeljina which was organized under the campaign “Block the Hatred, Share the Love” organized by the Council of Europe. He pointed out that youth can definitely contribute to the social inclusion of young Roma population. He added that raising a voice makes it possible to gradually develop an environment free from discrimination, including on ethnic grounds.

The “Block the hatred. Share the love!” is an awareness raising initiative that aims to combat various forms of hate speech targeting specific communities and individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Western Balkans. The initiative is supported by prominent public figures, institutions and activists, who are promoting diversity and equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region, through personal storytelling, testimonies and exchange of good practices.