Following the 2014 seminar which was dedicated to youth and the future of democracy, the 2015 International Alumni Seminar of the Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies took place in Sarajevo from 25-26 June and brought together alumni from the 21 Schools of Political Studies who have achieved high office in their field. It coincided with the Chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, holding it for the first time since the country became a member of the Council of Europe (CoE) in 2002.

The seminar, which theme was “Defending Democracy, Freedom and Human Dignity against Internal and External Threats”,was organised in four thematic sessions:
Theme 1 ‘Protecting societies without undermining democracy’
Theme 2 ‘Addressing the root causes of radicalisation in democratic societies’
Theme 3 ‘Promoting women’s rights and countering domestic violence’
Theme 4 ‘Brainstorming Round Table on the development of the Schools’ Alumni Network’.

The findings of the seminar will provide input to the World Forum for Democracy which will take place in Strasbourg in November this year.

  Read Meeting report

  Read presentation on “Promoting women’s rights and countering domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)” by Ismeta DERVOZ, MP and former member of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly