Free the word on the Western Balkans - PEN report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia
Participants:
Faruk Å ehiÄ, EUPL awarded Bosnian poet and writer
Alida Bremer, Croatian-German writer, translator, and literature researcher
Vuk ÄosiÄ, Slovenian artist, strategist, and activist with Serbian roots
Moderator: Tanja Tuma, president of PEN Slovenia and Board Member of PEN International
Description: This report addresses the challenges encountered by writers and journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. It explores how their engagement in the public sphere is impeded by the growing interconnection between political figures and the media, and the resulting implications for the rights of freedom of expression, opinion, and access to information. The aim is to identify the primary obstacles faced by writers and journalists when articulating their viewpoints and concepts. The report relies on desk research and interviews with 20 writers in the Western Balkans. Additionally, it draws insights from PEN International's continuous monitoring of freedom of expression in the region, which includes verified news releases and other public materials. The report will be discussed by Tanja Tuma and guest speakers.
Co-organiser:Ā Slovene PEN Centre
Tanja Tuma
SI
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