BIRN workshop on documenting human rights violations and international crimes

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) Hub, in cooperation with Mnemonic, invites students, journalists, researchers, civil society activists and human rights practitioners from the region to apply for a three-day regional workshop on documenting and archiving human rights violations and international crimes.

The training will be delivered by the Mnemonic team, an internationally recognised organisation specialising in digital archiving, open-source investigations and the preservation of evidence of human rights abuses.

Dates: 11-13 March, 2026
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Workshop Language: English
Costs: Travel, accommodation, and meals will be covered by BIRN for selected participants.

Key focus areas

• Principles and standards of open source investigations
• Digital archiving methodologies and tools
• Verification and contextualization of digital content
• Ethical, legal, and security considerations when working with sensitive data
• Practical case studies and hands-on exercises
• The use of AI in open source investigations.

Objectives

• The workshop will focus on practical and ethical approaches to the documentation, preservation and use of information related to international crimes and human rights violations, with particular attention to contemporary challenges in digital archiving.
• Through a combination of expert-led sessions, participants will strengthen their capacity to responsibly collect, verify, archive, and manage sensitive materials related to human rights violations.

Eligibility Criteria

Participants aged 20 to 36 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia who are actively engaged in:

• Law studies (including international law and international humanitarian law), political science, transitional justice studies, or related fields
• Human rights documentation and advocacy
• Investigative journalism
• Research and archival work
• Transitional justice, memorialization, or accountability initiatives

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to:

• Fill out the application form with a short biography (up to 200 words) and a brief motivation statement explaining your interest in the workshop and how it relates to your current work.
• Register for the Info session for all those interested, to be held on January 23 at 16:00 CET. Register here.

Applications should be sent no later than 29 January at 17:00 CET. Only selected participants will be notified in the first two weeks of February. Early applications are strongly encouraged, as they will facilitate timely selection and the organisation of travel and visa arrangements, where applicable. For any questions about your application, contact nejra.mulaomerovic@birnnetwork.org

For more information, please visit this page.