Can we safely report corruption, are we protected? How should we position ourselves in cases when our loved ones are sick, or need some service and are dependent on corrupt officials? What is corruption and how to recognize it in everyday life at school, or university? These were just some of the questions that were addressed to the panelists of the meeting “Corruption in the public sector” held in Sarajevo within the project “YouTHink – Saying NO to corruption” funded by the Embassy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
More than 80 young people had the opportunity to talk with Erduan Kafedžić, Head of the Anti-Corruption and Quality Control Office of the Sarajevo Canton, Anes Hrnjić from the School of Economics and Business in Sarajevo, and representatives of the civil society organizations Emina Šehić and Ena Porča.
“The fight against corruption is a long-term process in which institutions, the judiciary, the academic community and, most importantly, you young people should be involved because you are the key to that process. Therefore, it is necessary to work on improving the informal education of young people on the fight against corruption, to inform them about the possibilities and methods of reporting corrupt actions, to conduct research and analysis on the perception of corruption among young people,” emphasized Kafedžić.
In addition, he spoke about the specific achievements of the Office in the fight against corruption, the number of reports submitted and the results of the work achieved by this Office in the fight against corruption, especially in the public sector.
Anes Hrnjić explained the examples and definitions of corruption and spoke about personal courage, engagement and integrity of the individual as a prerequisite for a society without corruption.
At the panel, the young people received a lot of information about various forms and phenomena of corruption, from employment in the public sector, through the issuing of fake diplomas and certificates to obtaining disputed building permits, various certificates, services and goods. They also learned how they can safely report corruption. The project continues by organizing the Anti-corruption Academy for young people at the beginning of next year, announced the NGO Ja bih u EU (JaBiHEU).
