The first debating competition among universities from across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-operation with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the Students’ Union of the Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar, the Gorgija Debating Club of the University of Zenica. The event was held at the Faculty of Law of the Dzemal Bijedic University from 12 to 14 April 2019 in Mostar.
The competition gathered debating clubs of five public universities from Tuzla, Banja Luka, Zenica, and Mostar.
Over the course of two days, students debated various topics, including combating discrimination, the freedom of assembly, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the quality of higher education in the country.
The final debate was held between the debating clubs of Universities of Tuzla and Banja Luka on the question whether it is possible to eradicate corruption in BiH’s society, with the University of Tuzla as the affirmation side winning first place. The University of “Dzemal Bijedic” Mostar won third place.
The competition aimed at encouraging academic debate and the exchange of arguments among students and young people in general on the issues that are of crucial importance for the advancement of BiH’s society and which highlight the significance of respecting human rights and rule of law.
The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to support activities aimed at encouraging young people as future leaders to actively engage in social and political processes and in this way contribute to the progress of the country.
The debating competition was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
