BEYOND SILENCE – Empowering Voices for Justice and Memory

Beyond Silence is a joint initiative of DokuFest and the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo (HLCK) that addresses these challenges through education, dialogue, and public awareness. The project is made possible with the assistance of the regional project EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The project focuses on three main objectives:

Education – We are developing a specialized training module on transitional justice for secondary school teachers. This will be integrated into DokuFest’s Teachers’ Digital Library, giving educators structured tools and lesson plans. At least 50 teachers will be trained, reaching 500+ students across Kosovo.

Dialogue – During DokuFest 2025, we will host a special edition of DokuTalks: Dealing with the Past, bringing together survivors, experts, and regional voices. Screenings of selected documentaries will be followed by open discussions on truth, justice, and reconciliation.

Public awareness – A survivor-centered advocacy campaign will feature testimonies, media products, and storytelling tools designed to reach 10,000+ people. By sharing personal stories, we aim to raise awareness, counter misinformation, and amplify voices too often left unheard.

Beyond Silence helps ensure that survivors’ experiences are recognized and that the next generation learns about justice and accountability. It creates safe spaces for dialogue across local communities and the wider Western Balkans, contributing to a stronger culture of remembrance and reconciliation.

All educational materials will remain available in the Teachers’ Digital Library, ensuring continued use beyond the project’s end. Teachers trained through the programme will carry this knowledge into their classrooms for years to come. Survivor stories and documentary content will stay accessible for future screenings and advocacy. DokuTalks will remain part of DokuFest’s annual programme, keeping this dialogue alive.

Expected results

By combining education, film, and public discussion, the project aims to:

⦿ Ensure survivors’ experiences are recognized and shared.

⦿ Equip teachers with accredited tools to transfer knowledge on justice and accountability to younger generations.

⦿ Strengthen safe spaces for dialogue in Kosovo and across the Western Balkans.

⦿ Provide lasting access to resources, including the training module, testimonies, and documentary content, through the Teachers’ Digital Library and DokuFest’s ongoing programme.

⦿ Keep DokuTalks as part of DokuFest’s annual agenda, ensuring continued discussion on dealing with the past.

Implementation period

August 2025 – April 2026

Contact

For more information, please contact:

DokuFest: Malbora Krajku [email protected]

Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo (HLCK): Besnik Beqaj [email protected]

Beyond Silence – Empowering Voices for Justice and Memory Project is implemented by DokuFest in partnership with the Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo (HLC Kosovo). The project is made possible with the assistance of the regional project EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans, which is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This webpage was created as part of the project. The contents of this webpage are the sole responsibility of DokuFest and HLC Kosovo and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union nor the UNDP.