Press Release
UNFPA Launches New Tools for Preventing Hate Speech and Peer Violence in Schools and Communities
Sarajevo, 18 June 2025 – On the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, 18 of June, the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund in Bosnia and Herzegovina together with Center for Educational Initiatives Step by Step today presented a new set of practical tools designed to help prevent and respond to peer violence and hate speech, both in schools and online.
Held at the UN House in Sarajevo, the event — titled “Reakcija koja spašava” ("Reaction That Saves") — brought together decision-makers and educators, school principals and teachers, civil society representatives, media professionals, and youth activists.
At the core of today’s event was the introduction of the new Bystander Intervention Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help individuals and communities actively prevent and respond to violence. The toolkit consists of a comprehensive manual that explains how to recognize situations of violence and safely intervene; a training guide to support teachers, youth leaders, and civil society organizations (CSOs) in delivering effective intervention programmes; and a quick-reference guide offering clear, actionable steps for responding to harmful situations in both online and offline environments.
“Preventing violence in our communities is not the responsibility of a single individual — it is a collective effort,” said Samid Šarenkapić, UNFPA project manager for the youth portfolio. “According to the recently launched UNFPA State of World Population 2025 report, verbal abuse, hate speech, and discrimination remain key barriers to young people’s mental well-being and their ability to make informed life choices — including about their own futures and families. By empowering students, educators, and community members with practical bystander intervention tools, we help build safer spaces where everyone can thrive.”
UNFPA’s Step by Step partners and young activists shared experiences and strategies for promoting non-violent behaviour, inclusion, and respect in schools and online.
“Hate speech, bullying, and verbal abuse not only harm young people’s mental health — they also undermine their confidence and their ability to build a safe future for themselves,” said Adna Sokolović, project coordinator at CEI Step by Step. “That is why tools like these are so urgently needed — they give young people and educators practical ways to intervene and to stand up for one another.”
The event is part of the Regional Youth for Inclusion, Equality and Trust and “Moving us closer” projects, implemented by UNFPA with financial support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the Embassy of Italy in BiH. These initiatives empower young people to promote constructive narratives, foster intercultural dialogue, advance gender equality, and strengthen mutual understanding across the Western Balkans.
“Today’s message is clear,” said Rania Bećir Saphić, an 18-year-old student at Sarajevo Secondary School of Hospitality and Tourism. Bystander intervention is not only a civic skill — it is a responsibility we all share, online and offline. Every voice that speaks out against hate and violence makes a difference."
The International Day for Countering Hate Speech, marked on 18 June and established by a UN General Assembly resolution in July 2021, underscores the global urgency of promoting dialogue, fostering tolerance, and preventing all forms of violence.
The Bystander Intervention Toolkit will be made available to schools, youth organisations, and community groups across Bosnia and Herzegovina to foster a culture of proactive intervention, mutual support, and zero tolerance for violence and hate speech. The materials will also be accessible online through the UNFPA BiH website at ba.unfpa.org, enabling wider reach and use across communities.
