The aim of the project was to determine public attitudes of the citizens in Serbia in order to define the best strategies for the outreach activities of the NGO’s, national war crimes judiciary and international organizations in these areas of work, to examine the potential obstacles and the percentage of the citizens unwilling to accept the truth and trace the potential for changing attitudes. Project activities during the reporting period included assessment of relevant developments in the area of war crimes trials (the ICTY and domestic prosecutions), political situation in respect to the coming elections and risks and assumptions which may have consequences to the awareness and attitudes of citizens in Serbia in the area of war crimes trials and its impact on the general public.Questionnaire was set up through consultations and thorough analysis of the situation among Belgrade Centre external associates and experts from the professional agency (Strategic Marketing) hired to conduct the survey. Since Belgrade Centre has been tracking public attitudes in respect to the war crimes trials since 2003, annually, previous results of the surveys helped to design the questionnaire which will give the concrete and accurate answers.
Strategic Marketing conducted the field research in December 2006. The first public presentation of the results was made at the Media Centre, on 27 March 2007. The results of the survey attracted huge media coverage and increase debate on the topics such as facing the past, war crimes, public perception of the domestic trials etc.
Following the presentation of the results, couple of expert meetings were conducted on the basis of the results. The goal of these meetings was to define the programmatic framework of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights in the area of transitional justice. These expert meetings included participation of Belgrade Centre’s Board, associates, staff and external experts. The round table “Facing the past and the future without assistance of ICTY” was organized in April 2007. on Faculty of Political Science.
The expert Jovo Bakic, sociologist, prepared the evaluation of the survey and the define conclusions and possible recommendations for the stakeholders. The event was attended by the numerous journalists who produced the coverage of the event for the printed and electronic media. Special feature of the event was released on the Belgrade Radio and TV station B92.
