As part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” Campaign and in cooperation with the TPO Foundation Sarajevo, a lecture was held on December 5th, 2025 at the Second Gymnasium for students on media and religious narratives about violence against women. The organization of the campaign at the school, as well as the research and lecture on the importance of this topic, were led by professors Elmana Cerić and Jasna Kovo Salkić.

The introductory presentation on the topic “The Importance of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign from the Perspective of the IB Programme” was prepared by professor Elmana Cerić, while the analysis of media discourse on the topic “Media Narratives on Gender-Based Violence from the Perspective of Three Religious Communities” was prepared by professor Jasna Kovo Salkić. The lecture for third-grade IB students was also supported by professor Nermana Imamović.

The introductory presentation particularly emphasized how the “16 Days of Activism” campaign strongly and meaningfully reflects the values of the IB Programme—by fostering empathy, integrity, and global awareness among students, and encouraging them to transform the knowledge they acquire into responsible action aimed at creating a more just society.

The lecture on media narratives introduced students to key concepts from the Istanbul Convention and the concept of femicide, alongside local statistics showing how family spaces are often the sites of the most severe crimes. Through an interactive discussion, students addressed problems in media reporting such as sensationalism, the disclosure of private details, and the harm such approaches cause to victims, as well as the role of social media and religious influencers in spreading conservative and often violent narratives.

The lecture also analyzed the positions of the Islamic, Catholic, and Orthodox communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region, including their official condemnations of violence, but also the challenges posed by problematic public statements made by certain actors.

The lecture encouraged open discussion and conveyed a strong message about the importance of responsible media reporting, interreligious cooperation, and the involvement of young people in the prevention of violence.