12/08/2026
Celebrating 20 Years of ISSS (International Summer School in Sarajevo)
Last week’s ISSS Alumni Conference in Sarajevo was more than a discussion on international justice and transitional justice in times of global uncertainty. It was also a celebration of 20 years of the International Summer School Sarajevo (ISSS) and the remarkable community that has grown around it over the past two decades.
Organized together with the Pravnik Association, our longest-standing and trusted partner, the conference brought together distinguished speakers from the United Nations, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, the European Court of Human Rights, and civil society organizations working at the forefront of human rights and transitional justice.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was seeing former ISSS participants return as experts, moderators, and panelists. Across a series of parallel alumni panels, graduates from different ISSS cohorts shared their research, professional experiences, and perspectives on transitional justice and some of today’s most pressing justice challenges, from accountability and reconciliation to human rights, memory politics, migration, inclusion, and emerging technologies.
The diversity of backgrounds and topics highlighted what ISSS has always stood for: bringing together young professionals from across the globe to learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and build lasting international connections. Twenty years later, those same alumni are shaping conversations in their own countries and institutions while continuing to contribute to a global exchange of ideas and experiences.
As we mark this important anniversary, we are proud to see how the ISSS network continues to grow, connecting generations of alumni committed to justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, alumni, partners, and especially to the Pravnik Association for two decades of friendship, cooperation, and shared commitment to empowering future leaders.
