UNESCO Hackathon Innovate For Peace: Young Innovators Develop Digital Solutions Against Hate Speech in Sarajevo

The hackathon brought together students, young journalists, and NGO activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina to create innovative digital tools for identifying and combating online hate speech.

Over the past month, participants had the opportunity to work with experts and mentors, gaining knowledge in identifying and combating hate speech through workshops and practical sessions. The teams developed real projects focused on creating applications and digital tools to combat hate speech. During the hackathon, participants were divided into teams, with the three teams showcasing the best ideas – ZAADA, Pilići, and Mind Media – selected for the finals.

The final event was held on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the UN Building in Sarajevo, where teams presented their solutions.

The winning team, ZAADA, introduced an online tool for detecting disinformation, one of the root causes of negative content and hate speech on websites and portals.

This application was recognized as the most innovative solution for combating hate speech and disinformation in the online space.

“This experience was invaluable – we had the chance to work with experienced mentors and develop a solution that could contribute to creating a safer digital space. Our team is proud of what we achieved, and we hope our application will have a real impact on combating hate speech online. We thank UNESCO for this excellent initiative and hope there will be more projects like this,” said the winning team.

All hackathon participants received UNESCO certificates, while the winners were awarded special gifts. The hackathon successfully promoted the importance of using digital tools to create a safer online environment, encouraging young developers, journalists, and activists to take an active role in combating hate speech.

“UNESCO is proud to have brought together young innovators through the 'Innovate For Peace' hackathon, enabling them to contribute to the fight against hate speech in the digital environment. The solutions developed by the teams demonstrate the potential and creativity of young people in creating a safer online space. We believe this event will inspire further collaboration and innovation that contributes to peace and understanding in the digital world,” said Sinisa Sesum, Head of the UNESCO Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It should be noted that the partners in the UNESCO project included the Sarajevo-based IT company Klika, which provided mentors for the teams and technical prerequisites for solution development, while the marketing agency Republic in Sarajevo was responsible for event organization and additional mentorship for the teams.

Solutions Presented by the Other Two Teams:

Team Pilići created an interactive quiz Escape Room to educate about examples of hate speech and disinformation, where participants must answer questions correctly to exit the virtual room.

Team Mind Media developed an educational game for children that combines fun and education about disinformation and hate speech in the online world.