Azra Frlj is a psychologist, trauma counselor (zptn) and Gestalt therapist in training. She has headed our partner organization Progres in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2021. In this interview, she talks about the worrying developments in the country and about their work, which continues despite political tensions and financial uncertainty.
Dear Azra, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been in the headlines again more frequently in recent years. How do you perceive the situation in the country at the moment?
From a civil society perspective, the situation is still very worrying. Political instability is on the rise and threatens democratic institutions and civil liberties. Bosnia and Herzegovina faces its worst crisis since the Dayton Agreement in 2025. The leadership of Republika Srpska is stepping up its separatist efforts, weakening state institutions and obstructing the path to the EU.
Particularly alarming is a new law that obliges NGOs to register as “foreign agents” if they receive funds from abroad. They are effectively banned from political engagement. This is a direct attack on freedom of association, freedom of expression and civil society engagement.
Despite these challenges, civil society remains active and resistant. We continue to advocate for human rights and transparency and call on the international community and local institutions to strengthen democratic values and counteract the erosion of civil society space.
How does this affect your work and projects?
Although our organization Progres is not based in the Republika Srpska, we work together with partners in the region. We train teachers in trauma pedagogical methods and support young people in their commitment to dialogue and peace.
The climate of uncertainty and pressure has an indirect but tangible impact on our work. The latest legislative initiatives have led to a feeling of fear and self-censorship spreading in civil society. If developments continue to worsen, we expect participation in our programs to decline. Families may feel unsafe to allow their children to participate in our programs – especially if they deal with sensitive issues or require cooperation between different parts of the country. This not only jeopardizes our current projects, but also long-term efforts to create a more peaceful and connected society.
How do you respond to these challenges in your work?
The role of civil society may seem modest compared to political power, but it is important for keeping the democratic spirit alive in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are picking up where we left off last year and try to rebuild trust. As a small organization, we cannot restore trust in politics and the international community on our own. But we can promote trust between people. We need to talk about difficult topics, including painful traumas from the past that cast dark shadows over the present. Our work aims to get people talking about these issues and facing up to the pain of the past. These conversations and shared experiences have a healing effect. They help to break out of the destructive cycles of violence.
How does the political situation affect the financing of your projects?
The increasing political instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the changing priorities of international donors have made funding for civil society more uncertain than ever before. Many NGOs – including us – have relied on international support, especially from European countries such as Germany. However, restructuring in development cooperation and political changes in the donor countries are increasingly leading to delays, cuts or even cancellations of long-standing funding commitments.
For us, this means that many projects are on hold – at a time when many young people are losing confidence in state institutions and see few prospects for their future. In recent years, we have supported numerous young people in launching their own dialogue initiatives. Our work is not aimed at short-term success, but at building hope, resilience and change from the bottom up. To achieve this, our civil society needs long-term partnerships. We cannot continue this work without stable funding. In a society that is still struggling with the consequences of war and division, it is essential that the voices of young people are heard and supported. This generation needs prospects. Our programs – dialogue and peace – must be stronger than the call for division.
Would you like to support the work of Azra and her team? Any form of support is welcome – be it through donations or simply by sharing her story.
You can find more information about our work in Bosnia and Herzegovina here.
The interview was conducted by Friederike Regel.
