journal" coming to from the wto in brussels. good to have you with us. here is what is coming up today. after the genocide, mothers are hoping for justice. in the year of crisis, when summer not willing to pay for italy's debt spirit and before the song contest -- why its not all glitz and glamour. in bosnia, the wounds othis

massacre are far from healed. 17 years ago, serbian militia murdered some 8000 people -- adults, teenagers, infants. it has since become a synonym for war crimes in europe. a lot has changed since then. serbia is making big steps towards european union membership. the main perpetrators are held responsible. the trial against the former paramilitary commander is opening in a few days in the hague. bosnians welcome the trial, but many say that the international community did not do enough to protect them. they're here in server needs of for the first time. this is where bosnian serbs massacred bosnian muslims in july 1995, before these two were even born.

under command, 8000 boys and men were murded mplyecause they were muslims, like the pupils now visiting the site. today, the factory hall where it all began in 1995 is a museum. thousands of bosnian muslims sought protection from marauding serb paramilitary forces in a town the united nations had declared a safe zone. united nations peacekeeping troops did nothing to stop it when the troops came to separate the boys fornd thenrom their mothers d wives. >> i think they are to blame. they did not help us. they bear the entire responsibility that it happened. that is how it is. >> she and her schoolmates walk through the graveyard at the

srebrenicia monument. the bodies were grudgingly exhumed from mass graves and identified by dna samples. whilehe pups learn about the past, for the survivors, it still seems very present. almost every day, surviving mothers come here to mourn. they keep prodding the conscience of the international community. >> there are now on trial at the war crimes communal in the hague. he is half dead, but what is appalling is that they are still playing their game, and their project lives on, supported by the international community, the european union, aneverne else. this is ethnic cleansing with everything that it entails because what they planned, their serb republic within bosnia still exists. >> srebrenica last year.

the mayor is a bosnian muslim, and he stands up for the survivors interest, but he may be voted out of office. today, there is an international visitor -- the u.s. ambassador. the women call on him to help prevent muslims from losing all political voice and history from being whitewashed. but his main interest is in the future. >> what we want to see is a community which is living in épeace, where everyone respects each other and there is trust among our citizens. >> the women are disappointed again. for years, the mothers of those murdered have demanded compensation. th hav filed several suits against the united nations for not preventing the mass murders. >> the united nations troops

even helped. they collected us in one place and allow the murderers to, among us and separate us for raping, for torture. in front of my eyes, the serbs crushed a newborn baby with their boots. the stomach came out, and the dutch united nations troops permitted and watched it. >> the few dutch united nations peacekeepersho were supposed to protect the bosnian muslims were vastly outnumbered by the serb troops. did they have a chance? the primary perpetrators stand before the international judges, but even if he is found guilty, the question remains -- could united nations forces have driven that the massacre? this bosnian muslims is the answer is clear -- in july 1995, he was a translator for the dutch united nations troops. they turn his family over to

soldiers who killed them. we met him in sarajevo. right next door, the dutch embassy is giving and reception, a tragic, ironic coincidence. he has filed suit against the dutch several times because they failed to protect his family. bara never in the history of united nations peacekeeping -- the expelled forcibly the people and handed them over to the executioner. it only happened in july 1995. that is a uniqase as far as i know, and the united nations should definitely take responsibility. and the dust. and everybody else involved. >> the class of 16-year-old bosnian muslims has finished its visit to the genocide monument. their pupils quietly sign the guest book. many of them cannot speak. he is right about the war crimes in bosnia before, but today, he

confronted something new -- the united nations questionable role in t massacre. thewere sposed to help the people, but i think the only -- they only help themselves. >> the suspected war criminal is on trial. bosnia was a new generation still asks the same question -- who shares responsibility for the murders? the past is far from having been put to rest. >> this week saw two more european governments lose their mandates s a result of the ongoing debt crisis in france and in greece. soar, 11 ministrations have broken up, have had to resign, or failed to be reelected, but the crisis is also spurring nationalist desires again. like in italy, to speak german, but they are regionals made part of italy in 1919. they did get on more or less of a with the government in rome, but now roam once the wealthy to

help fill up italy's and the state coffers. they are angry and calling for independence. >> it oupies a special place in the imagination of many german speakers. a dramatic mountain scenery, quaint villages, and milder southern temperatures evoke a less stressful way of life for northerners. but appearances can be deceiving. storm clouds are gathering over the region. storm clouds triggered by italy's financial crisis and a struggling economy. many here, not just traditionalists like this engineering student and member of the local shooting club, want to secede from italy and declare independence. >> this is german territory, not italian. we were war booty after the first world war. the majority here is not italian, and we think it is time

for the people here to decide whether this should stay part of italy or not. >> the shooting clubs see themselves as the defenders of the region's cultural heritage. they take credit for the special rights that german-speaking minorities are guaranteed in italy's constitution, and for italy's recognition of the austrian minority. but now, a growing number of local politicians want more. their dream -- a free state with its own constitution. >> it cannot be that the people aho work hard and pay their taxes, where things are little more german, a little more orderly, that we should bail out a state that is foreign to us. that is not rate -- right. that is why more and more people here are demanding our right to self-determination and that we be allowed to secede from the italian state.

>> increasingly, both kinds of sentiments are touching a nerve, especially with the owners of small and medium-sized businesses. they are fed up with being asked to pay even higher taxes to pay for debts incurred by politicians far away. >> the tax burden is not fair. it is not our fault that the politicians in rome screwed it allp and at we have to pay for it. there must be another solution. >> supporters of independence already know where they would like to put the border. its southernmost point would be near salon. >> the people would have to decide whether this free state should stay in europe. i mean the eu, of course, because we are right in the middle of europe anyway. but there are plenty of other for scotland or catalonia, the prove that areas that arpart ofhe e you can stay in the community

after secession. >> the discussion puts the regional governor in the tricky position. though he knows the debate over independence could upset the existing political structures and threaten his authority. the veteran politician draws on all his experience and diplomatic tact as he tries to steer a moderate course. >> we always save money because we still believe that u cannot spend more than youake. because sooner or later, you have to pay it back. that has worked for us, but the government kept piling on debt, and now we are all in the same vote. we are part of italy, and if the vote sinks, we sing, too. -- we're all in the same boat. if the boat sinks, we do, too. >> some are not convinced.

secession from italy would not mean a region without italians. just less influence without -- just in -- less influence from the italian state. >> i would like to call one italians to help find solutions for the country's future. if we work together, we can improve our relationship and find a home in this country. >> europe's financial crisis has reopened or deepen the rift that had seemed cemented here. douglas political forces are looking to upcoming elections with growing trepidation - established political forces are looking to upcomin electio looking to uh growing epidion. and the news of child abuse always shocked the public. whether it is in the family or in homes, it is something that will start debate about whether we need stricter laws and a tougher judicial system.

but when these cases are then dealt with in court, it becomes clear how difficult it is to help the children overcomeu the abuse. in austria, authorities and courts are taking a new approach prevent vtims from having to suffer yet more trauma when they are confronted by the people who have hurt them. >> when it comes to children, many cases of physical and sexual abuse go unreported, especially when the abuser is a family member, but even when they do go the trial, there is often not enough evidence for a conviction. often the only witness in the case is the victim, but children and teens are usually too afraid and too ashamed to testify. many suffer in silence for years like benjamin. as a young child, he was abused by his foster parents. today, he gets counseling and support from a government agency established to protect children's rights.

the mall once when i was visiting my parents, they took a picture of me. i've got it at home. my face is all scratched up. they said i had heard myself playing or something like that. i never told anyone anything. it was just the way things work. i was used to it. >> in austria, accused of users are brought to court more often and more quickly than in germany. that is because the police are required to file charges in every case, unlike in germany. in austria, the police make sure that younger children are interviewed in a setting where they will feel more comfortable. the interview is recorded. soon children will be able to testify in court via what can. -- webcam. >> it does not cost the public

anything. the victims have a right to it, to psychological, social, and legal support. a lawyer is provided to represent them at court. depending on the situation, the defendant might have a public defender, and now, the victim also has the same legal right to representation so that they will not have to deal with the trial all on their own. >> in austria,hildren have special rights, and a special agency to help ensure those rights. agency lawyers even visit schools to talk about their work. they explained that not even a parent or legal guardian is allowed to violate those rights. they want to encourage children to get help rather than suffer in silence. unlike child welfare authorities, the agency lawyers represent only the children and their rights. anita also came to them for help. after arsf fightingith r moth, she ran away from home.

>> i wanted someone to really listen to me, someone who would not just brushed me off and say, "you are a kid. you have no say in this." i spent an entire night crying. i was so happy i have found a place where an adult would listen to me without asking my parents for permission first. >> this brochure tells children what to expect if they go to court. in austria, no child under the age of 14 can be put on the stand to testify. younger victims stay in a special room of their own and testify via webcam. when judges and lawyers have questions, they also asked via the video camera. children never have to see or confront their accuser.

>> it is 100% better. more than that, really, for the victs. the legal pcessoes not suff at l for it. when we do it this way, everyone wins. >> but germany still has a long way to go when it comes to children's rights. >> the problem is the confrontation with their abuser. there is no law that says he has to leave the courtroom when the child testify as for the children can testify from a separate and child-friendly rooms. >> some judges force teenagers, children, even young childre to testyn court in front of their abusers. the laws just are not there yet to protect children's rights. >> in germany, all witnesses have the same legal rights, no matter how old they are. there are only a few guidelines that protect witnesses who are under 18 or that stipulates that

children should be interviewed by video whenever possible so that they do not have to testify more than once, which is very hard on them. >> when children are accused of crimes, they do have special protection under german law, but when a child to the victim, they are often treated the same as an adult. >> when you're questioning a child, you have to explain to them that they are going to have to testify against their mother or father or that they are allowed to testify, and you also have to give the child the chance to refuse. testifying against a parent is truly a terrible burden for a child. even childre whoave been abused are often still very attached to their parents. >> that is why the european union has long been telling germany that it needs to improve the victims' rights, especially when the victim is a

child. >> the capital of azerbaijan has once before been the place for fortune seekers in europe. the very first oil boom in history helped the city on the caspian sea gain world fame. the second oil boom aer long years of sovietule lped me today's azerbaijani a rich little country, but the ruling clan that can sometimes seem less interested in protecting the rights of its citizens than i and polishing the country's image. it will hold the eurovision song contest it this time, but all the attention on europe's biggest media event also means people will get a glimpse of the much less shiny reality of life in the shadow of the glamorous skyscrapers and palaces. >> elaborately renovated villas and modern glass towers. the capital ofzerbaijan is

booming. but behind the glittering voskhod, there are people who do not profit from the city's wealth -- behind the glittering facade. until recently, the two women were neighbors living on the she of e caspian sea, but the building had to make way for a prestigious new construction. >> they cut off our gas, electricity, and water. they cut through our telephone cable. construction workers were always burning something in the courtyard. that is how they forced us to move out. >> we were treated like enemies of the state. in the middle of winter, they removed the roof while we were still living there. is that how you treat your own citizens?

>> she moved in with some acquaintances, but she does not feel at home there. the government gave her the equivalent of 93,000 euros in compensation. that may sound like a lot of money, but she says her old beach front apartment was worth twice as much. since then, a road has been built right below a giant flag pole. next door, and are rita called the crystal hall is being constructed to hold the eurovision song coest. they're having a hard time accepting the changes. >> we have lost everything. and for what? so that visitors from the west can come here and have a party? a festival was organized for them, and all that is left for us is to cry. >> there were numerous forced resettlement long before the pop music contest.

since 2009, 60,000 people property has been eropriated, sometimes without warning or valid documents, say human rights activists. the authorities deny this, saying that everything is carried out in accordance with the law. as head of the irving planning commission, he carries out the president's policy of turning the capital into a modern metropolis. >> our president has a hobby. he loves urban planning, and i'm proud we have a president like him who issing the oil boom to invest in irving development -- urban development. >> the flow of petrodollars to the country has meant the good of commissions for architects. he is happy about the way his hometown is changing.

>> of course we want to retain historically valuable buildings, but around them, we are raising modern architecture. this is however a city develops. take a look at london or paris. >> his those projects laws on the outskirts of the city of 2 million. a luxuryotel that the architect has worked on for six years. azerbaijan is working to attract tourists. it once did in the capital into a kind of new dubai on the caspian sea. >> for me, every detail here is important. the whole complex is my baby. that is why i'm so happy that the hotel is finished. >> he is proud of the new city. he does not want to hear about

violations of human rights. we visited the village. none of the glamour of the capital is visible here. for months, a private home orders have been battling with the state oil company over ownership rights to the land here. the company keeps tearing down houses, apparently without court orders. this is the buildings were illegally constructed -- a city buildings were illegally constructed. it is dangerous to protest or report on stories like these. when a newspaper reporter wanted to document the demolition, security staff from the oil company beat him senseless. there are still spatters of blood on his press best. >> they kicked me without interruption for 15 to 20 minutes. my ribs are broken here. i still can hardly see. i was covered with bruises.

i had contusions on my head. >> he is glad that the song contest is being held here this year. it means the world will hear about the forced resettlement. but some say the contest is our place in as a rise in. >> if we want to be part of europe s much, then we should live by european laws and be part of the european union. >> the women say azerbaijani is still far removed from european values, and the magnificent new buildings cannot hide that. >> that report brings us to the end of this week's edition of "european journal." until next time from all of us here at dw studio in brussels, thanks for wating and good bye for now.

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