Edvin Kanka ÃÂudiÃÂ (; born December 31, 1988) is a Bosnian human rights activist, martial artist and journalist who is best known as the leader of the UDIK, a non-governmental organisation campaigning for human rights and reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia. In 2023, he won the Kemal KurspahiÃÂ International Journalist Award for best published story in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian for his story "Grobnica nade" (The Grave of Hope).
His main work focuses on human rights, dealing with the past, minorities, peacebuilding and democracy.
Born as Edvin ÃÂudiÃÂ on 31 December 1988 in BrÃÂko, the great-great-grandson of the teacher Ibrahim UstavdiÃÂ. He grew up in GraÃÂanica and BrÃÂko. He studied at the University of Sarajevo and Ankara University. He got a bachelor's degree in journalism from University of Sarajevo in 2012. In 2018 earned his master's degree in political science.
At the age of 14, ÃÂudiàbegan learning jujutsu in BrÃÂko and was very quickly introduced to aikido. He started learning aikido in 2017 under the guidance of Nihad KlinÃÂeviàand Pavel Pavelka, eventually furthering his art with Alen Hadà ¾iabdiÃÂ. In 2022 in the VrnjaÃÂka Banja he graded 1st Dan by Saà ¡a ObradoviàShidoin. He is a member of the Aikikai Foundations from Belgrade and Tokyo.
In 2013, ÃÂudiÃÂ founded the UDIK. In 2019, he was elected in Regional Council of the RECOM Reconciliation Network (RMP). Since 2021, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the CDTJ in Banja Luka. Also, since 2024, he is an International Consultant of the International Committee for Morita Therapy (ICMT), a section of the Japanese Society for Morita Therapy in Tokyo.
ÃÂudiÃÂ has given interviews and provided commentaries on a range of issues from his area of expertise, including genocide denial, post-conflict recovery, and human rights to many national and international media outlets including AFP, Berria, Danas, DW, El PaÃÂs, Internazionale, Knack, NIN, Novosti, OsloboÃÂenje, RFE, RTL Nederland, Sveriges Radio, TV E, etc. He helped to memorialize the crimes at Kazani. He was one of the initiators of the memorial of the Kazani pit in the hills above Sarajevo.
ÃÂudiÃÂ collaborated with many newspapers and magazines, such as Danas, Monitor and OsloboÃÂenje. His stories have been translated into English and Macedonian. In 2017, he signed the Declaration on the Common Language of the Croats, Serbs, Bosniaks and Montenegrins. He often received threats related to his work.
In 2012, the Bosnian poet Adem Deniz Gariàdedicated to Edvin Kanka ÃÂudiàa poem "I ne treba da à ¡utià ¡" (And you should not be silent). The poem was a response to the ÃÂudiÃÂ's story (I Won't Be Silent). Ten years later, other Bosnian poet Erbein Osmanoviàdedicated him a poemà"Geronimo".
In 2019, the Bosnian-born French sculptor Mirza MoriÃÂ created a memorial dedicated to the killed civilians in BrÃÂko (1992-1995). MoriÃÂ engraved the whole story titled (Maybe I should hate them), written by Edvin Kanka ÃÂudiÃÂ in 2011. The monument was installed in Paris.
His awards and recognition include the following:
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