The debate tournament “Mitrovica Open 2011”

Mitrovica, 8-9 October 2011 – Movement FOL along with organization CBM from Mitrovica and in cooperation with organizations: Initiative for Progress (INPO)-Ferizaj, Malisheva Youth Center and Suhareka Youth Center organized the National Debate Tournament ‘Karl Popper’ – “Mitrovica Open 2011” on 8-9 October 2011 on the topic “debate on the minors”. ‘Karl Popper’ Debate aims to handle the essential elements of a controversial issue. It stresses above all the development of critical thinking, tolerance and appreciation of different views. This debate was developed in high schools.

Movement FOL with the support of SOROS/KFOS Foundation since January 2010 have worked together with partner organizations INPO, SIV and YIHR to establish debate clubs in town and to train club members in Karl Popper debate format. Meanwhile, since January this year the program was extended to three new cities in Mitrovica, Malisheva and Suhareka.

Currently in Kosovo there are 6 clubs in 6 municipalities, while the number of debaters from city high schools is constantly growing. Meanwhile, the debate club in Ferizaj city already formed teams with debaters of the community RAE.

On Saturday, October 08, during three rounds of debate were matched 16 teams from four municipalities in Kosovo: Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Malisheva and Suhreka. Meanwhile, quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals were held on Sunday. The semi-finals teams were four teams that have collected the most points based on the number of victories and points that have collected team”s speakers. On semi-finals debated these teams: Amazons from Ferizaj, Epigons from Malisheva, The MM Group and Wei8 from Mitrovica. On finals debated Epigons from Malisheva and Amazons from Ferizaj.
udges in this tournament were former debaters who have previously taken part in the “Karl Popper” debate. The judges who observed the finals of this tournament, announced the winner of this tournament Epigons from Malisheva.

The four resolutions as debate topics in this tournament were on minors, two of these resolutions were with limited preparation time while the two other resolutions, the debaters had the opportunity to prepare in advance.
The first resolution was: “In some cases, juveniles should be tried as adults”;
The second resolution was: “Females under 18 must have parental permission to abort”;
The third resolution was “religious education should be a school subject”;
The fourth resolution was “If a juvenile should be tried, there should be another juvenile in the jury.”
The tournament was held for two days at Gymnasium “Frank Bradhi”, while the finals was held at the Cultural Centre in Mitrovica.
This is the third tournament held in one of the respective municipalities while there were organized two other tournaments in the municipalities of Peja and Ferizaj also two national tournaments.

The debate program is supported by Kosovo Foundation for Open Society.