I’m Ilhan Radetinac, a human rights advocate and documentary storyteller from Serbia, passionate about social justice, ecology, and youth empowerment. With experience in activism, research, and creative media, I use storytelling as a tool for awareness and change. My motivation to join YAP comes from a desire to connect with like-minded young leaders and amplify the voices of marginalized communities across the Balkans. 

I am an English Literature graduate from Durham University and I am currently studying a part-time Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford whilst undertaking an internship in public relations. In May 2017, at the age of thirteen, I survived the Manchester Arena Attack. Since then, I have become a co-founder and author of the ‘Bee the Difference’ research project , in collaboration with the National Emergencies Trust, which advocates for an improved support system for future young survivors of sudden traumatic incidents in the UK. 

Following a significant personal experience, I chose to leave France and rebuild my life abroad. This journey has deeply shaped the direction I have given to my career.

Prior to that, I completed four years of legal studies, which provided me with a strong legal foundation. 

I am currently specializing in victims’ rights with the goal of obtaining a certification in the United States and becoming a victim advocate. Having personally experienced being on the other side, this path carries a very human dimension for me and naturally guides the way I approach support and advocacy. 

My commitment is both professional and deeply human. I aim to use my skills and experience to support victims by offering attentive listening, meaningful support, and appropriate guidance with fairness and compassion. 

I work as policy coordinator at Global Diplomacy Bridge. My current main interests centre around AI, energy and conflict prevention. After training at the European Commission’s AI Office, I led Negotiation Agents.AI, an independent project to develop AI tools for multiparty negotiation training. I hold a Master’s degree in international relations and multilingual communication from the Université libre de Bruxelles. Alongside my policy work, I have a background in film production, with experience in directing, camera, script development and acting.

I hold a masters degree in criminology and bachelors in criminal justice. My interest in the Youth Ambassadors program stems from my background knowledge in the criminal justice systems and the understanding that within the criminal justice system, victims have time and again been left out. I volunteer to give support to both primary and secondary victims in the hope that one day the victims will have more rights and will be given more light than they receive now.