The countries in the Western Balkans are continuously ratifying international human rights conventions and harmonising existing legislation to comply with the European standards. Still, unequal implementation of these conventions and the lack of knowledge concerning adopted laws and international human rights standards are major obstacles for the improvement of human rights situation in the region. Political instability, widespread corruption, lack of continuity in reforms, limited independence of judiciary and weak non-judicial mechanisms leave much work for human rights organisations and independent media – the sole watchdogs of the societies.
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Albania | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Kosovo | Macedonia | Montenegro | Serbia
We are deeply concerned about the poor conditions of 30 Roma families in Albania. In a letter to the local authorities we request that they make sure the families get access to running water, electricity and proper housing.
Civil Rights Defenders in collaboration with Media Center Belgrade and Olof Palme Center, invite you to a series of quick panels with over 30 experts from civil society organizations, media and research institutes. Important questions concerning the electoral system, corruption, human rights, justice and equality in Serbia will be discussed. Date: 6th May 2012th Time: [...]
After two days of oral pleadings before a demanding panel of judges, the team “Vladimir Bayer” from the University of Zagreb, was declared winner of our regional Moot Court competition for the Western Balkans.
In a letter we urge the president of Kosovo not to sign the changes in the criminal code. The new amendments are a threat against freedom of expression in Kosovo and could limit the work of our partners.
Together with our partners we have sent a letter to the President of Serbia and institutions within the EU urging them to immediately release Hasan Abazi. Hasan Abazi has for the past two weeks been detained in Vranje without access to a lawyer.
On April 20-22, we are organising the sixth moot court competition for law students in the Western Balkans. Since 2007, about 460 law students have gained practical knowledge on cases, rules and procedures of the European Court on Human Rights.
Our college Goran Miletic has been selected as the International Grand Marshal (IGM) for the Toronto Pride festival 2012. “We look forward to having Goran in Toronto during Pride Week”, said Frank Folino, Pride Toronto’s International Grand Marshal Team Lead.
Several Roma families have recently been evicted and denied alternative accommodation. In a letter to the Albanian authorities we demanded them to protect the families from forced evictions. Read the answer from the Office of Prime Minister.
We are concerned about the new ordinance violating the right to access to information and substantially limiting the right to a fair and just trial. In a letter to the court of Bosnia and Herzegovina we urge the repeal of the ordinance.
We are concerned about the public debate in regard to the LGBT community and condemn the comments made by the representative of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and the religious communities.
Listen to the Serbian journalists Svetlana Lukic and Svetlana Vukovic. For many years they have worked to enhance the public debate in Serbia. They are working with Peščanik, a radio show and web platform, a unique forum for informing about human rights. Pescanik has been described as ‘anti-Serbian’ or ‘treacherous’ by other media. Seminar March 28.
Civil Rights Defenders is concerned about the discmrinaion against LGBT people in the public debate in Albanina. We condemn the statements made by politicians and call on the authorities to put an end to the hate speech endorsing violence against LGBT persons.
Within our collaboration with the Albanian organisation Aleanca we are launching a campaign against homophobia. Together with them we have produced a video clip to highlight the wide spread discrimination, that will be followed by several events connected to the International Day againt Homophobia on May 17.
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned about the statements by the Montenegrin government, discrediting the work of our partner MANS. “It is absolutely crucial to every democratic country to respect human rights including freedom of assembly and association”, said Goran Miletic, Programme Director at Civil Rights Defenders.
Ethnic tensions have escalated since 28 February this year, when an ethnic-Macedonian police officer out of service shot two young ethnic Albanians, Imran Mehmet and Besnik Shehapi, in the town of Gostivar. The police has reported more than 30 ethnically motivated attacks since, said Robert Hårdh in an article on Newsmill.
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned over a series of ethnically motivated attacks in Macedonia and urges authorities to take immediate action for a prompt and proper investigation of the violent incidents.
Between 2010 and 2011 Olivera Lakic, Zeljk Ivanovic and other journalists at Vijesti received threats. In this letter to the Montenegro authorities we urge them to take immediate actions, and to ensure that the attacks and threats against Olivera Lakic and other journalists at Vijesti are properly investigated.
Together with our partners in Serbia we are appealing to the members of the Serbian National Assembly to adopt the drafted amendments to the Law on Non-Contentious Proceedings. Any further delay on this issue would be unfair to legally invisible persons.
Civil Rights Defenders is organising an innovative training in using social networking tools to increase awareness, encourage action and empower communities.
By exposing violations of human rights and other difficult topics, Svetlana Lukic and her co-workers at Pescanik’s web site attract 200.000 visitors per month. Her uncompromising way to handle sensitive and, in the view of many, controversial issues makes her a target of attacks by extremist groups.
Several Roma families have recently been evicted and denied alternative accommodation, according to our partner Albanian Helsinki Committee. Civil Rights Defenders has sent a letter to the Albanian authorities demanding them to protect families from forced eviction and to respect the right to housing of Roma families.
Civil Rights Defenders is concerned about the recent threats and attacks against the Helsinki Committee in Bosnia-Herzegovina. We call upon the authorities to condemn the attacks and ensure the protection of human rights defenders.
Issues related to the rights of LGBT people are rarely a research subject in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The LGBT community seems to have ‘disappeared’ from the public discourse since the violent attacks against the organisers of the Queer festival in 2008.
Civil Rights Defenders condemn the hate speech and threats which were caused by a videoclip about rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. We urge the Montenegrin authorities to properly investigate these crimes.
The right to a fair hearing and access to court are the most frequent problems regarding the right to fair trial in Serbia, according to a report published by Civil Rights Defenders in collaboration with Youth Initiative for Human Rights.
Civil Rights Defenders is organising a two-day regional conference in cooperation with Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) on the theme “The role of civil society, citizens and media in the Western Balkans: Challenges as an opportunity“. The conference will be held in Sarajevo, November 22-23. Journalists, activists and civil society organisations from the [...]
On November 9 the Pravo Ljudski film festival opens with Civil Rights Defenders’ photo exhibition Our Rights at Kino Meeting Point in Sarajevo.
Dragan Markovic Palma, Mayor of Jagodina and President of the parlamentary party United Serbia has been convicted of hate speech. Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the verdict but worries about the fact that the Mayor’s reaction to is was new hate speech.
Civil Rights Defenders strongly condemns the attack on the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its staff. We urge the presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take immediate action to ensure the safety and well being of those threatened.
Despite months of planning and intense dialogue with state authorities the Belgrade Pride parade 2011 was banned. The ban, however, may bring some positive effects. Listen to an interview with Boban Stojanovic and Goran Miletic, two of the organisers.
Personal characteristics such as national or ethnic origin, religious or political beliefs, medical condition, sexual orientation, sex and age are bases for daily discrimination in Serbia. Together with Centre for Advanced Legal Studies we address these issues in a systematic way.
On September 30 the Serbian authorities decided to cancel the Belgrade Pride parade, due to threats from extremist right-wing groups. “There was no political will to support Pride”, said Goran Miletic, Civil Rights Defenders.
The National Security Council of the Serbian Parliament (Savet za nacionalnu bezbednost) has banned all public manifestations during the weekend, including Pride, on the grounds of national security. The Pride organisers have gathered to discuss what should be the next step.
On September 7 the Kosovo Memory book (Volume 1) was launched by our partner Humanitarian Law Center. The book , when fully completed, will document individual victims killed or disappeared in the armed conflict in Kosovo during 1998 – 2000. Hopefully the book with contribute o preventing political manipulation of the numbers of victims from [...]
The Serbian media sector is characterized by political and economic influence on media and controversial regulatory practices. Together with our long-term partner ANEM, we strive to respond to existing challenges facing the media sector and to contribute to its development.
We urge the Serbian president to fully support the Belgrade Pride on October 2. A vulnerable group such as the LGBT population in Serbia cannot exercise their freedom of assembly without public support and recognition, Civil Rights Defenders said in a letter to the serbian President Tadic, the Prime Minister Cvetkovic and the Mayor of Belgrade, Djilas.
Albania aims at joining the EU, but much remains to be done before that can happen. In cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC) we monitor and assess dismissals of public employees in local and central administration.
Serbian authorities are urged to react against the assault on the Islamic Center in Novi Sad, and to find those responsible and prosecute them.
Human Rights Defenders and LGBT activists from all over the world gather in Stockholm during Pride. We have invited ten activists from six countries with the aim to support their struggle against discrimination and their quest for the rights that some of us take for granted.
The number of threats and attacks on journalists have increased in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past years. In 2009 we established a Free Media Help Line, which provides legal aid and counselling to people working in media organisations.
In 2009 Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted an anti-discrimination law. We cooperate with the Association for Democratic Initiatives in Sarajevo to facilitate better enforcement of the law, and to improve the understanding about discrimination among students.
Widespread lack of respect for human rights, in particular discrimination against vulnerable groups, remains of great concern in Albania. We believe that the media can play an important role in raising awareness about human rights and mobilizing civic engagement.
Kosovo media landscape comprises diverse media outlets. However, the media mainly focuses on political and economic developments and issues, covering very little about social issues and human rights. Also, very few media outlets do investigative journalism. Our collaboration with Kosovo Glocal aims at building up Kosovo 2.0, a comprehensive and vibrant media platform, offering interesting [...]
In Albania a Law on Legal Aid was adopted in December 2008 and entered into force in April 2009. At the moment, however, access to justice is not equal for all citizens. The lack of access to justice is affecting the Roma population and other minorities more negatively than other groups. Together with Tirana Legal [...]
Our cooperation with Press Council Kosovo (PCK) concerns the quality of the media. By promoting a Code of Conduct for the press, and making sure that it is applied, we strive to improve the professionalism in media.
The overall objective of our cooperation with Mediacentar in Sarajevo is to support the development of efficient mechanisms against discrimination. This will be done through education and information to raise public awareness of discrimination issues. We also train journalists to report on discrimination in society and follow the implementation of the Law against discrimination. The [...]
Together with Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) in Serbia we provide legal representation to victims of the wars in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. This includes submitting appeals to the Constitutional Court of Serbia and initiating procedures before the European Court of Human Rights. We also work to raise public awareness on the importance of confronting [...]
Weak professional standards in journalism and increased pressure on the media are two core issues in regard to freedom of expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our cooperation with the Press Council aims at empowering people to claim their rights and to improve ethical standards in journalism.
LGBT issues are generally silenced in Albania, and the lives of LGBT persons are marked by isolation and lack of support. In order to terminate their isolation we work actively to promote and empower the LGBT community in cooperation with the organisation Aleanca.
Due to widespread impunity in Kosovo, people often do not report violence in prison. Our collaboration with Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims (KRCT) refers to prevent torture or any other form of ill-treatment in places of detention and contribute to the respect of human rights in Kosovo. The target group consists of persons deprived [...]
In Bosnia and Herzegovina LGBT people are often attacked. The aim of our collaboration with Sarajevo Open Society is to break the silence around LGBT issues, in order to reduce prejudices and discrimination against LGBT community. By providing activists with theoretical and practical skills and networking opportunities, we aim to educate and strengthen the LGBT [...]
We believe that strengthening investigative journalism in Kosovo will contribute to greater respect for human rights. Our collaboration with Kosovo Center for Investigative Journalism (KCIJ) aims to develop, improve and support investigative journalism in Kosovo.
A major problem in Kosovo today is the lack of lawyers who can represent victims of human rights violations in court. In collaboration with our partner we are establishing a pool of lawyers and preparing them for the task.
Together with Humanitarian Law Centre in Kosovo, we are compiling the Kosovo Memory Book, a comprehensive record of killed and missing persons during the armed conflict 1998-2000. The aim is to build a historical memory that will assist the Kosovar society to deal with the recent past.
We are concerned about the police interrogation of the Executive Director of MANS after a video of national security agents mingling with criminals was published on the organization’s web. This puts pressure on human rights defenders and is directly assisting criminals in silencing those who dare to speak about corruption.
Civil Rights Defenders and several other human rights organizations condemn the prosecution of Belgzim Kamberi, Chairman of the Human Rights Board in Bujanovac in Serbia, and urge the prosecutor to shut down the case.
The radio show Pescanik (the Hourglass) is one of very few independent voices in the public domain in Serbia. Our collaboration aims to increase the public’s access to diverse and balanced information and to offer a platform for news and analysis that differs from the mainstream.
Within our cooperation with Local Press Association we work to raise the level of professionalism among journalists and media in Serbia. We help hard pressed local media during a challenging period, when the media landscape is characterised by unfinished legal reforms, chaotic market conditions and weak professional ethics.
In collaboration with the organisation LABRIS we address discrimination of LGBT people in institutional settings through education. In a long term perspective we hope to contribute to a better environment for the LGBT community.
Together with Veliki Mali we empower parents to take an active role in defending their children’s rights, and to improve the legislative framework for the protection of rights of children with disabilities.
In order to improve professional standards in the media and promote ethically responsible journalism, we assist in building a Code of Conduct for journalists and media outlets. We organise seminars about ethics and the Public Information Act, provide free legal aid, and initiate powerful and proactive public actions. Our partner is the independent journalist association [...]
On May 27-29 we co-organise a conference on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons in the Western Balkans. We hope to achieve a better understanding of the relation between human rights protection and equal rights of all people, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity.
On May 18, 2011, we held a conference in Skopje together with Macedonian Young Lawyers Association and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. The main purpose of the event was to instigate a discussion among civil society actors about the recently passed Law against discrimination. The law does not meet European or general human rights standards [...]
In 2009 Civil Rights Defenders and Regional Centre for Minorities arranged the first LGBT conference “Justice in Balkans: Equality for sexual minorities” in Podgorica, Montenegro. It provoked a fierce discussion and for the first time brought the LGBT matter into the public debate. Our collaboration continues with further strengthening the position of the LGBT communities [...]
To combat corruption, we provide a tool for preventing cases that contain features of corruption or organized crime from being closed.
In 2010 Macedonia passed the long expected law on prevention and protection against discrimination. However, to this date there is not a single decision reached by the domestic courts related to discrimination. Together with our partner Macedonian Young Lawyers Association’s we work to improve anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards in the judicial system in Macedonia. [...]
Disadvantaged citizens in Albania are often facing different forms of discrimination by duty holders. They are also subjected to violence, inhuman and degrading treatment and offered poor legal representation in courts. To improve the rule of law in Albania we provide a legal clinic, in collaboration with the Albanian Helsinki Committee, where we offer free [...]
Our collaboration with Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia aims to improve the extent to which human rights are respected and known about in Serbia. The short term objectives are to strengthen the mechanisms for protecting human rights and to inform the public about the implementation of transitional laws. The major issue with these [...]
On April 15th to 17th, we are organising the fifth Moot court competition for law students from the Western Balkans. The students are trained in the procedures of the European Court. Five judges from the European Court will sit on the jury.
Every year we organise trainings for our partners. This year our partners in Albania and Kosovo received training in public speech. The aim was to improve their presentation skills, when advocating and presenting findings and problems, and to inspire them to find new ways of communicating. The training consisted of many practical exercises, among other [...]
On the 21st of January a demonstration organized by the opposition and held in Tirana ended in violent clashes between police forces and demonstrators. As a result, four persons were killed and large numbers were injured both among the protesters and the police. Many demonstrators were detained. It is not clear when they will be [...]
Almost twice as many people are crammed in Serbian prisons as the buildings are designed for, Civil Rights Defenders and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia write in a new report. This leads to problems for both inmates and staff.
Our photo exhibition “Our Rights” is touring the Western Balkans. The exhibition is made in collaboration with the photographer Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin and the aim is to increase the awareness of the importance of Human Rights. With this exhibition we want to show what might be the consequences of human rights violations but also how [...]
The mental health facilities in Kosovo are an area of great concern. They suffer from lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure, lack of medicine and unprofessional staff. Moreover, patients in mental health facilities are victims of the lack of a human rights culture in Kosovo, especially in relation to persons deprived of their liberty. We aim [...]
The trial against the Roma minor in the village Jabuka in Serbia has started, We were again denied access to the court. We request that the boy is held in detention with other minors, and not with adults
Together with our partners we urge the Serbian authorities to make sure that the trial against the Roma boy B.J. be concluded as soon as possible, as the legal maximum of detention of minors has already been exceeded. We also insist to be allowed presence at the hearing.
Civil Rights Defenders is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on Branko Zivkovic, human rights defender and journalist in Serbia. We urge the responsible authorities in Serbia to use all mechanisms available to adequately protect human rights defenders.
Four Roma families were left without a roof over their heads at temperatures below zero when their barracks were demolished.Together with our partners in the coalition against discrimination we condemn in the strongest terms the authorities´ treatment of these people.
Between 2001 and 2007 Zivota Milanovic from Jagodina, Seriba, member of Hindu Vaishnava religious community, was attacked five times because of his religious beliefs. We have been working actively on the case together with our partner.
On the occasion of the Human Rights Day on December 10, and in view of the upcoming Kosovo parliamentary elections on December 12, Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Civil Rights Defenders call upon all political parties in Kosovo to increase their efforts in promoting the respect for human rights.
Civil Rights Defenders and its partners Lawyers Committee for Human Rights and Regional Center for Minorities were yesterday denied access to a court session in Pancevo, when demanding to monitor a case of principal importance. The case involves a Roma juvenile boy who is accused of having killed his Serbian friend.
In the 2009 municipal elections Kosovo Serbs surprised everybody with their high turnout, and won in three municipalities where they were in majority. In the wake of the elections on December 12, we have initiated a cooperation with Kosovo Media Association aimed at trying to repeat this positive trend.
On December 12, 2010, parliamentary elections will take place in Kosovo, after a turbulent autumn. We have intensified our efforts to increase the participation of three specific groups that previously had a very low election turnout; the youth, the Serbian community and the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.
On 25th of November the TV station A1 in Skopje was raided by the police. We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, and the political parties to stop abusing their position for their own political promotion.
The purpose of this project is to offer minority media outlets objective, timely and quality information from Serbia and the region in their own languages. The project provides high-quality news programs in 3 minority languages (Albanian, Roma and Hungarian) and represents minority media in itself.
This year’s main objective of this project will be publishing five multimedia educational texts, which will treat different aspects of hate speech in Bosnia-Herzegovina media and its consequences.
The project aims to contribute the promotion of the BIH Law against Discrimination, through specialized trainings for law students as well as through street actions and public advocacy.
KJIC used to be an integrated part of ÇOHU! but will from now on be an independent organization. Its main objective is to boost investigative journalism in Kosovo.
Baring in mind that freedom of expression and information in the media is an essential requirement of democracy, we will cooperate with our partners from UNEM to produce a report on limitations of freedom of expression in Montenegro based on the “Indicators for media in a democracy” developed by Council of Europe and presented in the Resolution 1636 (2008).
This project has two major goals: to provide legal protection to independent media, thereby diminishing the power of groups which try to misuse the media to achieve their political ends or advance other interests; and to promote ethical and professional standards in journalism.
Efforts are made for the Belgrade Pride Parade to be carried out as planned, whereas it was banned last year.
Our cooperation with the Albanian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (AHC) in this specific project aims at improving the situation regarding protection against discrimination in Albania. We do this by raising capacities of our legal aid partners and the Institution of the Commissioner against Discrimination in handling cases of discrimination as well as increase the capacities of lawyers, people from public structures and civil society to understand and follow cases of discrimination.
Albania has adopted an all-inclusive anti-discrimination law and we raise need to awareness on the new law particularily among faculty students and professors as well as teachers and pupils from high schools for it to be effective in protecting against discrimination.
The right to liberty and security was violated when 72 persons were unlawfully held in detention, says the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) in a case submitted by our partner, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee in co-operation with Civil Rights Defenders.
Human Rights Watch appeals to European states to stop sending Roma back to Kosovo. In a report they point out that Roma who left for Western Europe but were sent back face serious human rights problems. We recently wrote an Op-Ed with the exact same message.
On Sunday, the 10th of October, there will be a Pride Parade in Belgrade, Serbia. All through out this week there are ongoing activities in Belgrade, like movie screenings, seminars and exhibitions. To read more about Belgrade Pride and to check out the schedule. Civil Rights Defenders is arranging “Day Before Pride” together with the [...]
Civil Rights Defenders exhibition ”Our Rights” will be shown at the fifth edition of the International Human Rights Film Festival in Albania. Our Programme Officer Peter Mossop will be participating at the festival. The organizers themselves present the ideas and aims of the festival in the following way: Human Rights in Albania have been an [...]
A Pride parade was held today, for the first time ever in Serbia. Great efforts where required from the police in order to guarantee security for the participants. The Serbian authorities have sent a clear signal that the rights of LGBT persons are taken seriously.
On Sunday October 10th a new attempt will be made to carry out a Pride parade in Belgrade. Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, will be in the Serbian capital to participate in the parade.
In May 2010 Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo and Civil Rights Defenders published a report which scrutinized different parts of Kosovo governance structures. The report titled “State of Costriction” questions whether the citizens of Kosovo feel free to follow their conscience and judgment. The report concludes that the answer to this question is [...]
Sweden and other EU countries are deporting Roma to Kosovo in full knowledge that these people face abject poverty and systematic discrimination. We are calling for an immediate halt to the deportation and we urge the government to make every effort to get other EU Member States to follow suit.
Our partner the Network of Committees for Human Rights in Serbia (CHRIS) was founded in 2000 in order to provide free legal aid to citizens whose human rights had been violated.
On October the 10th there will be a new attempt to organize a Pride Parade in Belgrade, Serbia.
A law on the prohibition on discrimination has adopted in Montenegro, much because of the work of Civil Rights Defenders and our partners Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Center for Democracy and Human Rights.
(Updated in September 2010) Upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in October 2010 have marked the past year and seemed to have delayed the attempts to bring much needed constitutional changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of 2009. Efforts made during Swedish and later Spanish EU presidency by EU and US to bring the [...]
(Updated in September 2010) Macedonia has not developed the way many had hoped for, during the last few years. The country has still not met the necessary requirements set up for beginning negotiations for EU membership. The reasons for this are many but the unsolved name issue with Greece and the failure to include the [...]
(Updated in September 2010) More than two years after independence Kosovo is far from being a state based on the principles of rule of law, democracy and human rights. Kosovo is today far from being a consolidated democracy but rather a state where ever more power seems to be consolidated around individuals, some government officials [...]
(Updated in September 2010) The parliamentary election held in June 2009, has had far reaching consequences for political developments in Albania. OSCE described the election as marking progress compared to past elections, but not fully realizing international standards. The Democratic Party (DP) won a narrow victory over the Socialist Party (SP), which still does not [...]
(Updated in September 2010) The event with greatest consequences for Serbia in the past two years was the declaration of Kosovo independence in February 2008, only 16 months after the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Since then, relations between Serbia and some of the neighbouring countries have become strained and foreign [...]
(Updated in September 2010) Montenegro is a potential candidate for EU membership. Montenegrin officials expect that candidate status will be obtained until the end of 2010. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU entered into force on May 1, 2010. Montenegro, as part of Serbia and Montenegro, additionally fulfilled the majority of the [...]
Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with Veliki Mali aims at making education more accessible to children with disabilities, by enhancing parents’ participation in the decision-making processes concerning their children and the quality of education that they receive.
Through our cooperation we aim to assist ANEM, Association of Independent Electronic Media, and its stations to increase their capacities and influence. Our work also contributes to helping the entire media sector to improve media regulations.
Through our cooperation with Macedonian Young Lawyers’ Association, we want contribute to the adoption of the best anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards possible within the judicial system in Macedonia. This will be done through strategic litigation.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights we attempt to increase the awareness about the crime of genocide among the general public of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and also to foster conditions for further dealing with the recent past in the region of the former Yugoslavia. We do so by making “Srebrenica – Map of Genocide”.
On Sunday July 11th it is the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. Together with our partners we have created an educational material that describes the crime.
A free media help line is envisaged to provide legal aid and counsel to media practitioners whose rights are violated or endangered. In addition, our cooperation with BH Journalist Association aims to improve the knowledge on skilful and ethical reporting of journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thereby promote the highest professional standards in journalism.
On June 25 two human rights defenders in Montenegro where brought in for interrogation by the Police without legal basis for the action. Civil Rights Defenders believe that the action represents pressure against those who express critical opinions about the fight against corruption and organised crime in Montenegro. Read our letter to the Prime Minister [...]
Our cooperation with Press Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina is all about a continuous improvement of self regulation in print media. Our efforts are aimed at enhancing the ethical standards and the usage of the two defamation laws, in order to reduce the number of media outlets and journalists charged for compensation damages in defamation trials.
Our partner Youth Initiative for Human Rights received a threatening letter, calling them pro-fascist and saying that everyone who took part in a march marking the 15th anniversary of murdered youth in Tuzla, should move to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Serbian authorities are still not doing enough toward ensuring implementation of recently enacted laws and enabling unobstructed operation of independent institutions, according to findings in a report by Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Civil Rights Defenders.
The daily Express tries to blot our report on freedom of expression by drawing parallels between the life of the author of the report and the report itself. Together with a number of organisations we demand an end to the attempts to silence free speech in Kosovo.
Together with YIHR in Kosovo we released a report which scrutinizes parts of Kosovo governance structures. Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, attended the presentation of the report in Pristina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is ranked among the most underdeveloped and corrupt countries in the world where reforms are slowly implemented (the same level with Zambia, Jamaica, Senegal and Dominican Republic). Citizens’ participation is a crucial component to a culture of tackling corruption, since integrity, accountability and transparency must take hold societal and systemically if it is to uproot corruption practices.
On April 20 the European Court of Human Rights condemned Albania for having violated the right to a fair trial and the prohibition against torture in the case Lika and Laska vs Albania.
We continue our cooperation with the radio show Pescanik (hourglass) in order to help stimulate the public debate on vital issues in the Serbian society. The show attracts 400.000 listeners every week and covers issues such as; transitional justice, corruption, and many more topics related to civil and political rights.
Together with CHRIS we provide free legal assistance to citizens, as well as free legal aid before the courts to victims of serious human rights violations. Every year we agree on a number of strategic cases for litigation before the courts.
The aim of our co-operation with MANS in 2010 is to monitor and report on trials regarding corruption and organized crime. We do this to investigate how effective the proclaimed fight against corruption is.
For the past three years we have assisted the Macedonian Institute for Media, MIM, a training centre for journalists and media professionals, in educating a considerable number of journalists through their One Year Diploma Program in Journalism. In addition to supporting the education of a new generation of journalists in Macedonia, our purpose of cooperating with MIM has been to try to establish a professional self sustainable school of journalism.
Together with Regional Centre for Minorities, RCM, we are strengthening the capacities of minority and human rights NGOs, local authorities, the judiciary and members of central and regional authorities that are dealing with different minority groups.
Team Prima Iustiniana from the law faculty at the University of Skopje in Macedonia was the winning team of this year’s moot court competition. Team Radomir Lukic from Novi Sad in Serbia was ranked second in the competition.
In April 23-25 Civil Rights Defenders will arrange the fourth moot court competition in Rijeka, Croatia. The involvement of Law schools from five countries, professors, highly experienced judges from the region, makes the Moot Court competition a unique opportunity for education. Ten clubs from Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia will participate. Two judges from [...]
On March 23, 2010 the Albanian Constitutional Court decided to abolish the controversial Lustration Law (targeting former officials of the communist regime) as incompatible with the Albanian constitution. The abolition is a success for our partner Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC).
The court in Podgorica has sentenced the Montenegrin government to pay 20 000 Euros in damages to Saban and Arif Rizvanović, who were tortured by Yugoslav soldiers in 1993. The case is a great success for our partner HLC.
Nine people from our partner organisation, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, were arrested by the police while protesting against the content of the Srebrenica Declaration. They were detained for several hours without getting information of what they were suspected of.
Our cooperation with COHU!, the Organisation for Democracy, Anticorruption and Dignity, aims at influencing the law-making process in the field of anti-corruption. The fight against political corruption is carried out by identifying structures that make mismanagement and abuse of public office and funds possible.
The main objective of our cooperation with the organisation ARKA is to register, and provide identification documents, to around 300 Roma individuals in Skopje, Kumanovo, Kratovo, and Kriva Palanka regions. The registration will give them access to basic human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections.
Our cooperation with the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia aims to bring to the public eye violations of human and minority rights. The Annual Report on human rights in Serbia presents the most pressing needs, constraints and priorities regarding the human rights situation in Serbia.
Our cooperation with Centre for Legal and Civil Initiatives, CLCI, aims at increasing women’s access to justice. This is done by providing free legal assistance, monitoring the implementation of the Law on domestic violence, and organising awareness raising activities in regard to women’s rights among the general population.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights we have organised trainings on the burning issue of dealing with the past for Bosnian youth activists and high school students for the past three years.
2009 was an important year for the LGBT movement in Serbia. For the first time cooperation between LGBT organisations and other human rights organisations was established to integrate LGBT issues in all human rights work, Civil Rights Defenders partner, Gay Straight Alliance, says in its Annual Report.
Together with Labris we struggle to decrease the level of homophobia and ignorance about the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. Our main activities are lobbying, advocacy, education and networking, but we are also providing legal counseling for LGBT people.
The purpose of our cooperation with Civil Rights Program/Kosovo is to provide free legal aid to vulnerable residents either from the majority community or one of the minorities, either living in Kosovo or as refugees in one of the neighbouring countries. The main target group however is individuals that lack personal identification documents.
In a letter to the Prime Minister of Macedonia Civil Rights Defenders call on the Macedonian government to withdraw the current Anti-discrimination bill, which does not include protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Together with Humanitarian Law Centre, HLC, we identify victims of human rights violations and secure relevant evidence. We are also providing legal support and representing the victims of war crimes and serious human rights violations in civil proceedings for reparation.
With the aim to improve Albanian media’s ethical conduct, and contribute to an increased self-regulation of media, we organise in-house training courses on ethics and self-regulation for media outlets together with our partner Albanian Media Institute. These trainings are a supplement to the efforts of establishing and implementing a formalised self-regulation mechanism in the country.
Public administration has the power to deprive people of their liberty following procedures clearly established by the law. But when detention takes place outside the public scrutiny it opens the door to violations of rights of the inmates, as well as to torture and ill-treatment. We initiated cooperation with Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims in 2007, with the aim to monitor detention facilities and prisons.
We cooperate with the Kosovo office of Humanitarian Law Centre in documenting facts about the conflicts in the recent past. Our aim is to build a comprehensive record of the killed and missing during the 1998-1999 armed conflict and the period of revenge killings against non-Albanians and suspected collaborators with the Serbian authorities in Kosovo between June 1999 and the end of 2000.
We have cooperated with the Macedonian Helsinki Committee for more than a decade, with the main focus to enhance awareness and respect for human rights and the rule of law in Macedonia. By providing free legal aid we not only improve people’s access to justice but also monitor the respect of human rights by authorities, and put pressure on authorities to comply with international and national human rights standards.
Since 2006 Civil Rights Defenders has cooperated with Tirana Legal Aid Society, TLAS, in assisting Roma families to register their children, but also other members of the families, in order to help them get access to some of the most fundamental human rights; such as the right to education, health care, social allowances, as well as the possibility to get a legal employment and the right to vote in general elections. Hundreds of families have been assisted through our joint efforts so far.
Albanias new all-inclusive anti-discrimination law bans discrimination on the grounds of various characteristics, such as political, religious or philosophical beliefs, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our partner Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Montenegro is demanding an independent investigation of alleged ill-treatment of prisoners in the Institution for Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS). Civil Rights Defenders previously sent a letter on this subject to the Prime Minister of Montenegro.
By supporting the Press Council we contribute to ensuring the quality of media and to strengthening freedom of expression in Kosovo. Furthermore, our focus is to make the Kosovo public better aware of the Press Council’s existence and role, and to ensure the future sustainability of the Press Council.
In cooperation with Centre for Advanced Legal Studies we established the Coalition Against Discrimination to lobby for an inclusive Law against discrimination. In 2009 it was finally adopted by the Serbian government. We now continue lobbying for other laws in the human rights field.
The overall aim of our cooperation with the Coalition for All Fair Trials is to strengthen the independency, efficiency and impartiality of the judiciary in Macedonia. The Coalition will measure whether there is an improvement in the implementation of the existing laws and how efficient the legal procedure in the judiciary is.
In cooperation with Albanian Disability Rights Foundation we provide legal aid to persons with disabilities, and to their families. Our efforts include raising awareness and recognition of human rights by spreading information to stakeholders that are one way or the other involved in disability issues, but also to the general public.
In Kosovo the situation for media and individual journalists has worsened. In cooperation with YIHR we decided to produce a comprehensive report on Freedom of Expression, with a particular focus on media freedom and on documented statements from journalists who have been subjected to threats and pressure.
The address to a shelter for victims of domestic violence was revealed on TV, endangering the safety of the victims as well as the staff of the shelter. In a letter we urge the Minister of Justice to protect victims of domestic violence as well as human rights defenders in Albania.
We cooperate with Kosovo Media Association to provide professional, balanced and unbiased news primarily to the Serbian population in Kosovo. The network reaches almost the entire Serbian community, as well as the Albanian population, in Kosovo.
Together with our partner we have monitored and reported about torture and degrading treatment, in Montenegrin prisons among other. Read our letter to the Montenegrin Prime Minister.
On January 7, 2010, a new law on legal aid came into force in Macedonia. The adopted law represents a major step forward in improving access to justice for vulnerable social groups.
Civil Rights Defenders partner Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF), has received the “Albanian Leadership Award 2009″ for its efforts within civil society. The prize is awarded to highlight positive role models and innovations that strengthen ethical standards in Albanian society.
In cooperation with our partner Young Lawyers of Serbia we are organising the fourth regional Moot Court competition for law students from the Western Balkans, with the aim to increase practical knowledge on cases, rules and procedures of the European Court on Human Rights, both among students at Law faculties and among existing legal professionals.
Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights, we work to increase awareness on human rights concerns in Montenegro. We do so by monitoring crucial human rights issues and reacting on serious human rights violations.
Through our partnership with the Helsinki Committee we monitor and report on fair trial standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last couple of years we have also worked intensively on lobbying for an all inclusive Law against discrimination, in addition to the regular long-term activities of providing free legal aid to victims of human rights violations.
Internationally-supported transitional justice projects have come to play a central role in broader efforts to build peace, democracy and the rule of law in troubled states, based on the belief that impunity for war crimes tends to lead to new cycles of violence. But the record shows that their most prominent mechanisms – truth commissions [...]
The European Court for Human Rights has ruled that Bosnia and Herzegovina discriminated against Jews and Roma by forbidding them to stand for key elected posts, including parliament and the presidency.
In Macedonia, Roma children are placed in special classes and the segregation is widespread in many areas, Macedonian Helsinki Committee says in its latest monthly report on the human rights situation in the country.
One of the most significant achievements for Civil Rights Defenders in 2009 is our contribution to resolving the housing situation for one of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the region of Gjakova, Kosovo.
Systemic violations do not exist in the area of human rights in Montenegro, according to the report by Youth Initiative for Human Rights in cooperation with Civil Rights Defenders. However, there are problematic aspects related to freedom of expression and discrimination, among other.
A truth commission in the Western Balkans would contribute to the democratisation process and to strengthening of the rule of law. This was the expressed opinion of the participants at a recently arranged conference in Brussels by, among others, the Humanitarian Law Centre, our cooperation partner.
Civil Rights Defenders strongly condemns the attacks on authors of the TV show ‘Insider’ and requests immediate action in bringing those responsible to justice.
A new law on free legal aid is in process in the Macedonian parliament. But the law lacks crucial components that would guarantee access to justice for all groups in the society. Together with our partner we are now working on having some amendments adopted to the law.
The first conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered person’s rights in Montenegro resulted in the Minister for Human Rights saying in a tv-interview that the existence of homosexuals in Montenegro is “not good news”.
The journalist Bakir Hadziomerovic has received a death threat for his reporting on corruption and organised crime. We urge the authorities to investigate the case and bring those responsible to justice
The civil society in the Western Balkans has initiated a process to establish a Regional Commission for Truth-seeking and Truth-telling About War Crimes. A very large number of NGOs in all the countries involved support and promote the initiative. The focus ahead will be to get the duty holders committed to the process. Will that [...]
A well known albanian journalist was brutally attacked following a series of reports about tax evasion, unlawful privatisation and oil smuggling. We demand from the authorities to investigate the case and bring those responsible before justice.
Today a “Citizens Response to Violence” is organized in Belgrade by several NGOs, including Civil Rights Defenders. The manifestation is a response to the severe violent attacks by extremist groups which have taken place in Belgrade the last two weeks. It is also a support action for the organizers of the planned Belgrade Pride which [...]
The Pride Parade that would have been held in Belgrade, September 20, was stopped in the last minute. The Interior Ministry and the police suddenly announced that if the parade would be held in central Belgrade the participants’ safety could not be guaranteed. This means in fact that the parade was banned, and shows that [...]
On this day, a year ago, the first attempt to organise a Queer festival in Sarajevo ended in violence. The festival had to go underground since the security of the participants could not be guaranteed by the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina. To remind about everyone’s equal rights and everyone’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and [...]
In the last minute the Ministry of Interior in Serbia stopped the Belgrade Pride planned for Sunday Sep 20. On Saturday morning the police suddenly stated that it would not be abel to guarantee security for the participants in the parade if the parade as planned was to be held in the center of Belgrade. [...]
On Sunday, September 20th, a Pride parade will be arranged in Belgrad. During the last attempt in 2001, peaceful demonstrators were attacked and beaten by nationalist groups and football hooligans. The police stood on the sidelines and watched. This time the Ministry of Interior and the police have promised to guarantee security for the participants, [...]
The Serbian ministry of Interior has promised to protect the participants of the Pride parade, which takes place on September 20th in Belgrade. We will be there to see how much force the authorities put behind their promises. In a letter to Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and to Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic, Civil Rights [...]
One of Swedish Helsinki Committee’s partners in Serbia, the Gay Straight Alliance, report a rise in LGBT-related violence in recent weeks.
Representatives of three independent media and the organisation MANS pleaded in an open letter to the European Commission and the Governments of the EU countries to react on the public statements against media and NGOs made by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic.
Independent journalists are exposed to increased threats and pressure since Kosovo declared itself independent in February 2008, according to partner organisations to the Swedish Helsinki Committee in the country. The latest in a series of examples is the assault on well known journalist Jeta Xharra. It is with concern that the Swedish Helsinki Committee notices [...]
Biljana Srbljanovic, renowned Serbian writer and human rights defender, has been accused of disorderly conduct for her participation at the promotion of Pescanik radio show in Pancevo, Serbia. However, the members of the right-wing and nationalistic organizations who tried to disrupt the meeting were free to go. On March 1st, 2009, Biljana Srbljanovic attended the [...]
The team from University of Rijeka, Croatia, has won this year’s edition of the Moot Court competition in the Western Balkans. The competition was held April 24-26 in Kotor, Montenegro and ten teams participated. This was the third time a team from Croatia won the competition. We are very satisfied and surprised to win. There [...]
On April 24-26 the Swedish Helsinki Committee and the organization Young Lawyers of Serbia arrange a trial game in the Western Balkans. Judges from high courts in the region and from the European Court in Strasbourg will participate in the panel of judges. The third edition of the Moot Court will be held in Kotor, [...]
After the forced eviction of 47 Roma families in one part of Belgrade, Serbia, the Swedish Helsinki Committee along with 42 NGOs demand urgent action from the authorities to solve the desperate situation of these 128 individuals in total. The authorities are urged to find appropriate alternative accommodation and to restrain from statements denying basic [...]
An all inclusive law against discrimination was finally adopted by the Serbian Parliament on Thursday March 26. It is a great result for the Swedish Helsinki Committee and for all the local NGOs that have been pushing for the adoption of this law for years. The whole process of adopting the law is a symbolic [...]
The organization for Democracy Anti-corruption and Dignity (COHU) in Kosovo has the past time been exposed to harassment by the Kosovo authorities, amongst others, Post Telecom Kosovo (PTK). The Swedish Helsinki Committee urges that the authorities of Kosovo investigate the intimidations. The Swedish Helsinki Committee encourages Kosovo authorities to carry out a full investigation related [...]
The Swedish Helsinki Committee is strongly critical to the decision of the Serbian government to withdraw the proposal for a law against discrimination. In this way they are giving in to pressure from among others the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is completely unacceptable that the religious communities are allowed to affect the legislation process in [...]
Zarko Hadzi-Zafirov, Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, talks about the road towards EU for Macedonia. The presidential and local elections in March 2009 will affect the start of the negotiation talks about EU membership to a large extent. Last year the Macedonian government was heavily criticized for the riots and violence that followed the parliamentary elections, [...]
Two days before the planned press conference, the Director of Sava Centar notified the organisers that the report about the situation for LGBT persons in Serbia could not be presented in the Centre. “That kind of organisations are not welcome”, he announced. Gay-Straight Alliance, partner of the Swedish Helsinki Committee, has conducted a wide survey [...]
A group of NGOs, including four of the Swedish Helsinki Committee’s long-standing partners in Serbia, are starting a campaign for a day of remembrance for the genocide in Srebrenica. In an open letter to Serbian President Boris Tadic the organisations urge the president to support the demand for an official day of remembrance. The requirement [...]
Kosovo’s parliament has failed to appoint an Ombudsperson. This has negative consequences for citizens claiming their rights against the authorities in Kosovo, says the Swedish and Norwegian Helsinki Committees in a letter to Kosovo’s parliament. Mr Kole Berisha President of the Assembly of Kosovo Stockholm and Oslo, February 16, 2009 The Swedish and Norwegian Helsinki [...]
On November 7th the popular film festival “Frizon” opens in Belgrade for the fourth year running. The Swedish Helsinki Committee, together with REX, has helped promote the festival and over the years it has become a significant part of Serbian culture. The films shown during the festival concern current social and political issues and they [...]
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