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
17 May is the International Day Against Homophobia, in commemoration of the removal of homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization in 1990. In connection to this, Civil Rights Defenders’ partner in Albania, Aleanca Kundër Diskriminimit të LGBT, organises a two-week long event to raise the awareness on discrimination.
Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Serbia, stating that the ban on the Pride Parade 2011 was a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of assembly. The court awarded the Pride Parade Belgrade association €500 for immaterial damages.
Henrik Steska’s team from Ljubljana, is the winner of the 7th Regional Moot Court Competition, held in Ljubljana, 19-21 April. In the finale Henrik Steska met the team Zoran Kompanjet from Rijeka. Both of the teams presented their case in front of judges from the European Court of Human Rights and the higher courts of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Nataša Kandić, founder of Humanitarian Law Center, Serbia, is the recipient of the 2013 “Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award”. Nataša Kandić receives the prize: “For her persistent and fearless work on documenting war crimes and the most serious human rights abuses in the former Yugoslavia, and for supporting war crimes trials by providing courts with evidence and witnesses.”
Civil Rights Defenders and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation express their deep concerns and strongly condemn the death threat against Ms. Nazlie Bala, a well respected Kosovo human rights defender. The organisations call upon the responsible institutions to ensure protection of human rights defenders in line with international and domestic obligations.
Twenty years ago, the Army of the Republic of Serbia abducted 19 non-Serb citizens of Serbia and Montenegro on the railway station in Štrpci (BIH). The passengers were taken to the village of Visegradska banja, where they were tortured and killed. Up till now, the remains of three victims have been found. On February 27, Civil Rights Defender’s partners in Serbia marked the 20th Anniversary of the abduction in Strpce in front of the main railway station in Belgrade.
4-5 February, participants from Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Croatia and Albania gathered in a meeting to kick-off the Balkan tour of the play Seven at the Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade. The tour is organised by Hedda Produktion AB, Civil Rights Defenders and several of its local partners and the Swedish embassies in each country.
In December, Civil Rights Defenders wrote a letter to the Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and urged him to demand stronger protection for human rights defenders in Kosovo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has replied that “we are discussing these important issues on a political level. When Prime Minister Hachim Thaci visited Sweden in October, EU integration and the necessary reforms, including human rights, were major themes.”
Theoretical and practical insight into national media legislation and European standards in the field make law students better prepared to handle human rights issues in their future work as legal professionals. That is why Civil Rights Defenders, together with one of its long-term partners, the Press Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is conducting trainings for law students in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the end of the year, Civil Rights Defenders and Transparency International gathered human rights organisations for a workshop on how to encourage citizens in the fight against corruption. The workshop was attended by representatives of the Institution of Ombudsperson for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Civil Rights Defenders urges the government of Kosovo to bring to justice everyone responsible for the recent hate crimes by radical groups against the Magazine Kosovo 2.0 and the LGBT organisation Libertas. Further, the government must ensure their fulfillment of international and domestic obligations in protection of human rights.
On 29 November, Ramush Haradinaj, Prime Minister in the Kosovar government 2004-2005, and former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, was again aquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Haradinaj was on trial for crimes against civilians in the prison camp in Jablanica in 1998. Civil Rights Defenders deeply regrets the fact that the ICTY failed to properly establish the facts in this case.
On 25 November, Civil Rights Defender’s partner, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, organised a protest against the discriminatory provision of the Bosnian constitution, implying that only members of the three main ethnic groups can hold high political offices. According to the European Court of Human Rights, this violates the right to free and fair elections and the prohibition of discrimination.
28-30 November, Civil Rights Defenders is organising a workshop on hate crimes and hate speech. The aim is to build the capacities of local human rights organisations to deal with hate crimes in a more consistent and comprehensive way. Another goal is to build a coalition that will monitor and report on hate speech and hate crimes.
The Roma population in Serbia is continuously exposed to severe discrimination and persistently threatened or actually victimized by acts of forced eviction from their homes. To raise the awareness of their situation and to discuss what can be done to tackle discrimination, Civil Rights Defenders organised three round table discussions and street actions in October and November 2012.
A country with one foot in the door of the EU, where seven out of ten people regard homosexuality as a disease. A country where coming out as a gay person may result in a broken nose, a fractured jaw, and emotional wounds that will never heal.
Since its establishment in 2006 the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina has grown to become a well-respected organisation. Today their network of youth activists is the longest running network of its kind and it is involved in all major human rights events, in the country. Civil Rights Defenders has worked with the YIHR BiH since the beginning. This video describes the work of achieving change in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In cooperation with Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Tortured Victims (KRCT), Civil Rights Defenders is conducting a comprehensive monitoring of institutions for persons with mental disabilities in Kosovo. Small improvements of the living conditions have been observed during the year but large structural problems still remain.
In the beginning of October 2012, Civil Rights Defenders launched an upgraded version of the web tool CAPTCHA – which can detect human empathy. The Captcha has become world news, with more than 300 published articles and thousands of tweets.
On Sunday, 30 September, Pride week opened in Serbia, a week full of seminars, debates and art exhibitions, in support of the countrys LGBT community. For the second year in a row, the authorities are now banning the parade, claiming that national security is endangered, The Parade is not only a symbol for LGBT people’s rights; it is also a demonstration of every citizen’s right to freedom of expression and assembly.
(Updated in October 2012) In last four years, Macedonia has shown little progress towards meeting EU criteria as regards strengthening the rule of law and respect for human rights, and the country still has not met the necessary requirements for EU membership. The political sphere and developments there were marked by weak dialogue between political [...]
(Updated in October 2012) Four years after the declaration of independence, Kosovo still faces the challenge of becoming a state based on the principles of the rule of law, democracy and human rights. The challenges lying ahead are immense, as regards accomplishing the required reforms in the judiciary, public administration and the fight against corruption. [...]
(Updated in October 2012) The awareness of citizens regarding domestic laws and the European Convention on Human Rights (EctHR) remains low. Nevertheless, the ECtHR is considered to be the most important and secure legal instrument to guarantee human rights protection and reinstatement of violated rights. Up to now, the European Court has delivered 33 judgments [...]
(Updated in October 2012) Since October 2009, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) delivered 61 judgments finding that Serbia had violated the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in 54 cases. At the time of reporting, there are 7.050 applications against Serbia pending, which is almost 4.6% of all [...]
(Updated in October 2012) Montenegro is a state party to all major international human rights standards, but ratification of some conventions has been delayed. The final version of the new Constitution adopted in October 2007 generally provides favourable human rights protection. However, some pieces of legislation that were adopted after the new Constitution are still [...]
A court in Belgrade has delivered a judgment requiring Serbia to pay RSD 360,000 to Sead Rovčanin for the torture inflicted on him in 1993 by members of the Interior Ministry. This is a great result of Civil Rights Defenders work together with Humanitarian Law Centre on providing legal representation to victims of grave human rights violations in the 1990s.
Until 1993 persons with disabilities were invisible, kept in institutions, and no one talked about their rights. Today the issue is less controversial but Blerta Cani Drenofci, Executive Director of Albanian Disability Rights Foundation, says she her choice of career has often been questioned: “In the beginning I met a lot of ignorance. My friends were surprised that I wanted to work with this issue.”
Drastic deviations from European standards on freedom of expression and media exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A new report by Civil Rights Defenders, and local partners Press Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina and BH Journalists’ Association, reveals. The report is the first comprehensive analysis of the media scene in the country.
This year Albania participated in Paralympics for the first time ever. But the obstacles that Albanians with disabilities must face are still high. Their human rights are violated on a daily basis and a person with disabilities is commonly regarded as a ‘misfortune’. Welcome to a seminar on September 26 with Blerta Çani Drenofci, Executive Director at Albanian Disability Rights Foundation.
In reaction to the poor human rights situation in the penal-correctional institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Civil Rights Defenders and the Bosnian Helsinki Committee have conducted eight monitoring missions in the country. Their findings show a lack of basic hygiene conditions to detainees being subjected to ill treatment.
(Updated in August 2012) In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the implementation of ratified UN and international human rights conventions remains uneven and partial. The on-going political disputes are still directing attention away from major human rights issues. Up till now, BIH has not implemented the European Court of Human Rights ruling in the Case of Sejdic [...]
Only 4 of the European Council’s 27 principles for press freedom have been fully implemented in Serbia, the first comprehensive report on the media situation in the country: Serbian Media Scene VS European Standards, suggests. Free press is a cornerstone for democratic development; in this report the challenges lying ahead of the Serbian media scene become evident. This report is a result of a yearlong cooperation between Civil Rights Defenders and local partners.
Two years ago, an unfamiliar man attacked Zdravko Cimbaljevic. The hate crime led Zdravko to openly speak about his homosexuality in the press, thereby becoming Montenegro’s first open homosexual. Since then, he is subject to constant threats. It is a difficult task to change the attitude towards LGBT people in a country where about 70 per cent of the population believes that homosexuality is a disease: “I don’t ask everybody to love us, just not to attack me or violate my rights.”
11 July is the 17th Anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, when around 8 000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian-Serb forces. Together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Civil Rights Defenders has created Srebrenica Mapping Genocide, that aims at increase the awareness and foster conditions for further dealing with the past.
On 9 July, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) continued the trial against Ratko Mladic, Bosnian Serb former military leader accused of committing murder, deportation and terror almost 17 years ago. Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, comments the trial on Swedish television. (In Swedish)
Between 30th September and 6th October a Pride festival will be organised in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Swedish Minister for EU-affairs Birgitta Ohlsson is one of the opening speakers. Her participation is an important gesture of solidarity, at a time when it is difficult or even impossible to organise Pride festivals in many parts of Europe.
![[:en]View conversation about the banned parade in Belgrade 2011[:sv]Se videosamtal om prideparaden som förbjöds i Belgrad 2011](http://www.civilrightsdefenders.org/files/belgrade_pride_2011-300x185.jpg)
Despite months of planning and intense dialogue with state authorities the Belgrade Pride parade was banned, three days before it was scheduled to take place on October 2, 2011. Listen to Boban Stojanovic and Goran Miletic explain what happened in this interview by Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson, Head of Communications at Civil Rights Defenders.
Winner of the Eurovision song contest 2012 – Loreen expresses her support of Pride in Belgrade 2012.
Zdravko Cimbaljec is the first gay person in Montenegro to come out. Hear him speak about his decision to come out and what it means to be gay in Montenegro. Also, hear Lilya Ten, from the organisation Labrys, speak about the situation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kyrgyzstan.
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: [...]
In recognition of outstanding efforts made by individuals, organizations, institutions, companies and media in combating discrimination against minorities and in supporting equality in Serbia, the Coalition Against Discrimination has presented it’s annual awards on 4th May.The Coalition Against Discrimination was initiated by Civil Rights Defenders and Centre for Advanced Legal Studies.
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 two of the organisers: Boban Stojanovic, from the organisation Queeria and Goran Miletic, Programme Director for the Western Balkans at Civil Rights Defenders.
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) Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders and the Association of Journalists 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. Civil Rights Defenders cooperate with the Association for Democratic Initiatives (ADI) in Sarajevo to to facilitate better enforcement of the law, and to improve the understanding about discrimination among students and different stakeholders.
Widespread lack of respect for human rights, in particular discrimination against vulnerable groups, remains of great concern in Albania. Civil Rights Defenders believe that the media can play an important role in raising awareness about human rights and mobilizing civic engagement. A cooperation with Independent Local Media Association (ILMA), to engage citizens in debates on radio about the most important human rights issues, has therefore been established.
Kosovo 2.0 is a web portal and a magazine available in English, Albanian and Serbian. Since the launch in July 2010, it has had around 257,760 unique visitors and more that 1,000 unique visits a day. Civil Rights Defenders collaboration with Kosovo Glocal aims at building up Kosovo 2.0, a comprehensive and vibrant media platform, offering interesting and current news, commentary and information that will contribute to an overall respect of freedom of expression in Kosovo.
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. Together with Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) Civil Rights Defenders provide legal services for individuals belonging to marginalized groups through court and administrative procedures. This gives people better access to their legal rights and welfare benefits.
Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Together with Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) in Serbia Civil Rights Defenders provide work to raise public awareness on the importance of confronting the past, by compiling and disseminating a comprehensive record of human losses in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro in the wars of the 1990s. The “Interactive Online Map of Human Losses” provides user-friendly information and access to relevant documents on human losses in Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia.
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. Civil Rights Defenders 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.
despread impunity in Kosovo, people often do not report violence in prison. Civil Rights Defenders 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 of their liberty and relevant authorities.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina LGBT people are often attacked. The aim of Civil Rights Defenders collaboration with Sarajevo Open Society is to break the silence around LGBT issues, in order to reduce prejudices and discrimination against LGBT community.
Civil Rights Defenders believe that strengthening investigative journalism in Kosovo will contribute to greater respect for human rights in general and to freedom of expression in particular. The 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 Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Kosovo (YIHR KS), Civil Rights Defenders are establishing a pool of lawyers who will identify cases of discrimination for proceeding to the court.
Together with Humanitarian Law Centre in Kosovo, Civil Rights Defenders is compiling the Kosovo Memory Book, a comprehensive record of killed and missing persons during the 1998-2000 armed conflict in Kosovo. The aim is to build a historical memory about the conflict 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. Civil Rights Defenders collaboration with Pescanik 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 Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with Local Press Association we work to raise the level of professionalism among journalists and media in Serbia. The local media has experienced much pressure during a challenging period, with a media landscape that is characterized by unfinished legal reforms, chaotic market conditions and weak professional ethics.
In collaboration with the organisation LABRIS, Civil Rights Defenders address discrimination of LGBT people in institutional settings through education. In a long term perspective, hoping to contribute to a better environment for the LGBT community.
Together with Veliki Mali, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders assist in building a Code of Conduct for journalists and media outlets.
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, Civil Rights Defenders 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.
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.
In collaboration with the Organisation for Democracy, Anticorruption and Dignity – ÇOHU! Civil Rights Defenders provide a tool for preventing cases that contain features of corruption or organized crime from being closed because of passing the deadline set in the law.
Together with Macedonian Young Lawyers Association’s, Civil Rights Defenders work to improve anti-discrimination policies, practices and standards in the judicial system in Macedonia. This is conducted through strategic litigation and by educating young lawyers.
To improve the rule of law in Albania we provide a legal clinic, in collaboration with the Albanian Helsinki Committee, where we offer free legal aid to arrested, pre-trial detained and convicted persons, Roma and Egyptians. In 2010 approximately 500 complaints and more than 1000 free legal aid services were treated within the legal clinic.
Civil Rights Defender’s 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.
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 Civil Rights Defenders organise trainings for our partners. This year our partners in Albania and Kosovo received training in public speech.
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 [...]
By monitoring mental health facilities in Kosovo and lobby for legislative changes, Civil Rights Defenders, together with Kosovo Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims, work to promote human dignity and make end to violence and discrimination in institutions.
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 Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with BETA News Agency 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.
The objective of Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with Mediacentar Sarajevo this year is to sustain and extend public discussion about the problem of hate speech in Bosnia-Herzegovina public space. We will publish 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, Civil Rights Defenders will cooperate 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.
Civil Rights Defenders 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.
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 Civil Rights Defenders cooperation with ANEM, Association of Independent Electronic Media, we aim to assist the organisation and its stations to increase their capacities and influence. Our work also contributes to helping the entire media sector to improve media regulations.
Through Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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 remembrance day 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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 [...]
Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Civil Rights Defenders continue the 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 Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders cooperation 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 Civil Rights Defenders has 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.
Together with Regional Centre for Minorities, RCM, Civil Rights Defenders 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.
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 Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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. Civil Rights Defenders initiated cooperation with Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims in 2007, with the aim to monitor detention facilities and prisons.
Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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.
Civil Rights Defenders 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 Young Lawyers of Serbia, Civil Rights Defenders 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, Civil Rights Defenders 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 Civil Rights Defenders 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 third edition of the Moot Court competition, arranged by Civil Rights Defenders and the organisation Young Lawyers of Serbia, was won by the team from University of Rijeka, Croatia. 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.
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. In total 10 teams from Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia will participate in this year’s competition.
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 “Free zone” opens in Belgrade for the fourth year running. Civil Rights Defenders (by then, 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.
Natasha Jevtic Esbjörnson
Phone: +46 76 576 27 62
His burnt body was returned to the family in a plastic bag. The European Court has found Russia responsible for human rights violations in the North Caucasus, in more than one hundred cases, as a result of our work.
(Photo: Joanna Kurosz)
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