Results

Results of our work

First Pride held in Serbia
For the first time in Serbia, a Prideparade was finally carried through on the 10th of October 2010. Civil Rights Defenders has long urged the authorities to guarantee all people’s right to freedom of expression and assembly. Great efforts were required from the police in order to guarantee security for the participants. Several officers were injured by counter-activists but not one single Pride participant.
Macedonia guilty of unlawful detention
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 the Macedonian Helsinki Committee in cooperation with us.
Queer Culture Festival carried through despite homophobic pressure
Despite a lot of obstacles in the beginning, we managed to carry through the second International Festival of Queer Culture successfully in St Petersburg in September 2010. The aim of the festival was to promote tolerance and equal value of all people. Our partner Coming Out was the main organiser; we attended part of the festival.
Discrimination finally prohibited in Montenegro
A law prohibiting discrimination has been adopted in Montenegro, to a great extent due to the work invested by us and our partners Youth Initiative for Human Rights and Centre for Democracy and Human Rights.
Mapping the Srebrenica Genocide
On the eve of the 15th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, we presented an educational material in order to increase awareness about the crime and to foster conditions for dealing with the recent past in the region of former Yugoslavia. The material was created in cooperation with our partners Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Fama International.
Albania condemned for violation of the right to a fair trial
In 2010 the European Court of Human Rights condemned Albania for violating the right to a fair trial and the prohibition against torture, in a case taken to the Court by the Albanian Helsinki Committee and us.
Albania abolishes controversial law
In 2010 the Albanian Constitutional Court abolished the controversial Lustration Law, which regulates how crimes committed during the Communist rule are to be dealt with. Together with our partner the Albanian Helsinki Committee we have worked for the abolition of the law, since it is incompatible with the Albanian Constitution.
Montenegro pays compensation for torture
The court in Podgorica has sentenced the Montenegrin government to pay 10,000 euro each in damages to the Bosnian Muslim couple Saban and Arif Rizvanović who were tortured by Yugoslav soldiers in 1993. The case is a great success for our partner Humanitarian Law Centre.
Important step forward for Serbian LGBT movement
The LGBT movement took an important step forward in Serbia in 2009. For the first time our partner Gay Straight Alliance established cooperation with other human rights organisations in Serbia, and LGBT-issues are now being included in the general work for human rights.
Great victory for people with mental disabilities
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russia must pay a record compensation of 25,000 euro to a man with mental disabilities that had been illegally detained. This is a great victory for our work for the rights of people with mental disabilities in cooperation with Mental Disability Advocacy Centre.
Macedonia gets Law on legal aid
In cooperation with Macedonian Young Lawyers Association we have worked actively for the adoption of a new Law on legal aid. Now we will monitor the implementation of it. The law represents a major step forward in improving access to justice for vulnerable social groups.
Work for disabled people’s rights awarded
Our partner Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF) has received the “Albanian Leadership Award 2009” for their efforts within the civil society. Our cooperation with ADRF aims at improving the rights of people with disabilities.
Russia ratifies protocol 14
The Russian Duma has ratified protocol 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This makes it possible to speed up the handling of the over 100,000 cases gathered in the Court. Together with other human rights organisations we have lobbied intensively in the question.
Decent housing for Kolonia settlers
One of our most significant achievements in 2009 is our contribution that helped resolve the housing situation for one of the groups of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the Gjakova region, Kosovo.
Belarus Gets Independent Radio Station
European Radio for Belarus received an official accreditation in Belarus. The radio station is based in Poland and has previously been sending without an official accreditation, which meant great risks for their journalists.
Right to Information in Moldova
The Moldovan Supreme Court has ruled that the country’s tax authorities are required to give media organizations access to information. The case has been pursued by Civil Rights Defenders in co-operation with the Independent Journalism Center.
Human Rights Defenders Put Pressure on the EU
Civil Rights Defenders organized a conference for human rights defenders in the North Caucasus. The conference resulted in joint recommendations to the EU to put pressure on Russia to strengthen the protection for human rights activists in the North Caucasus.
Human Rights Art Exhibition
In the Autumn of 2009 we launched a photo exhibition about human rights with pictures by Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin. Thousands of people visited the exhibition at Stockholm Central Station, the Book and Library Fair in Gothenburg and at the Human Rights Forum in Stockholm.
Damages to Egyptians for expulsion
The two Egyptians, Ahmed Agiza and Mohammed Alzery, received 3 million Swedish kronor as compensation for damages following their brutal expulsion from Sweden in 2001.
Legal Aid Act in Albania
In Albania, a new Legal Aid Act was introduced implying that individuals that cannot afford a legal representative are guaranteed legal aid also in civil and administrative right cases.
First LGBT organisation in Russia registered
Our partner, Coming Out, was registered as the first LGBT organisation in Russia.
Serbia pass law on discrimination
With the help of the Swedish Helsinki Committee and all local organisations’ long term efforts, Serbia passed a law on discrimination. This is a big step forward for the human rights situation in Serbia and implies strengthened rights for discriminated groups such as Roma, homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender individuals.
Anti discrimination prize in Serbia
The Swedish Helsinki Committee and the Coalition Against Discrimination established a prize for work against discrimination, which was presented to the winner by the Serbian Minister for Human Rights.
Film festival on human rights in Serbia
Four times, together with REX, the Swedish Helsinki Committee has organised Frizon, a film festival that focuses on human rights. Through Frizon, the Beograd public is offered an entirely new way of looking at the world and an opportunity to discuss issues of importance.
Romas registered for ID-documents
We have helped several thousands of Roma on the Western Balkans to become registered and receive identity papers. This means they can demand that their fundamental human rights are respected, such as the right to go to school and the right to medical care. They also gain access to the social security system, and they are given opportunity to vote and receive legal employment.
Courts of Macedonia access laws and precedents
The Swedish Helsinki Committee and the local collaboration partner MOST initiated a unique cooperation with the Supreme Court of Macedonia, who gives the courts of the country access to laws and precedents from the Supreme Court and precedents from the European Court of Human Rights.