News and updates from BCSDN and the region
In response to civic space threats in Republika Srpska, BiH, including amendments re-criminalizing defamation and the adoption of the draft ‘foreign agents’ law,’ BCSDN conducted the online discussion ‘Defending Civic Space in the Balkans’ on November 9. The event put focus on several regional advocacy efforts aimed at drawing regional and international attention to the
Read more →Catalyst Balkans and BCSDN present the third edition of “Mapping Donors in the Western Balkans”. The report provides valuable insights into the current donor landscape, focusing on bilateral, multilateral, and private foundations, and corporate donors supporting civil society. Key questions addressed include the donors’ activity levels, areas of focus, and interactions with funded organizations. The
Read more →The Global Partnership conducts a country-led monitoring exercise to enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation, tracking progress based on four principles. This monitoring is crucial for meeting SDG targets 17.15, 17.16, and 5. c. The CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) planned activities, including training on civil society engagement, launching a report summarizing evidence and
Read more →During the December plenary, EESC discussed the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, emphasizing the importance of impact assessments as the foundation of this EU strategic autonomy effort. They proposed an increased role for EESC in decision-making regarding Global Gateway development projects. This initiative, introduced a decade after China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), could contribute to
Read more →The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders discusses the use of EU visas as a protective measure for human rights defenders (HRDs), individuals working to promote and protect human rights worldwide. The paper outlines scenarios where HRDs could benefit from easier access to EU visas. These situations include immediate risks, anticipated risks, addressing burnout
Read more →Serbian CSOs united under the Three Freedoms Platform strongly condemn police brutality against citizens protesting outside the City Assembly of Belgrade on December 24. They call for an urgent reaction from the authorities to protect basic rights and freedoms. The citizens have been gathering daily to express dissatisfaction with undemocratic election conditions and reported election
Read more →SLAPP lawsuits, meant to intimidate public participation, pose a serious threat to freedom of expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The British company Adriatic Metals recently filed a SLAPP lawsuit against the CSO activist Hajrija Čobo, accusing her of damaging their reputation for advocating clean water rights. BCSDN member from BiH CPCD, supports Čobo and condemns
Read more →Representatives of the network for protection against discrimination held a press conference urging parliamentarians to ensure an unbiased and transparent selection process for members of the Commission. They emphasize the need for fair representation in all positions of the Commission, denouncing the insertion of partisan members that compromises the Commission’s independence. The Network highlights legal
Read more →Veysel Ok, a lawyer representing three Kurdish journalists, has raised concerns about their potential imprisonment. These journalists are facing legal threats because of their reporting on increasing human rights violations in Turkey. Ok, who is also a co-chair of the Media and Law Studies Association, has emphasized the rise in rights abuses in eastern Turkey,
Read more →A recent study by the Center for Civil Communications reveals that, on average, only 0.1% of the budget of the Macedonian municipalities is allocated to support citizen associations and foundations. The research highlights that over 90% of funds allocated through budget item 463, intended for non-governmental organizations, primarily went to sports clubs closely associated with
Read more →In 2023, the Dynamic Accountability Community of Practice (DACoP) accomplished several milestones, including a collaborative planning session, thematic newsletters on ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ and ‘Learning Forward,’ and an online workshop on ‘Co-Design and Collaboration.’ Looking ahead to 2024, DACoP is dedicated to expanding further and encourages active participation to shape responsive initiatives. The community
Read more →In the latest episode of the podcast series “Shifting the Power – Global Voices Rising,” Akmal Ali, representing PIANGO, a Forus member with over 30 years of experience empowering NGOs and the civil society sector across 24 Pacific countries and territories. He stresses the significance of localization and unity in empowering local communities to decide
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