News and updates from BCSDN and the region
In the Open Government Declaration, OGP countries pledge to protect CSOs in their pursuit to become more transparent, more accountable, and more responsive to their own citizens. CSOs are indispensable to fulfilling OGP’s vision of improved governance and improved quality of services. This chapter aims to support governments in their efforts to live up to
Read more →Around the world, there is an outbreak of vague, repressive, and overreaching legislation that represents a serious threat to civil society’s operations and influence. Because they often seek to protect human rights and hold governments accountable, civil society organizations are often a thorn in the government’s side, and therefore can face enhanced repression and legal
Read more →On 12 June, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Ambassador Miroslav Papa, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the Council of Europe, deposited the instrument of ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, by Croatia. The Croatian Parliament ratified the Convention on April 13, despite
Read more →Montenegrin journalists and civil rights activists have gathered in the capital, Podgorica, to protest against the proposed dismissal of the national public broadcaster’s director and editorial team. About 100 people gathered on 7 June in front of the RTCG’s headquarters, where the managing council was expected to vote on the proposal that critics say is
Read more →The side event at UN Human Rights Council 38th Session, organized by Civil Society Europe and CIVICUS, aims to bring together civil society representatives, UN bodies and State/EU representatives to discuss their intersecting role in promoting and protecting civic space in the EU. The event will provide an opportunity to present findings from a new
Read more →The Venice Academy of Human Rights is an international and interdisciplinary programme of excellence for human rights education, research and debate. It provides an enriching forum for emerging ideas, practices and policy options in the field of human rights. The Academy hosts distinguished experts to promote critical and useful research and innovation through the exchange
Read more →The Union of International Associations is organizing its Associations Round Table Europe 2018. The UIA Associations Round Table is an opportunity to learn through networking and through practice: meet representatives of other international associations and share experience and knowledge; and gain practical skills and tools to help you do your work better. Table sessions will
Read more →The Specific Objective of this call is to enhance the active and sustainable involvement of local CSOs in policy making at all levels of governance in selected priority areas of intervention through offering direct financial and technical assistance. Priority areas are: Democracy and Good Governance; Education, Employment and Social Policies; Youth and Volunteering; Rule of
Read more →Through the Internet Freedom Fund, Open Technology Fund strives to uphold and increase capacity for individuals, organizations, and companies who support technology-centered efforts that aim to strengthen internet freedom and promote human rights by circumventing repressive censorship and surveillance, improving related digital security capabilities, and contributing to the overall health of the internet. Candidates can
Read more →The specific objectives of this call are to further strengthen the capacity of CSOs in Serbia and enhance their long-term strategic development via a national resource centre. The priorities are: to develop organisational capacities of CSOs; to increase the level and quality of participations of CSOs in policy-making processes; to strengthen and further develop grass
Read more →On 2 May, the European Commission released its communication on the Multi-annual Financial framework (2021-2027). Despite the ever-changing environment for development aid, the communication sets out that €123 billion, representing approximately 10% of the total EU budget, is allocated to external action. CONCORD, the European Confederation of development NGOs, welcomed the budget dedicated to external
Read more →When foreigners give money to political organizations, both the donor and the recipient often become suspect. Governments around the world that fear criticism, oppose human rights, or otherwise reject the agendas of these groups are increasingly trying to ban foreign backing of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Ron Krebs and James Ron of the University of Minnesota
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