News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Novi Sad railway tragedy in November, which claimed 15 lives, has triggered Serbia’s largest protests since 2000. What began as outrage over safety failures quickly evolved into a broader movement demanding justice, electoral reform, and increased education funding, with universities closed for months. BCSDN member Civic Initiatives and other CSOs have severed ties with
Read more →The government of Republika Srpska is moving forward with a stricter “foreign agents” law, despite previous expectations that it would be abandoned. President Milorad Dodik announced that the law, which targets NGOs and media, will be even more restrictive than the earlier draft, withdrawn last year after international criticism. The proposal follows the U.S. decision
Read more →The European Union Delegation in North Macedonia has launched consultations with civil society and other stakeholders to define priority topics for the upcoming calls for proposals under the IPA III Civil Society and Media Support Instrument for 2024-2025. The calls for proposals will align with the EU’s strategic approach for the region and focus on
Read more →Bosnia’s Federation House of Representatives unanimously adopted a new Law on Protection against Domestic Violence and Violence against Women. The law strengthens police powers, allowing them to intervene swiftly, detain suspects for 48 hours, and use electronic monitoring devices on offenders with restraining orders. This law aims to align with the Council of Europe’s Convention
Read more →Montenegrin students from the group “Where Tomorrow?” are organizing daily road blockages in protest over the government’s failure to address their demands following the mass shooting in Cetinje on January 1. The students are calling for the resignation of Minister of Interior Danilo Saranovic and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Becic, who oversee security. Despite their
Read more →40 Turkish and international organizations, including the International Press Institute, Freedom House, the European Federation of Journalists, and Turkey’s Media and Law Studies Association, have issued a joint letter protesting increasing press freedom violations. The letter condemns the systematic use of judicial control measures—such as house arrests and travel bans—to silence independent journalists. In January
Read more →A recent study by the Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, supported by Helvetas Serbia and Civic Initiatives, highlights strategies for CSOs to strengthen community connections. The research emphasizes five key findings: raising awareness and identifying allies, building and measuring support through partnerships, capacity building through resources and collaboration, and developing planned
Read more →In a statement CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) raises concerns over the decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its impact on global development. Responding to the FfD4 Zero Draft, CPDE calls on UN Member States to uphold past ODA commitments, enforce the 0.7% GNI target, and recognize the 7.1 trillion USD shortfall as
Read more →Target group: NGOs operating in Albania with media outlets (non-profit, active for over 12 months) Aim: To support local media outlets with technical, editorial, and financial resources to report independently, ethically, and in a gender-balanced way, with a focus on youth, women, and minority/vulnerable groups. Amount: 8 000 – 15 000 EUR per successful applicant Duration: 10
Read more →Target group: Legal entities (public or private bodies) established in Creative Europe Participating Countries, including EU Member States, overseas territories, and non-EU countries listed in the EEA or those associated with the Creative Europe Programme. Aim: To promote media literacy in a changing digital media environment, fostering cross-border initiatives and collaborations to share best practices and
Read more →Target group: Women-led informal groups and organizations in Serbia, BiH, and Montenegro working on gender-based violence, human trafficking, and women’s movement building. Aim: To support women’s collectives (formal or informal) in the fight against domestic and partner violence, human trafficking, and exploitation, and in building the women’s movement. Special focus on initiatives addressing psychological violence
Read more →Target group: Journalism students and recent graduates (under 30 years old) from the Western Balkans Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: This competition promotes collaboration among young journalism students and recent graduates from the Western Balkans. The focus is on producing journalistic content about the European integration process in the Balkans, specifically the Berlin Process. Participants
Read more →