News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg ruled in favor of TV B92 and against Serbia in a case centered on the station’s reporting of allegations of abuse of office by the assistant health minister in 2011. The ECHR stated that it found Serbia in violation of Article 10 (freedom of expression) of
Read more →The right of citizens to form associations and receive funding to pursue their missions is enshrined in international human rights law. Yet, in recent years an increasing number of states have adopted or amended laws and regulations constraining the right of CSOs to access funding, particularly foreign funding. These measures severely constrain the ability of
Read more →On 15 August, a large-scale graffiti featuring Sofija Todorovic’s full name, Programme Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), materialized on the facade of a building in the small Borca neighborhood of Belgrade in which she lives. The graffiti displays her name and surname alongside derogatory and sexist language in an alarming attempt
Read more →With regard to the total revenues of CSOs in North Macedonia, state funding, i.e. central budget money, is 4%. In comparison to the preceding year, the proportion of central state funding remains unchanged. Amidst the stagnation in the reform process for state funding allocated to CSOs and the persistent boycott of the Council for Cooperation
Read more →Watchdog organizations have brought attention to a noticeable “surge in censorship” within Turkey following the May elections. The government has employed the judicial system as a means of retaliating against journalists and media outlets that expressed opposition to Turkish President Erdogan and the ruling party. Data from the Mapping Media Freedom of the European Centre
Read more →On 21 August, approximately 50 women joined together in a protest outside the Ministry of Justice in Zagreb. On behalf of nearly 40 women’s organizations and initiatives, they called on the Ministry to improve women’s safety across Croatia and establish a working group on formulating legal solutions to address femicide as well as femicide to
Read more →On 14 August, thousands of Bosnians took to the streets to demand authorities act to curb violence against women after a man last week shot and killed his ex-wife while streaming the slaying live on Instagram. Bosnia’s citizens were angered in particular because of reports that the woman who was killed on Friday in the
Read more →FATF is welcoming proposals from various practitioners, experts, and stakeholders from the NPO sector and the financial institutions for the update of the FATF Best Practice Paper to Combat the Abuse of NPOs. This project is being undertaken in parallel to the proposed amendments to Recommendation 8 and its Interpretive Note (under public consultation) to
Read more →BIRN’s recent monthly digital violations review highlights Turkey and Croatia grappling with digital censorship and growing government control. Throughout the Balkans, journalists confront escalating online challenges. In Turkey, online censorship, surveillance, and arrests negatively impact independent journalism. Croatia’s proposed Media Law sparks concerns of government control, jeopardizing investigative reporting and source protection. In July, Turkey
Read more →According to the European Commission, defending democracy is high on its agenda. But its current approach to tackling the issue via its proposed Defence of Democracy package, which focuses heavily on threats coming from outside the EU, has significant shortcomings. By focusing on some symptoms of weakening democracies, such as covert foreign interference, the Commission
Read more →Major amendments to Bulgaria’s Law against Domestic Violence look set to enter into force in the face of fierce opposition from pro-Russian parties who say the changes promote LGBTI rights at the expense of ‘traditional’ family values. Responding to anti-violence protests following a brutal knife attack on an 18-year-old girl in Stara Zagora in late
Read more →On 27 and 28 June, in Haarlem, BCSDN representatives participated in a workshop for the Global Expert Hub on AML/CFT workshop, titled “Unpacking the Tech-Security Drives, Protecting Civic Space“, organized by ECNL. Around 40 CSO representatives and experts on AML/ CTF worldwide participated in the workshop, learning and discussing issues such as emerging technologies, fintech,
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