News and updates from BCSDN and the region
CSOs in North Macedonia have requested the Government to ensure transparency and restore the dialogue regarding state funding for CSOs. The Government’s financial support for CSOs has been a topic of concern, as the organizations claim that the funding has not been distributed fairly, and in some cases, it has been reduced or withheld entirely
Read more →The Republika Srpska recently passed a new law called the “Red Line Law” which limits freedom of expression and could be used to silence Government critics. The law punishes anyone who insults or offends symbols of the entity, including the flag and anthem, with fines and up to three years in prison. The law has
Read more →A group of human rights activists was physically assaulted by a mob of protestors at an LGBT event in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The event was organized in defiance of a government ban on all public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The attack highlights the ongoing struggle for LGBT rights in the country, where discrimination
Read more →The European Civic Forum (ECF) has released its 2023 Civic Space Report on Romania, highlighting the state of civic freedoms and democratic participation in the country. The report finds that while there are some positive developments, including increased funding for CSOs and improvements in transparency and accountability, there are also significant challenges facing Romanian civil
Read more →The South East European Network for Professionalization of Media has curated a list of regional documentaries on media and journalism that provides insight into the state of journalism and media in the Balkans. The documentaries focus on issues such as media ownership, the importance of investigative journalism, and the role of media in promoting democratic
Read more →The Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Skopje has published a preliminary research report on restoring the European Union’s credibility and the European consensus in civil society in North Macedonia. The report examines the impact of EU policies on civil society and suggests ways to improve the EU’s approach to the country. It highlights the
Read more →The European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) has published a framework that outlines guidelines for conducting human rights impact assessments (HRIAs) of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The framework emphasizes the importance of engaging with all stakeholders, including those most affected by the AI system being assessed, to ensure that the HRIA is comprehensive and effective.
Read more →An article published by the STGM discusses how CSOs in Turkey face legal restrictions, prohibitions, and penalties for their aid collection activities. Turkish law requires CSOs to obtain permits from the government to collect funds, and failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe fines and even criminal charges. This creates a challenging
Read more →The 2023 Rule of Law Report, published by Liberties reveals that democratic backsliding has resulted in shrinking space for CSOs in Europe. The report documents increased restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly and expression and the suppression of human rights defenders and journalists. It identifies Hungary and Poland as the countries where the
Read more →The European Policy Institute (EPI) published brief summarises the key developments in relation to rule of law in view of EU accession in North Macedonia for the period October – December 2022. It includes monitoring the fundamentals of EU accession, including key developments in the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and Chapter 23: judiciary
Read more →The article “Anti-Money Laundering: A Risk-Based Approach to Regulating NPOs”, discusses the risks of money laundering in NPOs and the importance of implementing a risk-based approach to prevent it. It emphasizes the need for regulators to recognize the diversity of NPOs and their potential risks, rather than simply assuming that all NPOs pose a high
Read more →The report “Monthly Monitoring Highlights Sexism and Ethnic Discrimination” published by Reporting Diversity, reports on the findings of the monthly monitoring conducted by the Network for Affirmative Action (NAA) in Media and highlights the prevalence of sexism and ethnic discrimination in the media. The monitoring looked at the representation of women and ethnic groups in
Read more →