News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Throughout September, the RDN monitoring team has detected a range of hateful narratives and discourse in the Western Balkans. A significant rise in homophobia has been noted in Serbia across both traditional and social media, as Belgrade hosted this year’s EuroPride. Islamophobia has been noted in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the interview of
Read more →The European Parliament adopted a legislative initiative resolution (2020/2026(INL), that calls on the European Commission to harmonize the status of non-profits throughout the EU and establish a statute for the European association. Specifically, the EP calls for the Commission to prepare two regulative: A regulation for the new legal form of the ‘European Association, and
Read more →The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance has published a document that focuses on mapping cybersecurity-related human rights opportunities and challenges an under-explored area in the Western Balkans. The publication contains essential conceptual background information regarding each economy’s cybersecurity and human rights contexts. Its chapters explore four core thematic issues: cybersecurity and the right to
Read more →On 8 October, several hundred people joined the LGBTQ pride march in Montenegro, despite the strong opposition from the influential Serbian Orthodox Church. The 10th pride event was dubbed “No more buts,” demanding more be done to stem hate speech and harassment of the LGBTQ community despite huge steps that have been made in the past
Read more →A Declaration developed with inputs from over 30 national and regional people’s assemblies was adopted at the three-day Global People’s Assembly on 22 September, organized by Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and allies, during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. “The time to act is now,” the group calls for a
Read more →For all the challenges linked to digitalization, here is a new resource that examines the occurring challenges and maps the opportunities from using digital tools. The idea of the internet as a medium for freedom has suffered. Authoritarian regimes use digital technologies as a tool for control. However, the internet does still hold significant emancipatory
Read more →DLA Piper, ECNL, and PILnet have published a comprehensive document guiding CSOs in navigating worldwide laws that enable their work. The Global Nonprofits Guide aims to help CSO workers to unpack the laws around different forms of nonprofits, the registration process, internal governance structures, and compliance with employment and tax regulations. It provides information on
Read more →The right of peaceful assembly is essential to democracy and a central mean for people collectively to express their views and needs; to associate or affirm group identity or solidarity; to contribute to social, cultural, and political discourse; and to hold authorities to account. In line with the creation of enabling environment for practicing civic
Read more →The Press Advertising Agency canceled the right of independent Turkish newspaper Evrensel to publish advertisements from state and public authorities. According to the outlet’s managing editor, this was a politically motivated decision targeting one of the few remaining independent media outlets in the country. He added that the state ad revenues are vital for the
Read more →During the 79th session of the Government of North Macedonia, an Advisory Body was decided to be formed to provide opinions on the use of the name of a historian and other famous persons on behalf of the associations and other legal entity. Previously, the Government adopted information for the needs by initiating an interdepartmental
Read more →The research analyzes hate discourses and good practices of European and national standards, targets, actors, definitions, and anti-discrimination policies. It studies the emergence and embodiments of Euroscepticism in predominantly Eurooptimistic and Eurorealistic countries. The study also examines civic activism in countering hate discourses and practices and promoting European values of respect for difference, liberty, equality,
Read more →The European Handbook for SDG Voluntary Local Reviews – 2022 edition provides policymakers, urban practitioners, and experts with a consolidated method and examples of indicators that European local and regional governments can use to monitor the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) are processes that encompass both the monitoring
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