News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The International Press Institute, IPI, expressed concerns after the Slovenian Prime Minister on his Twitter account attacked the director of the Slovenian Press Agency, STA, of being a ‘collaborator’ in the ‘murder’ of a former STA editor. The observers also claimed that the Slovenian government is putting pressure on the agency to change its editorial
Read more →Human rights and freedoms constraints in exceptional circumstances, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, are only allowed if they are proportionately implemented, without discrimination against anyone, considering that some human rights and freedoms should not be subjected to restriction. Citizens claim that it is difficult for them to accept the limitations and the changes that the
Read more →In its annual Press Freedom Index report, ranking 180 countries worldwide based on their level of media freedom, and journalists’ safety, Reporters Without Borders informs that the media conditions in some Central and South East Europe countries deteriorated amid coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In Serbia (93), the legislation limited press freedom; the Government controlled the media; and
Read more →In April 2021, the Montenegrin Government appointed new Commission members for Monitoring Violence against Media, which comprises journalists, media and NGO representatives, the Interior Ministry, Police, State Prosecution, and the National Security Agency. The Commission’s new head has called the authorities to demonstrate the political will to clarify the attacks on journalists and media, emphasizing
Read more →In its latest publication, the European Civic Forum with four main asks reacted to the European Commission Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Rule of Law in the European Union. It states that the European Commission should adopt a comprehensive approach for the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy. Also, a comprehensive approach should include a
Read more →Recalling recent examples of government’s abuse of international recommendations, including the case in which the Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Serbia investigated 57 organizations, media, and individuals without legal grounds, and state bodies’ campaign to obstruct CSO’s work, in a statement CSOs, among which BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, express
Read more →Turkey’s top administrative court decided the authorities’ regulations on journalists’ accreditation, allowing officials to cancel reporters’ press cards being unfriendly to the government, breached the media freedom. With the authorities’ regulation, many independent journalists have had their press cards revoked, or their renewal applications were denied. According to the Council of State, the press cards
Read more →In its latest publication, the Centre for Contemporary Politics states that when informing citizens about EU reports on Serbia, there is a lack of reporting of direct findings, conclusions, and independent interpretations of the Commission Report’s original text. It asserts that the EU report presents a situation that is not in line with the country’s
Read more →A new IDSC public policy study aims to assess the crisis management system’s structure and provide recommendations for its development. By reviewing the legal and institutional set-up, it reflects on the competencies of the municipalities; it identifies the systemic gaps and challenges, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operation of the municipalities; the
Read more →A smear campaign was launched against the investigative portal KRIK, emerging in Serbia’s major government-funded tabloids. The organization (a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Research Network (OCCRP), was connected with an organized criminal group headed by a recently-arrested crime boss, under investigation for several murders. The campaign made unsupported and inaccurate claims that the criminal
Read more →European press freedom and journalists’ organizations expressed their concern about Slovenia’s state of media freedom and the Prime minister’s attacks on the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) independence. They state that journalists’ denigration, and the ruling party’s attempts to exercise greater control over the country’s public service media, generates a hostile climate for critical reporting. Moreover,
Read more →Thousands of protesters took to Istanbul’s streets after Turkey pulled out the Istanbul agreement designed to protect women from domestic violence, signed in 2011 to stop killing women and girls. Many national and international organizations condemned and, with joint actions, urged against the Turkish authorities’ decision that seriously affects women’s rights. BCSDN member from Turkey,
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