News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The report identifies initiatives that governments and civil society need to take to respond to the challenge that COVID 19 causes to the democracies. It notes the threats to democracy that governments are restricting human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of assembly and movement, under the guise of managing the pandemic. The report
Read more →After two years of consultations on the new Media Law, the Legislative Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro, approved the bill, sending it to the further parliamentary procedure. Meanwhile, proposals for additional changes are permanently catching up from the civil sector, the media, and MPs. The civil sector asked for specification of the protection of
Read more →A group of Serbian CSOs and media filed a complaint with the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection for the incomplete response of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia concerning health data of Serbian citizens. According to the Coalition for Freedom of Access to Information, the public has a right
Read more →ECNL welcomed the adoption of the first-ever General Comment No. 37 on Article 21, ICCPR (Right to Peaceful Assembly). The final text adopted by the Committee took stock of all the detailed analysis that ECNL and other CSOs across the world, and experts provided and facilitated in the last two years. They notably contributed on
Read more →The paper presents key findings from FRA’s second consultation of its Fundamental Rights Platform, focusing on the experiences of CSOs working on human rights. The second annual consultation shows that many of the human rights organizations that FRA cooperates with continue to face challenges in their daily work. Some of the finding demonstrate that more
Read more →Protests started out in Serbia, after President’s announcement that new lockdown measures would be reintroduced amid increasing coronavirus cases. During two consecutive nights of protests, violent attacks were recognized against journalists which caused concerns among The European and International Federations of Journalists who condemned the attacks. In a statement, Human Rights House also condemned police
Read more →A group of MPs from the United Patriots Parliamentary Group submitted a Draft Law amending and supplementing the Non-profit Legal Entities Act in the Bulgarian Parliament. The Draft Law proposes an amendment to the Non-profit Legal Entities Act in two parts – the part regarding the functioning of the Civil Society Development Council, as well
Read more →The policy brief underscores outstanding issues that emerged during the COVID-19 crisis with possible long-term consequences on democracy’s functioning and the rule of law in the six countries of the Western Balkans. The paper addresses the impact of the crisis on democratic institutions’ operation, the judiciary, fundamental rights and freedoms, transparency, civil society, and the
Read more →Technology provides states the ability to engage in the mass surveillance of civic participation and activism. Unprecedented concentrations of power and wealth, corruption, and vested financial interests deepen inequality and prevent action from addressing global crises. As a result, the climate and ecological crisis may be irreversible by 2030. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated these
Read more →The report “Assessment on the State of the Enabling Environment and Capacities of Civil Society against the Guidelines for EU support to Civil Society in Enlargement Region, 2014-2020” for the period 2018-2019 was prepared by a consortia of researchers led by BCSDN. It presents key findings, conclusions, and recommendations concerning the three major areas: a
Read more →The report updates the interim report published in November 2019, and affiliates the main conclusions from the EESC’s high-level Conference on the rule of law, presenting an increasing weakening and stigmatization of civil society in Europe over the last years. Freedom of association, including the right of CSOs to freely conduct their activities and access
Read more →Based on real experiences of Lifeline consortium partners and other CSOs, the guide aims to provide a “menu of options” of various tactics to be used in a difficult or restrictive context. The guide offers inspiring case studies, concrete examples and tools of how civil society can be useful even under significant duress. The guide
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