News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Over 190 jurisdictions worldwide abide by 40 Recommendation on anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism set and assessed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Compliance with the recommendations is periodically evaluated by FATF or one of its-style regional bodies. The mutual evaluation processes produce ratings that have real consequences, affecting country’s bond ratings,
Read more →The European Center for Not-for-profit Law (ECNL), an innovative project on freedom of assembly, assessed seven OGP countries in Central and Eastern Europe for relevant law and practices between 2017 and 2019. Many of these OGP countries have strong legal frameworks, but face implementation challenges around policing of events and lack standardized processes among authorities,
Read more →As a response to political and funding pressures, CSOs in many parts of the world are seeking to diversify their funding and strengthen their local support base. A growing number of international organisations and funders are supporting CSOs in this goal. ‘Domestic resource mobilisation’ is a key strategy. This report offers findings from a scoping
Read more →The right of citizens to form associations and receive funding to pursue their missions is enshrined in international human rights law. Yet over 160 laws in nearly 70 countries have been passed to restrict this right since 2012 (ICNL). These laws severely constrain the ability of CSOs to implement programs that serve their communities and
Read more →Our Member – Partners Albania for Change and Development has just published the latest Monitoring Matrix Report on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development. The report finds out that CSOs still face burdensome reporting procedures and formats; there is poor implementation of the consultation processes on draft laws and policies, especially at the central level
Read more →On June 9th, 2019, on the Thematic Forum of CIVICA mobilitas, more than 80 representatives of the CSOs’ representatives discussed the enabling environment for the development of Macedonian civil society in 2018. The Forum emphasized that the freedom of association, assembly, and expression were legally guaranteed and mainly respected and provided in practice, the Financial
Read more →The conditions for civil society in Serbia remain constrained, states the new CIVICUS Monitor update on Serbia. In an indication of this worsening situation for civil society, in the enlargement report, the EC recently highlighted Serbia’s failure to improve civic space. As previously covered on the CIVICUS Monitor, there has been a perceived increase in
Read more →Center for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO) presented the findings of the Report “Civil Society in Creating and Implementing Public Policies”. This Report contains the results of the research conducted by CRNVO in order to assess the involvement of NGOs and the general public in the policy-making process in 2018. The report states that
Read more →The Policy Brief presents the key issues that civil society and youth face in the Western Balkans. The Policy Brief also gives recommendations to Western Balkans, EU and its member states, on finding solutions in overcoming the issues and on promoting regional reconciliation, especially among the youth; transparent and inclusive meetings between the EU, CSOs
Read more →41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), The Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC) and CIVICUS welcome…
Read more →A trial against 16 civil society representatives over their involvement in 2013 Gezi Park protests started in Turkey last week. Among them are human rights defenders Osman Kavala and Yiğit Aksakoğlu, who have been kept in detention since November 2017 and November 2018 respectively, together with many civil society activists. The court’s decision to release
Read more →Recently proposed media-related legislation, including a draconian regulation scheme for Albanian and foreign online media outlets, is not in line with international human rights standards, according to an international joint NGO fact-finding mission to Albania, undertaken from 18-21 June 2019. The mission sought to gather information about challenges to freedom of expression and press freedom
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