News and updates from BCSDN and the region
On 1 December 2020, the Constituent Session of the Advisory Body of the Council of Ministers of BiH for Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations was held. This marked a significant step in developing institutional cooperation between the authorities and non-governmental organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Session, the Rules of Procedure of the Advisory Body
Read more →The 13th edition of the Black Sea NGO Forum virtually took place on 23- 27 November 2020. The annual Forum provides a platform to enhance dialogue and cooperation between NGOs based in the Black Sea Region and aims to strengthen NGOs’ capacity by promoting regional partnerships and projects. This year’s edition aimed to identify challenges
Read more →Carnegie Europe has published a report that explores the nature of coronavirus-related shifts in global civil society. The report aims to understand the need for society-level responses to crises and how the pandemic is reshaping the relationship between states and societies. In 12 countries, the cases demonstrate that COVID-19 has acted as a powerful catalyst
Read more →The European Council on Foreign Relations has reported how democracy in the Western Balkans has developed. They have found that the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced pre-existing conditions related to the rule of law and democratic governance. This has been shown by the Western Balkans governments and their arbitrary approaches to dealing with the pandemic. This
Read more →CIVICUS Monitor has published its report that looks at regional improvements in civic space. Overall, the report found that there have been no significant improvements in civic space in Europe and Central Asia. While regimes in Central Asia have continued to repress civic space since the last report, there has been a decline in civic
Read more →The European Civic Forum (ECF) has published the Civic Space Watch Report for 2020. The publication contains a general analysis of EU trends of deterioration and expansion observed in 2020, seven interviews with inspiring activists that protected human rights during the lockdown, and six case studies. There is a particular focus on how COVID-19 pandemic
Read more →The European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP) is to be installed by the EU to improve European democracy by tackling issues such as disinformation and strengthening Europe’s media ecosystem. Without ensuring an enabling environment for civil society within the EU, the Action Plan cannot reach its full potential. As the Action Plan does not address the
Read more →The article looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic, and the following limitations, have restricted individual freedoms and seen governments use extraordinary powers in the Western Balkans. A question to consider for the future is how Western Balkan leaderships will potentially continue to exercise the use of these concentrated powers. It argues that COVID-19 has allowed
Read more →On 21 July 2020, the Turkish Justice and Development Party, AKP announced it would introduce a new law to regulate social media more strictly, with financial sanctions for companies that do not comply with government demands. In accordance, on 11 December 2020, Turkey’s Information and Communications Technologies Authority imposed 30 million Turkish lira in fines
Read more →The pandemic’s severe impact across the globe has exposed flaws of social, economic, and political models, challenged the societies, tested the collective humanity, and aggravated inequalities. As the lack of social protection measures persisted, pre-existing inequalities, injustices, and gaps in human rights protection have become more pronounced. As the pandemic rages on, the article presents: Weakening
Read more →DIGNA Self-Assessment Tool on Diversity & Inclusion helps CSOs and movements become more inclusive, diverse, and sensitive to their people’s needs, identities, and backgrounds. The self-assessment is divided into several key categories: Culture, Infrastructure, Leadership, Learning and Accountability, People Management, Project & Program Design, Planning & Strategy, External Relationships. The tool assists CSOs in becoming
Read more →Civil society remained connected with people in a crisis and conveyed a positive narrative about its work and what it can achieve together. The article suggests that CSOs must do more to walk the talk on diversity and inclusion (D&I). This is an opportunity to act differently to be seen differently. There are now new
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