News and updates from BCSDN and the region
In the past months, TUSEV created the Survey on The Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Civil Society Organizations Operating in Turkey, to determine the common problems experienced by CSOs during the crisis period in a more participatory way. In total, 170 CSOs participated in the survey. The first phase was conducted between 10 and 15 April
Read more →The political leaders and citizens from the Balkans should also participate in the discussion on the Conference on the Future of Europe on a consultative basis, together with the representative and citizens’ dimensions of the process. The discussion paper emphasizes that even if there is no formal invitation to join the CoFoE process, the Balkan
Read more →The policy paper provides analysis and policy recommendations to political actors in the EU and SEE6 on the current reframing of the European Union ́s enlargement policy towards the region. Integrating the SEE6 into the EU would be a step towards achieving the EU’s finalité. Ultimately, it would imply that European integration has consolidated into
Read more →The report is part of the latest edition of the Civil Society Organization (CSOSI) Sustainability Index for Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. It present that the overall CSO sustainability did not change in 2019, with the scores for all dimensions remaining stable. Advocacy continued to be the strongest dimension of CSO sustainability. In 2019,
Read more →CIVICUS Monitor published its latest research on civic freedoms during COVID-19. The report implies that despite states imposed restrictions on large public gatherings amid the pandemic, the citizens have continued to mobilize through different protest methods. Nevertheless, many violations have been recorded during protests, including demonstrators’ detainment, protest disturbances, and excessive use of force by
Read more →The European Civic Forum recognizes how the European Commission emphasizes civic actors’ role for the defense of the rule of law. The report acknowledges that the safeguards of the rule of law depend on the entire ecosystem of institutional and societal checks and balances and the civic organizations as main actors for alerting on violations
Read more →A long time ahead of the coronavirus outbreak, democracy was under threat, and the COVID 19 pandemic has only deepened this negative trend. Illiberal leaders have embraced the moment to raise their executive power, increase censorship, forbid public protests, postpone elections, increase surveillance, and limit fundamental rights—under the necessity of safeguarding public health. The pandemic
Read more →The reference tool strives to support National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in applying their functions during times of public emergency and post-emergency, whether they are formally declared (as emergencies or states of emergency, or below some other formal classification), or are de facto imposed. The tool does not provide an exhaustive list of actions to
Read more →Through meaningful engagement, partners can understand and learn more about each other’s strengths, areas to improve, and operational context – leading to the better specialization of tasks and further understanding each other’s constraints. In embedding dynamic accountability practices like meaningful engagement into a partnership, the goal is to shift the power towards partners and facilitate
Read more →The 2020 pandemic is encouraging broad sections of civil society to move its operations online. In-person cooperations can be essential for digital social accountability initiatives because demanding accountability operates through relationship building, trust-building, and negotiation, which are more comfortable face-to-face. The article, published by Integrity Action, elaborates on if the organizations are taking much of
Read more →The European Commission adopted a comprehensive Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, aiming to encourage the region’s long-term economic recovery, support a green and digital transition, foster regional integration, and convergence with the European Union. The Economic and Investment Plan sets out a substantial investment package mobilizing up to 9 billion EUR funding
Read more →As part of the Regional Civil Society Development Hub, BCSDN is pleased to announce the Call for Ad-Hoc Support Grants. Organization from the WB region, struggling with shrinking civic space in their country, facing pressure to the Civic space, incidences of hate speech, hostile attacks, or want to react towards the changes of a law
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