News and updates from BCSDN and the region
As the EU debates its new post-2020 funding instruments, EU civil society support faces a pivotal moment. The union has been fine-tuning this support in recent years and is now contemplating further reforms. Civil society around the world is undergoing far-reaching changes as new types of informal activism emerge, governments try to constrict civic activity,
Read more →Cooperation between Montenegrin CSOs and the Government of Montenegro is an important precondition for progress towards the EU. Having in mind the political situation in the country where rule of law needs to be improved and corruption tackled, concerns are raised whether CSOs can really make a difference and have their voices heard or their
Read more →The authors of the article state that the first overall impression of the document of the new EU methodology is that it is a small masterpiece of European compromise. The EC has managed to put together a sensible, even innovative, proposal, while at the same time not aggravating any of the member states. It uses
Read more →‘Shrinking civil space’ was one of the new terms we all had to learn in the past half-decade. Threats to the free, independent and autonomous operation and indeed to the sheer existence of CSOs is by now not something that only happens in faraway, exotic countries with little or no democratic traditions, but occurs within
Read more →The Istanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court on 18 February acquitted 9 of the 16 suspects in the case into the Gezi Park protests of 2013. Businessman, philanthropist and human rights activist Osman Kavala is set to be freed. The suspects were being tried in the case into the Gezi Park protests, which took place in
Read more →At the end of 2019 and the start of 2020, several journalists were accused of spreading fake news in Montenegro. In early January 2020 police arrested and detained the editor-in-chief of FOS Media. A few days later, the editors of IN4S, and Borba, were detained by police, also. According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
Read more →In regards to the BCSDN workshop on accountability for Macedonian CSO networks, held on 28-30 January in Ohrid, North Macedonia, Rendir Cuentas, and BCSDN delivered a joint article, illustrating the partnership nature underlying the Global Standard for CSO Accountability. According to the article, judging by the Macedonian CSOs’ interest towards self-regulation and to improving their
Read more →On 24 February 2020 in the premises of the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC) an informative session was held by BCSDN and MICIC with the 5 grantees whose applications were chosen to receive a grant after the Public Call for Networks of CSOs. After the grantees were informed about the main postulates of the
Read more →Through its primary constituent accountability pilot for Resilient Roots, FemPlatz has focused on building stronger relationships and trust with its primary constituents to shape and strengthen its advocacy demands for gender equality. Together with a diverse group of 120 women and 10 women’s rights organizations in Serbia, FemPlatz discussed the meaning of advocacy, the benefits
Read more →Civil society advocacy and campaigning has contributed to important changes in government and company policy and practice on a range of issues, including climate, access to medicines, landmines, labour and indigenous rights, gender justice, and tax justice. It has also learned a lot along the way about what does and doesn’t work. Yet despite widespread
Read more →Violent conflict is at a 30-year high. Building peace in any country requires local leadership, broad participation, and unwavering effort. Yet, the people, communities, and organizations best equipped to prevent violence and sustain peace are not receiving the recognition, respect, or resources they need from the international community. This is a situation that funders –
Read more →TUSEV published the Individual Giving and Philanthropy in Turkey 2019 Report which presents comprehensive and up to date data on trends and motivations in individual giving in Turkey on 13 February 2020. Authored by Prof. Ali Çarkoğlu and Assistant Professor Selim Erdem Aytaç from Koç University Center for Civil Society and Philanthropy Research, the report
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