News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The example of decline of freedom of expression in Macedonia offers a lesson on how populist forces can subvert democracy and use its mechanisms to conduct state capture. Freedom of expression is a human right which enables implementation of all other human rights: if the people are unable to express themselves, then they cannot communicate
Read more →The Turkish crackdown has primarily targeted large American aid agencies, including Mercy Corps and the International Medical Corps, which were expelled from the country in March and April, respectively. But Turkish authorities have more recently ratcheted up pressure on Syrian aid workers, who have faced lengthy detentions and the threat of deportation to foreign countries,
Read more →As part of the project “Democracy in Progress: Shadow Progress Report on Political Copenhagen Criteria in Western Balkans EU Candidate States”, during May and June 2017 workshops were organized in Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, bringing together representatives of the main CSOs and supporting international organizations active in the field, to discuss the main problems of
Read more →Hungary has sent its response to the European Commission regarding the infringement procedures launched because of Hungary’s laws on NGOs financed from abroad and on foreign universities, a justice ministry official said on Monday. Last month, the EC stepped up an infringement procedure against Hungary for failing to bring its amended higher education act into
Read more →The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a shared agenda for all of us. At the national level, CSOs play a crucial role in translating global agendas into national priorities, working through networks and their members. In turn, they ensure that through their supporters and the citizens that they work with, these national priorities reflect provincial,
Read more →The debate over what civil society constitutes and which segment of civil society deserves donor support has been marred with disagreement. There is one school of thought largely represented by traditional donor agencies putting accountability as a key criterion. Rightly so, for most donors, other than a convincing project proposal aligned to the donor’s thematic
Read more →The European Union has long supported its partners in the Western Balkans on their respective integration paths A credible enlargement policy is a key component of the EU’s Global Strategy and is not only a strategic investment in Europe’s security and prosperity, but has already contributed greatly to peace in formerly war-torn areas. The EU’s
Read more →Civil society organizations are indispensable watchdogs against corrupt practices and global challenges found in complex, modern societies. Yet sometimes, CSOs themselves can struggle to live up to the ambitious standards they demand of others, such as responsible advocacy, ethical fundraising, and meaningful participation of stakeholders. In a piece originally published on the Blog of University
Read more →This report is part of MATTERS OF CONCERN – a working paper series focusing on new and emerging research on human rights across academic disciplines. This report seeks to answer the question whether human rights have a positive effect on economic growth, and therefore are not only the right thing to do in normative terms
Read more →After a successful first edition in 2016 which gathered about 200 activists from social, human rights, culture and environment organisations from all over Europe to discuss with high level academics complex questions raised by citizens’ disenchantment, practice, and expectation with regard to democracy in Europe, the second European Civic Academy will provide space for civil
Read more →CampaignCon is a regular global event where these actors share ideas, co-create and find best practices through participatory exploration of campaigning theory and practice. At CampaignCon 2017, over 100 participants will together explore how to build a more nimble, responsive civil society and social movements that can mobilise and campaign more effectively in the digital
Read more →The Civil Society Policy Forum provides an open space for CSOs to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of topics. The program will include an orientation session on the World Bank Group; a roundtable discussion with
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