Author Archives: Tamara Protic - 2009

Attitude towards homophobia is a test of how Human Rights are respected

by
February 25, 2009

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights is deeply concerned that Serbia is heading in the wrong direction if hatred and discrimination of persons of different sexual orientation, which are prohibited by the Constitution,  are tolerated and, moreover, supported by the state authorities and public officials.The freedom of expression entails the readiness of citizens and state authorities to hear out views and opinions they disagree with. The Belgrade Sava Centre’s attitude – reflected in its prohibition of the panel discussion by a registered civic association fighting against discrimination – indicates that it shares and supports homophobic prejudices, although it is managing an institution built thanks to the contributions of all citizens with the aim of promoting culture and freedom of speech.  (more…)

Attack on cult radio show and its hosts

by
January 27, 2009

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights calls on all state authorities and the democratic public to react to the criminal attacks on the freedom of the media and the freedom of expression, and on the personal freedom and safety of Svetlana Lukić and other members of the team producing the cult radio show Peščanik (Hourglass). The Peščanik team has in the years behind us managed to oppose those resorting to violence against people who think differently than they do, those endeavouring to impose their own interpretation of national interests and patriotic chastity upon everyone else. It had done so even amidst the hysteria against consistent advocates raising their voices to preserve democratic values, tolerance and human rights. Peščanik would have been unable to fight this worthy battle if it were not above all for the personal bravery of its two authors, Svetlana Lukić and Svetlana Vuković. (more…)

Marko Karadžić’s Apartment Broken Into

by
January 11, 2009

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights hereby alerts the public and competent state authorities that the apartment of Marko Karadžić, Human and Minority Rights Ministry State Secretary, has been broken into. This act cannot but be interpreted as a warning to Karadžić to stop exercising his duty and advocating the protection of human rights, suppression of discrimination and improvement of the lives of jeopardised citizens of Serbia. The authorities have to conduct a particularly energetic and efficient investigation into the case. Otherwise, doubts will remain that there are forces within the state apparatus who want to prevent state officials from doing their jobs with diligence and courage.

Human Rights Education of Legal Officers in the Supreme Court of Serbia

by
December 21, 2008

Donor: The Balkan Trust for Democracy
Duration of the project: September 2008 – October 2009

This project was linked to the endeavors of the Belgrade Centre aiming at re-training of judges and other legal professionals in Serbia and the region, which is one of the main activities of the Centre and prerequisite for establishing the rule of law in the country. The quality of the Court’s judgments, however, depends not only on the abilities of the judges of the Court, but also on the professional legal staff which assists them in their work. The legal officers working in the Court provide the backbone of its operation, as they review each case submitted to the Court before it comes to the judges, and as they assist the judges in legal research and the drafting of all of the Court’s judgments and orders. (more…)

Retraining Lawyers in Transition Countries of Southeast Europe

by

Donor: Norwegian People’s Aid NPA

Duration of the project: June 2008 – March 2009

This was the last stage of the project that was conducted from 2002 in cooperation with Legalis – The Association for the advancement of justice based on the principles of human rights from Croatia, The Human Rights Centre of the University in Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina, FORUM – Centre for Strategic Research and Documentation, from Macedonia and Human Rights Action, from Montenegro. In this stage 150 legal professionals (judges, lawyers, prosecutors) and human rights activists had been trained in  international human rights standards. At the same time this was good opportunity for human rights experts from SEE and Norway to exchange competence and best practices. Supreme and Constitutional Courts’ Judges from Norway and SEE meet in order to improve implementation of European Court for Human Rights decisions. (more…)

Building Environmental Policy in Serbia

by

Donor: Network of European Foundation

Duration of the project: September 2008 – February 2009

The main objective of this project was to research the national environmental legislation framework, to compare it with European standards (Acquis Communitaire) and to make the assessment of the coherence (mutual compliance) of the Serbian standards and work of the state bodies implementing the valid legislation regulating environmental issues. In 2008 authorities in Serbia had been working on the national strategy for environmental protection with which all strategies related to individual issues would be harmonized. On the other hand it was important to define strategic goals in the environmental field, to harmonize legislation with international standards and to elaborate programs and actions plans for their implementation in different environmental fields. (more…)