The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights has filed an initiative with the Protector of Citizens to inspect the work of the Ministry of Health, specifically its information system and disclosure of data on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Serbia. The BCHR also filed a request with the Serbian Government to provide it with access to the minutes of the COVID-19 Crisis Headquarters sessions, the decision on the establishment of the Crisis Headquarters and information about all members of that body and their functions. 

The BCHR’s requests were prompted by BIRN’s claims that the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths was several times higher than the numbers published officially by the Crisis Headquarters.

To recall, any concealment of data regarding public health in Serbia is not only illegal, but can also cause irreparable and immeasurable harm to the rights of Serbia’s citizens, undermine their trust in the government and cause panic. Independent institutions must report on the above information as soon as possible.

The Belgrade Centre of Human Rights initiated its online campaign #let’sstandbyeachother to mark World Refugee Day.

Public figures, refugees, UNHCR and BCHR representatives appear in a series of video recordings, relating their personal experiences, problems faced by refugees, and the challenges and opportunities they have in society and communities they are living in. 

You can follow the #let’sstandbyeachother online campaign on BCHR’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter profiles. Take a look at what actress Nina Janković Dičić, reporter and presenter Dragan Ilić, Zoran Kesić author of “24 Minutes with Zoran Kesić”, refugees from Iran and Burundi Jafar Fatahani and Kathia Katihabwa, “Marka Žvaka”, Dušan Čavić and Dušan Šaponja, Head of the UNHCR Serbia Office Hans Friedrich Schodder and Ana Trifunović and Anja Stefanović of the BCHR have to say about World Refugee Day and the problems faced by refugees.

The campaign aims to raise public awareness of the refugees’ problems and promote solidarity and tolerance to contribute to the equality and life in dignity of all vulnerable groups, including refugees, in our society. 

The BCHR’s Youth Programme conducted an online survey on how well informed young people were about the situation in the country during the state of emergency imposed in response to the COVID-19. The survey was conducted within the “On an Isolated Youth” campaign in the 31 March – 11 April 2020 period. The respondents were asked to fill a questionnaire on how well they were informed about the situation in Serbia and most of the world and on their mental health and support and solidarity among youths.

The survey results showed that over half (57.4%) of the youths thought that they were well-informed about the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As many are 25.6% of the respondents thought that there was an overload of information and that they were too well-informed, 13.8% rated their knowledge as middling, while only 1% believed they were insufficiently informed about the situation. Another 1% said that they did not want to be informed of this topic at all.

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The latest Newsletter brings “Stories from Isolated Islands” our Youth Programme received within the “On an Isolated Youth” campaign. 

The BCHR Youth Programme team invited its friends, young people, to share stories of the time they have spent in isolation and how they have felt in such isolated circumstances. We want to thank everyone on their courage, honesty and willingness to share their stories with others. Feel free to download and read the stories and experiences of Milica J, Goran, Milica C, Vlada, Sofija, Vasil, Tamara, Bojana and Dino! 

The first and second Newsletters focused on providing information about and promoting human rights of youths in this time of crisis.

The Newsletters are part of the campaign the Youth Programme launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.  You can follow the campaign on our social media profiles, Facebook and Instagram, and on the BCHR’s website.   

Please feel free to contact us if you want to share your thoughts or stories from your isolated islands with us or report violations of youth human rights at [email protected] and in DM on Instagram @mladibgcentar.

The new issue of the Newsletter is available in Serbian HERE.

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) Youth Programme team has published its second Newsletter providing a biweekly overview of the On an Isolated Youth campaign. 

Like its predecessor, this issue of the Newsletter also focuses on promoting and informing about youth human rights in this time of crisis. It includes a new column titled “Stories from Isolated Islands” in which young people share their stories and feelings during lockdown. We are grateful to all of them for their courage, honesty and for their wish to share their stories with us.

The Newsletter is part of the Youth Programme team’s campaign initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can follow the campaign on our social media profiles, Facebook and Instagram, and on the BCHR’s website. 

Please feel free to contact us if you want to share your thoughts or stories from your isolated islands with us or report violations of youth human rights at [email protected] and in DM on Instagram @mladibgcentar.

The new issue of the Newsletter is available in Serbian HERE.