Donor: Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Duration of the project: September 1998 – September 1999
Encouraged by the positive experience with branch office in Niš, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights continued establishing and assisting local NGOs. The Branch Office in Užice commenced its work in October 1998. The newly established NGO organised a debate with “The Postpesimists of Belgrade” and promoted its magazine “Kulturtreger”. On that occasion the citizens were officially informed on the beginning of the work of the Office of Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. A close cooperation with organisation “Libergraf” continued and resulted in synchronized action on the occasion of marking 50 years anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For that occasion Big Hall of the City Hall was given by the municipal authorities. A short seminar was also organized with topics on non-governmental organisations in FRY, the idea and the importance of human rights. What was especially significant was that many people contacted the Office wanting to have more information on the activities and goals of the organization and many who think that their human rights were endangered. Good relations with lawyers were established and this resulted in the agreement concerning the work on SOS telephone with one lawyer and court secretary. The intention of the Office for the future was to organize public debates and seminars for lawyers, judges and lawyer clerks. In 2000 the Belgrade Centre Office in Uzice become independent local NGO Uzicki centar za ljudska prava i demokratiju cooperating with other NGOs in the region of Uzice and Serbia proper.
