Helsinki Committee publishes a monthly magazine in 3000 copies which covers all the issues we work on. It has become a valuable way of communication with different with different groups of population from refugees to minorities and individuals facing legal and other problems.
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Keywords: Serbia;rights and freedoms; minorities; round-table; multicultural; cohabitation; autonomy;
In view of the key importance of inter-ethnic relations and status of national minorities in Serbia for development of democracy, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Centre for Regionalism, the Vojvodina Club and Centre for Multiculturality have organised the round-table "National Minorities in Serbia" on 8 and 9 September 2000 in Novi Sad. Participants in this round-table were representatives of several dozen NGOs from Vojvodina and Serbia, representatives of political parties, prominent public personalities and experts for minority rights and ethnic relations. In a two-day debate participants in the round-table underscored that peace, tolerance and democratization of the society represent the basic prerequisite of the exercise of individual and collective rights and freedoms in the Republic of Serbia. Considering that a social community in the Republic of Serbia has a markedly heterogeneous cultural character and the fact that it is faced with pronounced ethnification of politics and intolerant nationalism, our discussion confirmed that the majority nation, that is, the ruling political establishment, were to be blamed for such a poor status of inter-ethnic relations. Hence the current political authorities cannot be relieved of responsibility from catastrophic consequences of internal conflicts and external and internal isolation. After analysing institutions and real social and political processes and actions of the most influential political protagonists, it was established that we all must insist on comprehensive implementation of ideas and legal-constitutional norms determining the Republic of Serbia as a state of equitable citizens, and the one guaranteeing corresponding standards in attainment and exercise of collective rights of national minorities in Serbia. Unfortunately during our discussion we identified through a host of examples a pronounced gulf between proclaimed norms and concrete reality in the sphere of protection of national minorities rights, notably in development and expression of their cultural identity. After the SFRY disintegration, the problem of "new minorities", notably Croats, Bosniaks, and Macedonians, emerged in Serbia. This problem entails official recognition of those minorities and concrete legal regulation of their status and rights. During preparations for the 2001 census scientific and cultural institutions and representative bodies should lay the groundwork for facilitating the free declaration of nationality by citizens. This particularly applies to Bosniaks, who have been deprived of that right to date. It is also expected that the democratic opposition of Serbia shall take a clear public stand on manner of resolution of minority problems, and incorporate pertinent proposals into their program of changes, offered as an alternative to the current regime. We brought into prominence the need to revive earlier initiatives for adoption of the Act on National Minorities in the Republic of Serbia, aimed at removing current shortcomings and imprecise points, and boosting harmonisation of domestic legal and political practice with the European standards on the Protection of Minorities. Our discussion indicated that the Republic Serbia in its relations with almost all neighbouring countries disregards the issue of minorities, and that this negligence is in turn reflected in the status of minorities and has a negative impact on relations between the majority and minorities. The role of ecological issues was discussed in the context of good-neighbourly relations, for they alike the minority issue clear the way for establishment of broad and efficient communications. Considering regional trends within the context of Europe those two issues can play an important role in the inclusion of Serbia in the project of European regions. Participants think that the Stability Pact is a conceptual framework for analysis of the most important problems and devising models of their resolution.
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Keywords: mental health; human dignity; human rights; Serbia; psychiatry; mental illness; law; de-institutionalization; disability; NGO;
This collection of papers broaches some of the biggest stumbling blocs in the way of mental health reform and effective deinstitutionalization in the Republic of Serbia Analyses, opinions and recommendations presented in it refl ect the years-long advocacy by several non-governmental organizations and independent experts for mental health reform and transformation from institutional to community-based care. This is about a long-term campaign of committed individuals, organizations and associations for gradual shutdown of residential institutions catering for psychiatric patients, and children and adults with mental disabilities, and, moreover, for dignifi ed lives of and equal opportunities for these most vulnerable groups of population.
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Keywords: Serb Enclaves in Kosovo; Kosovo; Serbian population in Kosovo; Kosovo institutions
In early 2008, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia launched the project “Serb-Serb Dialogue in Serb Enclaves in Kosovo.” The project aims at encouraging the Serbs in the enclaves south of the Ibar River (that make 70 percent of the total Serbian population in Kosovo) to fully exercise their human, minority, socioeconomic and political rights through Kosovo institutions instead of remaining on the margins of Kosovo society and a window-dressing for the official Belgrade’s territorial claims. The project simultaneously sensitizes general public in Serbia proper, as well as the Serbs in the solidly Serbian north, of realistic needs, anxieties and interests of their (self) isolated compatriots.
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Keywords: Kosovo Enclaves; Serb Enclaves in Kosovo; Kosovo
In early 2008, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia launched the project “Serb-Serb Dialogue in Serb Enclaves in Kosovo.” In late March 2008, the Helsinki Committee circulated a report on its first mission to Serb enclaves, out of 6 planned under the project. The major object of the two follow-up missions, the same as of the overall project, was to encourage the Serbs in the enclaves south of the Ibar River to fully exercise their human, minority, socio-economic and political rights through Kosovo institutions instead of remaining on the margins of Kosovo society and a window dressing for the official Belgrade’s territorial claims and unrealistic policies.
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Keywords: Serb Enclaves in Kosovo; Kosovo ;
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia finalized the project “Serb-Serb Dialogue in Serb Enclaves in Kosovo.” The project aimed at encouraging the Serbs in the enclaves south of the Ibar River (that make about 80 percent of the total Serbian population in Kosovo) to fully exercise their human, minority, socio-economic and political rights through Kosovo institutions instead of remaining on the margins of Kosovo society and a window-dressing for the official Belgrade’s territorial claims. The project also tried to sensitize domestic authorities, international organizations, the general public in Serbia proper, as well as the Serbs in the solidly Serbian north of realistic needs, anxieties and interests of the Serb community living in self-isolation in today’s independent Kosovo.
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Keywords: Belgrade; Kosovo; Brussels; Mitrovica; EULEX; EU mission
This year’s Saint George, as often during such celebrations brought a loud celebration that started with verbal violence, then resulted with physical fight that lasted for hours in north Mitrovica and ended with use of guns. Such community violence is not strange for north Mitrovica in the last decade, which was distinguished in media with clashes and ethnic division. This year’s Saint George was Serb-Serb hostility; in fact it was settling accounts between two youth gangs from Mitrovica and Zvecan, who agreed on the fight arena on an electronic way through facebook. Such violence lasted for hours, where young Serbs after using of alcohol used punches and guns terrorizing their community. Kosovo Police in north, lacking special units and with limited number of staff who celebrated by previously requesting vacation, being unable to handle the situation, decided to call EULEX police for help. EU mission police, in the beginning with mobile patrol and afterwards with special backup came to the scene after approximately 40 minutes and requested an informative briefing and operative plan, which was missing. While such a debate continued, hooligans who initiated the fight, under influence of alcohol aimed an attack on Police Station that according to witnesses was protected by citizens. In the end, according to some media MUP members arrived at the scene, with guns on their waist, with three cars and got involved also to set peace. After a hard day, citizens of Mitrovica were not clear if everything was over, since late at night an explosion was heard, that seems to have been a vengeance towards the property of one group against the other in this fight.
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Keywords: Returnees; Kosovo; Serbs; Dialogue; Infrastructure; Unemployment
Many Serb returnees in Klina face unresolved property and compensation issues, such as taxation during displacement, lack of documentation, and exclusion from privatized employment opportunities. Despite financial and infrastructural support from local and international institutions, high unemployment and limited Albanian engagement hinder sustainable return. However, projects like the repatriation to Klinavac, supported by dialogue and investments, have shown promise, with returnees reporting positive interethnic relations and improved living conditions.
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