Duration of the project: December 1999

The first new year’s human rights street campaign was held in the very centre of the Vračar municipality, in the closest neighbourhood of one of the biggest green markets in Belgrade (Kalenić), between 11 and 13 h., on 30 December 1999 because it was the time when most people were buying groceries for the New Year’s Eve. The “Human Rights Christmas (New Year) Tree” was made of wood – environment friendly – and decorated with many balloons. Various titles of human rights and freedoms were printed on lighters, badges and calendars. (more…)

Donor: Cultur Contact, Vienna
Duration of the project: September 1999

Realising the importance of working with primary and secondary school teachers, the Centre expanded this activity to Montenegro by holding a seminar on education for human rights “Education for human rights”, Kotor, 24 – 25 September 1999. This seminar was organised in co-operation with the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights from Podgorica. The participants included teachers and activists from organisations promoting human rights education, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education of Montenegro.

Donor: Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)
Duration of the project: September 1999 – September 2000

In the municipality of Kraljevo, inhabited by 123,000 people, the overall situation was extremely difficult in 1999, due to economic collapse and the significant decrease of municipal financial funds. According to the Municipal Commissioner for Refugees, there were officially 20,000 refugees and displaced persons in the territory of the Kraljevo municipality, and 30,000 unofficially, which made about 25% of the entire municipality’s population and the highest percentage in Serbia. Of 17,000 displaced persons from Kosovo, registered with the Municipal Commissioner for Refugees, 15,000 have been accommodated by private means (in rented apartments, with relatives, etc.). About 980 (200 children) were placed in 11 collective centres. Living conditions in the centres were extremely difficult due to the lack of toilettes, water, heating, beds, mattresses, blankets, winter clothing, personal hygiene items, medicines, and proper nutrition, with only one hot meal a day being provided. However, the number of applications for this kind of accommodation was increasing, indicating the exhaustion of private funds for rent and food. (more…)

Donor: National Endowment for Democracy (NED) 
Duration of the project: January – December 1999

The project of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and the Council for Human Rights of the Centre for Anti-War Actionintended to establish a link between the  clusters related to the affirmation and implementation of human rights: study of jurisprudence relating to the direct  or indirect implementation of the international human rights instruments, especially those undoubtedly binding on FR Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro); education of law enforcement officers and members of the written and electronic media about international human rights standards and their implementation and proper interpretation in the Yugoslavia context; an analysis of attitudes of state and political officials regarding human right, i.e. the positive (approving) or negative (disapproving) attitudes of the latter towards the idea and practice of human rights. (more…)

Donor: Embassy of Finland in Yugoslavia
Duration of the project: January – December 1999

The aim of the 350 pages “Human Rights in Yugoslavia 1999” Report was to provide readers, both in Yugoslavia and abroad, with relevant and up to date information on the protection of  internationally guaranteed human rights in the FRY. The Report thoroughly examines the human rights situation in the FRY from a practical and legal standpoint, with a special focus on restrictions and violations that curtailed the true enjoyment of human rights in 1999. The Report is divided into three parts. The first part of the Report describes and analyses constitutional, statutory and administrative norms pertaining to human rights. It compares them to international human rights standards and to Yugoslavia’s obligations under the relevant international treaties. Findings in this part rely on information and documents collected by the Centre and kept in its archives. (more…)