Statement regarding accommodation for asylum seekers

October 28, 2013

Belgrade Center for Human Rights expresses its great concern about the situation in which asylum-seekers are in the Republic of Serbia. The problem of lack of accommodation facilities for asylum seekers has been existent for more than a year and it is unacceptable that the Commissariat for Refugees still has not found a permanent solution for this problem. Not only in terms of opening new asylum center, but also in terms of awareness of the importance of providing assistance to asylum seekers. If the asylum seekers are not provided with adequate housing, the Republic of Serbia is in the position to treat them on inhuman and degrading way, which entails responsibility before the European Court of Human Rights for violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. (more…)

Statement on the Holding of the Belgrade Pride

September 20, 2013

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights supports the holding of the Belgrade Pride 2013 event and calls on all state authorities to enforce the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia conscientiously and ensure that its participants are not deprived of their fundamental human rights, as they have unfortunately been in the past. Persons whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual, i.e. homosexual, bisexual and transgender people, are often victims of various forms of discrimination, including violent ones, in Serbia as well. This event is a legitimate attempt by these people and others who understand the problems they face on a daily basis to highlight these problems. Their endeavours are based on the principles of equality, tolerance, pluralism and the rule of law which any decent state governed by law should abide by. (more…)

Belgrade Pride Parade and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights

April 20, 2013

Belgrade Pride Parade and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights welcome the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Serbia dated 18th April 2013 that, through banning Pride Parade 2011, the Republic of Serbia violated the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of assembly, effective legal remedy, and legal protection.This ruling relates to the constitutional complaint that was lodged by the organisers of Belgrade Pride, who were represented in court by experts from the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. In its ruling, besidesconcluding that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had violated the Constitution through banning Pride Parade, the Constitutional Court of Serbiafollowed the lead of the European Court of Human Rights in cases where Pride has been banned in other countries. The Court also awarded the petitioner, the ‘Pride Parade Belgrade’ association, €500 for immaterial damages. (more…)

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights has obtained ECRE Membership

March 27, 2013

On the 7th of March, 2013 the European Council on Refugees and Exiles Board approved BCHR’s application for ECRE Alliance Membership. Thereafter the Centre has become part of vibrant and dynamic network of refugee assisting organisations working throughout Europe. To date, the network comprises 70 Member organisations in 30 countries promoting protection and integration of refugees who seek protection in Europe in the environment of human rights, human dignity and an ethic of solidarity. (more…)

All of Us are the Same – All of Us are Equal 21 March

March 21, 2013

21 March 2013 is another opportunity to raise our voices against distinctions based on personal features and recall the reason for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It was in 1966 that the United Nations General Assembly decided to commemorate on this date the brutal killing of 69 peaceful demonstrators in the South African Republic. We are marking this Day by reviewing our strength and the efforts we as a country, as a government authority, as an organisation and as individuals are investing to make sure that such or similar events never happen in the future again. (more…)