On March 19, 2024, the Regional Network of Human Rights Houses, consisting of the Human Rights Houses in Zagreb, Belgrade, Banja Luka, and Sarajevo Open Center, was ceremonially presented in Belgrade. This informal network aims to establish regional cooperation on the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In addition, the network should enable the connection of human rights defenders in the region as well as support the establishment of other Human Rights Houses in the countries of the region.
In the opening address, Dr Katarina Golubović, President of YUCOM, Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Kristin Melsom, Ambassador of Norway to Serbia, North-Macedonia and Montenegro, Plamena Halacheva, Chargée d’affaires a.i., Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia and Maria Dahle, Director of the Human Rights House Foundation, greeted the audience. The speakers emphasized the importance of protecting human rights and democracy at the regional and universal level. The possibility of conducting joint advocacy activities was highlighted as an advantage of such a newly created network. Protection of human rights defenders, as well as capacity building and improvement of the situation in the field of human rights are some of the activities that the Regional Network of Human Rights Houses will work on in the coming period. The similarity of the problems faced by those who deal with human rights in the region allows for a much-needed and useful exchange of knowledge and experiences. Activities to improve the state of human rights are also important as an integral part of the EU integration process. The speakers also expressed their desire to expand this network in the future.
Two panels moderated by Vesna Dobrosavljević were also held at the presentation of the Regional Network of Human Rights Houses. The first panel was entitled “Strategic Synergy: Advancing Regional Cooperation in Human Rights”. The following spoke on this panel: Sonja Tošković, President of the Board of the HRH Belgrade, Tanja Boromisa, President of the Board of the HRH Banja Luka, Darko Pandurević, Advocacy and Programme Manager at Sarajevo Open Center (Initiative for establishing HRH Sarajevo) and Ivan Novosel, Director of Programs at the Human Rights House Zagreb. The participants of the panel pointed out the challenges that the national Houses of Human Rights are facing. The similarities and differences of the problems affecting the civil sector were pointed out, as well as the opportunity to improve cooperation, exchange of experiences and advocacy in the field of human rights at the regional level through the network. Four strategic goals defined by the five-year Strategic Plan of the network were also highlighted and further explained. These are the following goals:
The second panel: “Challenges and Recommendations for Human Rights Advocates in the Region” presented the results of the regional and national reports on human rights defenders. The authors of the report, who spoke on the panel, are: Dragana Dardić, representative of the HRH Banja Luka, Amil Brković, Sarajevo Open Center, Katarina Kitanović, representative of the HRH Belgrade and Tina Đaković, representative of the HRH Zagreb. The regional report was created by synthesizing findings and conclusions from thematic reports. The methodology involved conducting qualitative research through semi-structured interviews with over 50 civil society organizations and human rights defenders actively engaged in areas such as refugee, migrant, and asylum seeker rights, women’s human rights, provision of free legal aid, rights of LGBTIQ persons, transitional justice, environmental protection, democratization, transparency, and the fight against corruption. The process also considered the rights of persons with disabilities and socially and economically vulnerable groups. In addition to the challenges faced by human rights defenders as well as civil society organizations, the report also contains recommendations to the states on how to improve the situation in the area of human rights and protection of human rights defenders.
The conference is organised by Human Rights House Belgrade, together with partners Human Rights Houses in Banja Luka and Zagreb, and Sarajevo Open Centre. The conference is supported by Human Rights House Foundation thanks to the generous financial support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Regional Report on Human Rights Defenders is available HERE.
