Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) invites you to take part in the competition for visit to Dokufest in Prizren – festival of documentary and short films from 5th to 9th of August 2008, within Visiting program – regional youth exchange program. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) Office in Kosovo, invites you to participate in a promotional conference of a project “Traveling to Europe 2008” which will be held on July 16, 2008, in Media Centre Conference Room in “Grand” Hotel, starting from 17:00. »»

On the eve of the 13th Anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, human rights organizations demand Serbia Arrest Persons Indicted for Genocide This year we mark 60 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. It especially obliges us to remind the President of Serbia, the Prime Minister, ministers, and members of the Serbian Parliament, religious leaders and the faithful, leaders and members of political parties, associations, unions, professors, students, youth, and all citizens of Serbia that our country has not yet fulfilled its obligations relative to the International Court of Justice judgement on the violations/non-abidance of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights is organizing two-day seminar for spin off of local offices in Serbia on 28th and 29th of June, on Kopaonik. Seminar will be held in the hall of "Klub A" Hotel, and begins on Saturday at 9 hr. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) organized training titled "Ombudsman as a mechanism for human rights protection" in Kragujevac. Training was held in the hall of "Stari Grad" Hotel. Dejan Milenkovic from YUCOM, Milica Vuletic, Ombudswoman of Kragujevac, and Dragan Popovic, one of leaders of YIHR gave speeches at the training. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights is pleased to announce that the deadline for the New Policy School has been extended to 10th August 2008. »»

A group of young students from Serbia, participants of New Policy School visited Pristina from 11th to 13th of June, within Youth Initiative for Human Rights' Visiting program. During a three-day visit, students had the opportunity to talk to representatives of media, Kosovo institutions, non-governmental organizations, to see cultural happenings in Pristina, and to go out to some of many cafes in Pristina. »»

Second Days of Sarajevo festival, organized in Belgrade by Youth Initiative for Human Rights, has been closed today, with projections of films from Sarajevo Film Festival 2007. Films “Graffiti Street” by Sergej Kreso and “Fantasy”, by Aldin Arnautovic where shown in Center for Cultural Decontamination (CZKD). »»

On the second day of Days of Sarajevo Festival, organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights, a discussion titled “Regional cooperation in the Balkans” was held today, at Center for Cultural Decontamination (CZKD). »»

Within Days of Sarajevo Festival, organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Cure Foundation from Sarajevo and Women in Black organization had a performance today, at Sebilj drinking fountain. Citizens of Belgrade were handed out food prepared by recipes from the period of siege of Sarajevo, from 1992, to 1995. »»

Tonight, in Center for Cultural Decontamination (CZKD), festival Days of Sarajevo was opened by photographic exhibition “Sarajevo through eyes of people from Sarajevo and Belgrade”. Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) organizes the festival for the second time, in Belgrade. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights is organizing second Days of Sarajevo festival in Belgrade, from May 30 to June 1. Days of Sarajevo were organized for the first time in 2007, with the goal to mark 15 years since the beginning of the siege of Sarajevo, and to instigate communication between young people from Sarajevo and Belgrade. »»

Within New Policy School program, Youth Initiative for Human Rights organized a study visit to Tuzla. Students and My Initiative activists from Vojvodina, Belgrade and Nis attended commemoration in Tuzla, which marks May 25, when in 1995, 71 people died by a grenade, launched at the center of the city by army of the Republic of Srpska, commanded by Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. »»

Young people from Bosnia and Hercegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia spent three days in Bosnia and attended a festival of documentary films about wars in Zvornik. Young people from west of the Balkans saw more than ten documentaries made in former Yugoslavia territory. After the projection of each film, there were discussions on facing the past. »»

My Initiative movement organized action titled “Serbia has stopped”, within We are Important election turnout campaign. Action took place in Knez Mihajlova Street in Belgrade, in 1 pm. »»

Today a group of hooligans attacked activist of My Initiative movement, who organized an action within camera caravan. One of the attackers plugged out the speaker cables saying: “Vehabijas, motherfuckers, get out of Nis”, and camera operator of the caravan was attacked. Police officer, who came when organizers called, instead of doing his job, was trying to “make peace” between the attackers and victims saying “he knows the attackers from the neighborhood, and that he does not want to make them angry”. This is the fifth attack on My Initiative activists in Nis in the last year. »»

Through its My Initiative Youth Network, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) has launched We are important! campaign. We are addressing young people from 18 to 30 years old, with the intent to animate them to use their voting right and vote at the May 11 elections. »»

Within the project titled “Freedom of Expression”, realized with support of Embassy of Kingdom of Norway, Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) office in Montenegro is starting series of panel discussion about freedom of expression in Montenegro. »»

“The reaction of state bodies in politically motivated cases of violence in Montenegro is not adequate, and special attention must be put on attacks on citizens who are publicly expressing their views on social processes regarding facing the past”, it is said in “Human Rights in Montenegro – 2007” report that Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) presented in Podgorica today. »»

Within New Policy School (NPS), organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights, a one-day seminar was held in Belgrade. Lecturers were Veronica Burget (Robert Bosh Stiftung) and Orli Fridman (Institute for Comparative Conflict Studies). »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Montenegro invites all interested to apply for visiting film festival in Zvornik that will be realized from 7th to 9th of May 2008. »»

Five young people from Serbia and Kosovo have visited Sarajevo within Visiting program. Young people had the opportunity to visit several non-governmental and youth organizations, some media and research organizations and also Tunnel that was the only way out of Sarajevo, during the four-year siege of the town during the war. »»

Activist team of Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) in Montenegro will organize a promotion of Web Voter on public squares in Ulcinj and Rosaje on Friday. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) in Montenegro has organized a one-day workshop called “International Criminal Court”. Lecturers were Dragan Popovic (YIHR International Justice Program coordinator), Judge Sonja Prostran, and Sead Sadikovic, freelance journalist. »»

Within New Policy School program, organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), the second several-day seminar on public advocating was held in Novi Sad. Students of all three separate Nis, Novi Sad and Belgrade departments have attended the seminar. At this for-day seminar, students of New Policy School had the opportunity to attend lectures on skills needed for active participation in work of political organizations, and they were learning how to start various civil initiatives on local level. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) office in Pristina has presented Visiting Program book, containing best essays of participants in individual regional exchange program between Pristina and Belgrade during past two years. Essays present impressions of Visiting Program participants, who visited these two cities for the first time, thanks to exchange program. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) has organized an advanced training for young activists from Montenegro in Petrovac, from 20th to 23rd of March 2008. The participants were the most prominent trainees held in Tivat, at the beginning of February. Regarding current election campaign, young Montenegrins were learning how to get the message across during the campaign. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) was presented within “Volunteering – reasons and perspectives” seminar, designated to students of Belgrade University. On the second day of “Volunteering – reasons and perspectives” seminar at Faculty of Political Sciences (FPN), Jasmina Lazovic, student of this faculty, has presented non-governmental organization Youth Initiative for Human Rights. »»

A group of 30 young people from Presevo and Bujanovac has visited Belgrade and Novi Sad. Within the visit, organized by Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), they visited House of Parliament. After the tour of the building where legislative authorities are located, young people from Bujanovac and Presevo, with members of political parties and non-governmental organizations among them, talked to Riza Halimi, Albanian minority member of Parliament. »»

After the declaration of independence of Kosovo and the "spontaneous" reaction of "rage and anger" depicted in the Prime Minister's words, demolished Embassies, public lynching of those with different political opinions, as well as the declarative call to "peace and peaceful protests", Serbia has hit the bottom. By making violence legitimate and attacking people with different political opinions, the authorities are only continuing the old and already seen practice. Those who think that they will destroy critical thinking and the need for different relations with the neigbours in this way, are sadly mistaken. The mass "events of the people" just take us back and create new mistakes which will cost us dearly. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights request the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop and sanction the increasingly common cases of police torture over the citizens of Montenegro. In January and February, the Initiative had recorded 5 cases in which the citizens complained about the actions of officials of the Police Administration, and from September 2006, the time when the Initiative started its work in Montenegro. to 2008, that number amounts to 28 cases. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights invites you to apply for program of education and promotion of freedom of expression in Montenegro, organized with the help of Embassy of Norway Kingdom. »»

A group of young people from Bosnia has visited Belgrade from 6th to 8th of February, within Visiting program. Elma Zalihic, student of journalism from Sarajevo, Ajla Skrbic, finished law student from Zenica, and Dejan Civsa, economy student from Sarajevo, have participated in the program. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights has organized training for young activists from Montenegro to educate the participants on human rights, facing with the past, and to promote and strengthen youth activism. »»

My Initiative movement in Belgrade has called upon young people in Belgrade to vote at the second round of the presidential elections through a street action called “We don’t want to go back”. My Initiative’s activists have organized a photography exhibition in Knez Mihajlova Street. The content of the exhibition was Serbia of the past. The photographs are reminding on wars in former Yugoslavia, the age of inflation, shortages, and empty grocery stores. The exhibition showed student protests in winter ’96 – ’97, and demonstrations in 2000. »»

Within “We don’t want to go back”, My Initiative from Novi Sad has organized a performance called “Serbia of the past – Serbia of the future”. Within this action, My Initiative’s activists offered to passers-by to decide which path Serbia should take in next five years, by voting between two candidates, and once again, reminded of the importance of going out and vote at the elections on third of February. »»

Within “We don’t want to go back” campaign, My Initiative movement from Novi Sad organized the “Buy Democracy” action. With good will, which was the official currency of the action, people of Novi Sad could buy democratic values such as solidarity, equality and coexistence, in the form of cookies. A great number of people of Novi Sad shared their good will for democratic values with My Initiative’s activists. »»

Securing membership of the EU is the only way to assure the democratization of Serbia and a democratic future for the country. How long this process will take depends on us. We are advocating European values and a path of modernization in Serbia - Serbia as an open country and as a European country – and we demand that the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Boris Tadic, sends clear messages supporting this policy. Seventy percent of citizens in Serbia have declared themselves pro-Europe, and presidential candidate Tadic is obliged to represent the aspirations of these citizens. »»

A group of eight non-governmental organizations has organized a press conference in Media Center today, regarding presidential elections in Serbia and attitude of democratic candidate towards key questions in reference to Serbian future in Europe. They have petitioned an appeal to presidential candidate Boris Tadic, stating that membership in EU is the only way for democratization of Serbia. “Regarding that we represent European values and path of modernization of Serbia, Serbia as an open and European country – we demand clear messages from presidential candidate of Democratic Party, Boris Tadic, in the direction of the policy we are advocating”, it says in the appeal. »»

My Initiative from Kragujevac has continued its campaign of inviting their fellow citizen to vote at the second round of the presidential elections also, by action called “We don’t want to go back”. Activists have drawn a crossroads on the billboard with slogan of the action written. One way was leading backward – to the nineties and the other forward – to the future. »»

Within “We don’t want to go back” campaign, My Initiative movement from Novi Sad has organized action “Flush the Toilet – for Bad Values to go”. On My Initiative’s stand, there were rolls of toilet paper with bad values written over them, such as irresponsibility, intolerance, hypocrisy, thievery, corruption. »»

Within the “Decide in the second round” campaign, My Initiative movement from Kragujevac has invited young fellow citizens to use their right to vote in the second round of presidential elections too. Activists of My Initiative have handed out flyers that reminding young people of the message “You are boycotting – you are undermining”, and invited them to put a message for future president of Serbia in the ballot box. »»

My Initiative movement from Nis invites young people to come to a party at Alternative Cultural Center, tomorrow, an hour after voting posts close down. Tickets for this electoral party will be reserved only for young people that used their voting right (i.e. obligation). Every person entering the party at the ACC will be checked in the same way as on voting spots. You can access electoral party only if your finger shows that you have voted. This party is not reserved for abstainers. »»

My Initiative movement from Novi Sad have handed out snapdragon origami figurines containing various messages at a street action within “Yoy are boycotting! You are undermining! campaign »»

My Initiative movement from Nis has promoted Web Voter through a street action. Young people from Nis region could fill out the form in a few minutes, and compare their standpoints with standpoints of political parties. Web Voter is especially useful for undecided voters, who still have not recognized their favorites among candidates. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) is pleased to announce an open competition for the War Crimes Law Internship Programme (WCLI). The WCLI programme grants graduate students, and undergraduate students who are in their final stages of education, an opportunity to partake in an internship in the unique environment at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, at the Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor or to the War Crimes Chamber in Belgrade and at the documentation centres and victims associations in Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Croatia, offering the chance to enhance their knowledge and expertise in a professional setting. »»

Within “You are Boycotting! You are undermining!” campaign, at Belgrade Knez Mihajlova Street, “My Initiative” movement has called upon young people to go out and vote at the forthcoming presidential elections. During the street action, Web voter was introduced. It is an online questionnaire for quick and simple comparing of value standpoints of a person that is filling it out, and standpoints of democratic presidential candidates. »»

Editorial office of “Rez” has published a special edition of this magazine regarding presidential elections that will take place on 20th of January. All copies were given away to young people all over Serbia, with the message that appears on the front page of the magazine: YOU ARE BOYCOTTING! YOU ARE UNDERMINING! »»

Within the campaign for calling young people to go out and vote responsibly at the presidential elections on 20th of January, the Youth of the Helsinki Human Rights Committee in Belgrade has joined My Initiative’s “You are boycotting! You are undermining!” action. »»

Within presidential elections campaign, My Initiative movement from Kragujevac organized a street action “Take initiative” and called upon young people to show what kind of man/woman they want for president of Serbia, and what they expect him/her to do for them. »»

Nisma Ime activists organized a street action in Prishtina where they gave citizens who were passing by the government HQ a chance to express the problems they are faced with in their daily lives. Citizens were asked to list the problems which, according to them, the new government should have as a priority and deal with urgently. Nisma Ime contacted around 270 citizens during sixty minutes. Their answers will be summarized and sent to the new government as a gift. »»

Stephen Heintz, the president of Rockefeller Brothers Fund, today in Belgrade held a lecture for Initiative's students of New Policy School. Present at the lecture were students from NPS, from all parts of Serbia, and also members of Youth Initiative for Human Rights. Solution of Kosovo status and building of modern political relations were two main topics, but there was some word on a new role of United States of America in the World, role of the United nations and role of Russia as a former super power. »»

BELGRADE - On the International Human Rights day, activists of The Coalition for a Secular State, organised a performance in Republic Square, named ''We do not want to go backward''. It was a rally against the clericalization of the state. The action was organized as a way to show government officials and the Serbian Orthodox Church are clericalizing the state, which is a severe blow to the idea of human rights. »»

BELGRADE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights activists were hosts to the participants of the third Seminar of Young Political Leaders, from Europe and Eurasia that was held in Belgrade from December 6 to December 9. Around 60 young leaders, coming from over 15 countries took a part in it. »»

BELGRADE Youth Initiative for Human Rights pressed charges against two policemen from the intervention brigade from Belgrade Police Head Office. The charges were pressed because of the humiliation of Sinisa Kraljevic', from Belgrade. »»

PRISHITNA - On November 30th, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in cooperation with the Association of Kosovo’s Professional Journalists organized one-day regional civil society consultations on Access to Official Information. The event was supported by the UNDP and OSCE Missions in Kosovo and was attended by representatives from civil society organizations from Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Albania. »»

Throughout the day at the Parliament, Natasa Kandic was subjected to verbal abuse, with numerous insults and hate speech directed to citizens of Croatian nationality. In Parliament's hall, members of Parliament from Serbian Radical Party were selling and giving away a book titled "Hrtkovci Affair and Ustasa whore Natasa Kandic". This public demonstration of vulgarity and hate was not met with an adequate reaction from the Serbian Parliament. Furthermore, your statement on selling books without fiscal bill contributed to the atmosphere of persecution in the Serbian Parliament and illustrated the absolute irresponsibility of the institution that you represent. »»

PRSHTINA - The YIHR and NISMA IME ended a three-week long campaign to encourage citizens of Kosovo, especially young people, to get out and vote in the Parliamentary and local elections on 17th of November. »»

BELGRADE/PRISTINA/PODGORICA/SARAJEVO – Youth Initiative for Human Rights is celebrating for years of its work on Friday, ninth of November. »»

BELGRADE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Queeria Center, commemorated the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism on the 9th of November, with activities throughout the region. »»

PRISTINA – A group of young people from Serbia and Bosnia and Hercegovina spent three days in Pristina during the Pristina Jazz festival, as part of YIHR’s Visiting program. Participants were mainly young people, musicians and Jazz fans »»

BELGERADE - Regarding the marking of the 9th of November – International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, Queeria Center and Youth Initiative for Human rights organize street action under the slogan I will pull up your ears if you become fascist! on 9th November on Republic square, at 13 hours. »»

PRISHTINA - A group of 11 civil society organizations express deep concern and indignation at the pressures and verbal threats that were made during the last couple of days to the organizations that are part of the “Civil Society for Clean Parliament” coalition. We think that the latest actions represent a dangerous threat to freedom of speech and the road toward the creation of a democratic and open society in Kosovo. »»

PRISHTINA - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights and the activist network Nisma Ime have officially began the campaign that will invite young people to vote in the November 17th elections. Around 200 activists from the Nisma Ime network will, until the day of elections, organize a streak of street actions as well as a caravan of parties in the largest cities and towns in Kosovo »»

SARAJEVO – An advanced regional training of Justice Advocates Network from Serbia and Bosnia and Hercegovina (BiH) was held in Sarajevo from the 18th to 23rd of October to enhance their skills and knowledge. Sixteen young people from BiH and Serbia, who have participated in several trainings since the beginning of this year, got the opportunity to develop their own training capacities in the field of dealing with the past. »»

PODGORICA – Youth Initiative for Human Rights held a round table discussion on the “Cases of police torture in Montenegro”, based on research conducted by YIHR. Representatives of the police, political parties and non-governmental organizations participated in the three-hour discussion on presentations of the cases of torture. Individual police torture cases in Montenegro from September 2006 to September 2007 were presented, as were disciplinary measures against officials that have violated the rule of procedures in the 2006-2007 period. »»

PRISHTINA - Our group consisted of seven civil society organizations addresses Kosovo’s Assembly in order to express concerns over the current process of appointing Kosovo’s new Ombudsperson. Last Wednesday, on October 10th 2007, the Parliamentary Commission on Legislation approved a short list of candidates for the Ombudsperson position and the list will very soon be put for a vote in Parliament. »»

BELGRADE/PRISHTINE - During September and the beginning of October nine young people from Serbia and Kosovo participated in the Visiting program. There were three visits organized in total, one visit to Pristina/Prishtine and two visits to Belgrade. »»

BELGRADE - My Initiative movement organized an action called STOP FASCISM MARCH! on Republic Square in Belgrade and called upon all Belgrade citizens not to remain neutral on 7th of October, when a neo-Nazi gathering is announced, because neutrality can be looked upon as a quiet support. »»

BELGRADE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights has selected 65 candidates from several towns in Serbia for the New Policy School (NPS). NPS commences on October 15, 2007 in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis and its first generation of students will graduate in May 2008. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights issued a petition to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg against the Republic of Serbia regarding the failure to protect right to life and efficient legal remedy, as well as freedom from torture and discrimination, established by European Human Rights Convention. Zivota Milanovic, from Jagodina, a member of the Hindu-Vishnu religious community, has been attacked five times from 2002 to 2007 because of his religious beliefs. »»

(September 28th, 2007) – Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls upon Governments of Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia to respect citizen’s right to free access to information of public importance and insists on punishing of those responsible for its derogation. »»

PRISHTINA (September 28, 2007) - To mark the occasion of the right to know day, as well as the open day for citizens at the Ministry of Public Services, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights organized a street action in front of this Ministry under the slogan: “It’s my tax – inform me!!! YIHR activists informed citizens about the Law on Access to Official Documents and gave them the possibility to seek accountability from the institutions by filling request forms for access to official documents at an institution of their choice. »»

Nisma Ime organized the street action "Stop Discrimination" in Gjilan/Gnjilane on the World Peace Day. Activists talked to citizens and young people about the importance of respecting and protecting human rights in Kosovo. Nisma Ime activists presented a message for a non-discriminating society in Kosovo. Those who agreed wrote down their contacts, which are then put in Nisma Ime database. »»

PRISTINA – Initiative has started preparation for the one month Go Out To Vote campaign in Kosovo. During the pre election period street actions and parties will be organized around Kosovo to mobilize the young voters to use their democratic right and participate n the elections scheduled for Novemebr 17. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights has the pleasure to announce the Call for Application for the first group of 80 students of the New Policy School, which sets off in October 2007. The School is intended for young politicians, civil society activists, university students and young journalists. »»

Recently founded Initiative Foundation approved first grants in Serbia marking the continuation of its small donations activities. Foundation, part of Youth Initiative for Human Rights, is currently giving grants in Kosovo and Serbia, while grants giving activities in the other countries of the region are expected in coming months. Work of the foundation in Serbia is generously funded by National Endowment for Democracy – NED. »»

The Head of Office will be responsible for managing YIHR BiH Office activities, prepare project proposals and budgets, engage with other project staff, participate in project activities as well as represent YIHR. The Head of Office must be available to travel both domestically and regionally on short notice. »»

BELGRADE – the International Missing Persons Day Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls upon the Governments of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Croatia and Serbia to improve mutual cooperation in resolving the fate of persons missing since the wars in former Yugoslavia and to bring to justice those responsible for crimes committed against them. »»

BELGRADE – Despite an obligatory decree by the Media Commissioner, the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) continues to break the Law on Free Access to Information, by rejecting requests to inform the Serbian public about salary of Rade Bulatovic, BIA Director. »»

SARAJEVO - Twenty Initiative’s activists from Kosovo and Serbia were guests of the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF). With the cooperation between Youth Initiative for Human Rights and SFF, 20 human rights activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo held discussions each day of the festival, and topics of discussions were ensued from the themes of documentaries shown the previous day during the documentary festival program – Docucorener. »»

Twenty students of universities in Kosovo have left on August 11th for a one month trip as part of program Traveling to Europe, implemented by Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo. Twenty best students of graduating years in different faculties were provided Inter rail tickets, visa, insurance and pocket money to spend one month in Europe. »»

PRISTINA - From 4th to 11th of August, in Veremice, near Prizren, Youth Initiative for Human Rights’ office organized two Human Rights schools in which 40 high school and university students from Kosovo have participated. The goal of organizing these schools was introduction of basic concepts of human rights and means of active advocacy to the youth of Kosovo. »»

Three law students left to Netherlands to spend six months internship with different departments of ICTY. Two of them will be assigned to Court and one will be intern within Prosecutor’s office. They are the second group of interns who left for Hague, as part of eight-month War Crimes Law Internship Program organized by The Youth Initiative for Human Rights. »»

Five days Trust Building School was organized in Dvorovi, near Bjeljina, in the cooperation with NGO Lara from Bjeljina. Twenty three young people participated in the five days lectures. They were coming form Bijeljina, Janja, Ugljevik, Celic, Teocak, Lopare and Brcko. »»

PRISHTINA – The Youth Initiative for Human Rights demands that the organizers of the Summer University in Prishtina make a public apology to the programmes participants and to the public for committing an act of discrimination. A welcoming letter received by participants from the programme’s organizer, signed by Enver Hasani, Rector of the Prishtina University, asks "the participants from the region, whose native language is of Slavic origin, especially those who speak Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language, to refrain from using their native language in public places." »»

BELGRADE – Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on Serbian President Boris Tadic, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Justice Minister Dusan Petrovic to intercede on behalf of Maja Stojanovic, a Youth Initiative for Human Rights activist, to prevent her incarceration on July 26, as ordered by a municipal magistrate in the Southern Serbian city of Nis »»

PODGORICA – Youth Initiative for Human Rights demands from Montenegrin authorities to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for police torture against five Kosovar Albanians between July 6th and 7th 2007 in the municipalities of Plav and Berane. »»

NOVI SAD – Youth Initiative for Human Rights seriously condemns brutal assault on the participants of the Caravan of Differences, organized as part of the international campaign of NGO network "All Different – All Equal". After the assault, one of the visitors from Israel ended up in ER surgery. »»

NIS – "Serbian youth want a different future; one in which it is not acceptable to kill and remain at large," said Andrej Nosov, President of YIHR, in Nis, at a press conference organized to mark the 12th anniversary of genocide in Srebrenica, which saw the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosniaks. »»

BELGRADE — Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on the President of Serbia, Boris Tadic, the Minister of Justice, Dusan Petrovic, and the Minister of the Interior, Dragan Jocic, to stop the persecution, to publicly condemn and to undertake all necessary measures to locate, arrest and bring to justice the assailants of Zivota Milanovic, member of the Hindu religious community in Jagodina. »»

ULCINJ - Aktivisti deset nevladinih organizacija iz Crne Gore prisustvovaće trodnevnom treningu o teoriji ljudskih prava i istraživanju njihovog kršenja. Trening organizuje Inicijativa mladih za ljudska prava – kancelarija u Crnoj Gori, uz podršku Švedskog helsinškog komiteta za ljudska prava (SHC). »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Regional Office (YIHR) is please to announce round of Small Grant Program aimed at supporting youth and other organizations to develop local initiatives for reconciliation, enhancement of interethnic relation, overcoming existing prejudices and every widening gap between the young people in the region with special focus on Kosovo's status. The funding for YIHR’s Small grants program is provided by National Endowment for Democracy (NED). »»

PODGORICA – Polls highlight students' concern about poor reputation of Law School in Podgorica. Polls conducted at the Law School and College of Political Science in Podgorica, Montenegro, show that 65.3% of students believe that the decreasing reputation of the national Law School is a consequence of an incident which occurred between the President of the Student Council and Professor Lukic. Some 88% believe that the School's management fails to protect students' rights and interests. »»

ULCINJ – "Given that they make two thirds of the population, young people in Kosovo now have a historic opportunity to create a modern and open society, founded on the respect of differences and European values", said Andrej Nosov, YIHR President in Ulcinj, at the opening of a four-day gathering organized by YIHR Montenegro office and the Heinrich Boll Foundation. »»

TUZLA – On Friday, May 25th 2007, activists of moJA inIcijaTIva Movement observed the commemoration of the 12th anniversary of the massacre at "Kapija" in downtown Tuzla. On May 25th 1995, a grenade launched from Ozren by soldiers under Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic's command, killed 71 persons of Croat, Serb, and Bosniak nationality, with average age of 21. The youngest child killed had not yet turned three. »»

PRISTINA – Recently founded Initiative Foundation approved first grants in Kosovo marking the beginning of its small donations activities. Foundation, part of Youth Initiative for Human Rights, is currently giving grants in Kosovo, while grants giving activities in the other countries of the region are expected in coming months. Work of the foundation in Kosovo is generously funded by National Endowment for Democracy – NED. »»

NIS - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) calls upon the Serbian Ministry of the Interior to immediately review actions of the local Nis police regarding the recent assault on the Peace Caravan, and to ensure justice for the victims of this ethnically and religiously motivated violence. »»

NIŠ - Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR), in cooperation with ART and CRCR from Nis, welcomed a Peace Caravan in the period between May 10 and 13, consisting of street actions, concerns and film screenings. The manifestation had been regularly reported to the local police when permission was requested for the use of public space. Peace Caravan participants are young people from the former Yugoslavia who, traveling for 15 days throughout the region, promote the values of non-violent action, peace and de-militarization. »»

Action "Come out of the Labyrinth" carried out by moJA inIcijaTIva Movement launches the campaign EUROPE EVERY DAY. In about three hours of this street action, more than 300 citizens walked through the labyrinth, which was erected at the Square of the Republic in Belgrade , to represent a symbolical obstacle our society is facing on its road to Europe . At moJA inIcijaTIva street stands , activists discussed with citizens about European values and motivated them to begin to change themselves first and their immediate surrounding, for this is the only way for Serbia to get out of its labyrinth. »»

PRISHTINA - Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo office organized a five (5) module training on Human Rights Advocacy. Trainings were held in Prishtina, in 7 – 22 April, and were supported by Freedom House Kosovo Community Reconciliation Program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. »»

KOPAONIK – Journalists from Kosovo and Serbia agreed that mutual cooperation should be continued after Kosovo's final status has been defined, because it is perceived as essential for objective reporting. »»

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA – Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo Office organized an intensive training on Human Rights research methodology. The training was held in Prishtina, from April 4th -6th, 2007 and was supported by Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. »»

Belgrade, April 3, 2007 — Four Serbian human rights organizations sent a letter to all 27 heads of government in the European Union to express deep concern at recent signals of retreat from insistence on Serbia’s concrete cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as a pre-condition to resuming talks on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). The European Commission suspended those talks in May 2006 over Serbia’s failure to cooperate with the ICTY, specifically citing the failure to arrest former Bosnian Serb Army Commander Ratko Mladic. »»

KRAGUJEVAC – The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kragujevac demands from the police to find and punish the persons who yesterday and today took part in the spraying of two graffiti "Knife, Wire, Srebrenica" in Kragujevac. »»

BELGRADE (March 2nd 2007) – The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) and Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) demand from Serbian authorities to do everything in their power to stop the new wave of violence in Serbia, to which members of political and non-governmental sector have been exposed to for their advocating for a system of values different from the one propagated by the governing elites. »»

NOVI SAD (March 1st 2007) – The YIHR office in Novi Sad expresses concerns and protests against the promotion of the book Serbs, Catholics – the so-called Croats, which will be held today on Matica Srpska premises. »»

BELGRAD (26th Feb 07) - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) calls on all Serbian officials to publicize, in a serious and responsible manner, the established facts listed in today's International Court of Justice (ICJ) verdict, and to absolutely refrain from questioning the commission of genocide and the existence of genocide victims »»

BELGRADE (February 26th 2007) – The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) calls on authorized institutions in Serbia to clearly and unambiguously acknowledge the responsibility of Serbia for the crimes committed in Strpci in 1993; to find, arrest and punish all responsible perpetrators, including those top officials and representatives of the then republic and federal government, and to provide reparations for the victims of this crime. »»

On February 21st 2007 the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) submitted a petition to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg against the Republic of Serbia's violation of the right to fair trial, as well as the right to free expression . »»

Although European legislation, more advanced than legislation in some other countries in the region, has been introduced in Kosovo in the past several years, the implementation remains seriously problematic. This was the general conclusion from the conference Accountability, Equality and the Rule of Law: Towards a Democratic Future, held on February 7th 2007 in Prishtina. The conference was organized by YIHR's Kosovo office. »»

A group of 20 youngsters from Albanian, Serb, Bosnian, Turkish, Croat and Gorani communities had the chance to visit three very important religious objects in Kosovo: Gazi-Mehmet Pasha mosque and “Our Lady, Help of Christians” Cathedral in Prizren also the St. Stephen Monastery in Decane. »»

On behalf of the Balkan Coalition for International Criminal Court, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) organized in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on January 25-28 2007, a regional training course about the International Criminal Court (ICC). The training was supported by the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights. »»

Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Podgorica (YIHR), with the support from the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (SHC), organized on January 25th in the Montenegrin capital a debate entitled "Towards a New Constitution". The main topic of the gathering, the Expert Constitution Draft, focused mainly on the provisions which concern the rights and freedoms of minorities. »»

On Tuesday, January 23rd, began an introductory training course, entitled "Strengthening of youth capacities for LGBTIQ activism", with participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia. The training is held in Prishtina and is organized by Logos (Sarajevo) and Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Belgrade/Prishtina). »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights demands from the Belgrade police to immediately find and arrest the persons who attacked the activists of Women in Black. »»

BELGRADE - On February 21st 2007 the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) submitted a petition to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg against the Republic of Serbia's violation of the right to fair trial (Article 6, European Convention on Human Rights), as well as the right to free expression (Article 10, European Convention on Human Rights). »»

BELGRADE, NOVI SAD: As part of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights’ "Mobilization of Civic Serbia" campaign – My Initiative – a street action, Say NO to Patriarchate, will take place from 2pm to 5pm on Thursday the 18th of January in front of the Albania Palace. Activists will direct citizens' attention to serious problems coursed directly by the patriarchate we live in. »»

BELGRADE, NOVI PAZAR: On January 19th at 12pm the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, as part of the "My Initiative" campaign "Mobilization of Civic Serbia", will screen the film "A LOOK TO THE OTHER SIDE", with a discussion to follow, at the Center for Cultural Decontamination. This is a documentary about the experiences of a group of young people who were part of the YIHR's Visiting Program – an exchange programme between Kosovo and Serbia, which YIHR has been conducting since 2004. »»

BELRGADE, ZRENJANIN - "Young people in Serbia must be asked about the biggest political questions in the country. If we want employment, if we want to become part of the European Union, if we want justice, first we must ask ourselves where Ratko Mladic is. Politicians are presenting politics to young people as scary and confusing, but it is actually our every life. We mustn't let politicians put barriers between young people and politics. We should be asked about everything, and we need to be asked first about every important decision. It does concern us", said Maja Stojanovic, the campaign's PR, to the press in Belgrade. »»

BELGRADE: As part of the campaign "Mobilization of Civic Serbia," the Youth Initiative for Human Rights – "My Initiative" – organizes on January 13th, in Knez Mihailova Street (the pedestrian zone), in front of the Institute Cervantes, near the central fountain, a street action "The Making of a Civic Serbia". Through symbolic activities, and together with citizens, YIHR activists will try to pave the way and set the foundation for the civil society in Serbia. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on all political parties, as soon as the new government is established, to publicly promise to address the unresolved cases of the soldiers who died in uncertain circumstances on October 5th 2004, during military service in Serbia. The YIHR reminds all political agents that the families of these soldiers have not yet been told the full truth. Furthermore, many officials and politicians still refuse to talk with their family members. »»

NIS - "Of course it is possible that citizens will be disappointed be the political option they vote for in the upcoming elections. This is what happens when you have high expectations. Elections should be understood as a piece in the puzzle – every time we add one more piece, while all the time trying to complete the whole. It's a process rather than a simple solution", said Caslav, one of the activists of "My Initiative" before the caravan headed for Nis. »»

KRALJEVO - "Young people must go to the polls in January, because for the first time now there are political parties which put youth to the fore. Our generations must fight for Zoran Djindjic's vision. At one point this visionary plan was blocked and now is the chance for our generation to follow the path which will turn Serbia into a society of modern values. But it is up to Serbia's youth. Hence, whoever says that politics does not fall within his or her frame of interest and that he or she would refrain from voting in January – loses this chance", said Andrej Nosov, President of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, to the media before the caravan headed for Kraljevo. »»

BELGRADE - "This is the mobilization of civic Serbia. We call on all young people to go to the polls – their votes are very important. Those who say that they don't want to get involved in politics must understand that it's not politics, it is our life. I too would like to live in a country in which I wouldn't have to vote, and I can hardly wait for that day to come to Serbia", said in Kragujevac Miroslav Djuricic – Miki, one of the travelers in the caravan "Not Everyone is the Same". »»

BELGRADE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on the Serbian authorities to break with the politics of impunity, which fails to punish those who engage in spraying the racist, nationalistic and fascistic graffiti. The authorities are obliged to voice the strongest possible condemnation and to appropriately punish the perpetrators. »»

BELGRADE - "It is precisely the train of thought which says that it's ok to sit idle and not care about what's going on around me that has brought us here. It is our parents' mistake, who lost the fight for a different Serbia, who did not manage to prevent the wars or the crumbling of our future. We must go to the polls and correct what was left for us to inherit. We owe this not only to ourselves, to our own future, but also to those who expect it from us", said Andrej Nosov, President of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, before the Election Caravan took off. In his statement to the Belgrade media, Nosov announced a fierce, energetic and positive campaign designed to mobilize the youth to go to the polls on January 21st. »»

Representatives of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights from Belgrade and the Urban In from Novi Pazar gathered for the round table on December 19th to discuss the "Bosniaks and the Elections" in the Novi Pazar hotel "Taj". »»

KRAGUJEVAC - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands from authorities in Kragujevac to immediately respond to and prevent discrimination in the Orphanage "Mladost". The YIHR further demands that that those persons responsible for the violation of domestic and international legal regulations, which concern the prevention of discrimination, is established. »»

"Citizens of Novi Pazar are directly manipulated from Belgrade through political clashes between Sulejman Ugljanin's Coalition – the List for Sanjak – and Rasim Ljajic's Sanjak Democratic Party. Voters are ashamed of the politicians who represent them, said Aida Corovic, president of UrbanIn from Novi Pazar, at the round table. »»

They Are Not All The Same »»

Between August 1st and October 15th the YIHR monitored nine Kosovar daily newspapers. At a generally level journalism in Kosovo is satisfactory. Basic errors are made, in terms of good practice, when, for instance, a single source of information is used to create a story. Also, there is a serious lack of investigative journalism. Journalism in Kosovo follows so called “protocol journalism”.Reports on the negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade were not balanced. There is a constant overrating of the mobility and capacity of the Kosovo delegations and on the other hand constant accusations addressed to the Serbian delegation for unsuccessful talks. There is a positive tendency in the Kosovo media to give more space to minorities, especially ethnic minorities. »»

YIHR has analyzed coverage of the Kosovo situation in the fourteen newspapers with the biggest circulation and influence in Serbia from June 15 to September 15, 2006. A majority of print media sources in Serbia violate principles of ethical and professional journalism in their coverage of Kosovo. Their daily coverage of the situation aims to promote the interests of Serbian state authorities and the positions advocated by official Belgrade. We have noted an increase in the number of articles criticizing official Belgrade. These articles are generally opinion pieces and, in turn, are less closely bound to the standard editorial policy of each newspaper or newsmagazine. »»

A group of Serbian NGOs call on provisional municipal authorities in Zrenjanin and the Government of Serbia to refrain from repressing the freedom of the local media and from removing the editorial board of the newspaper "Zrenjanin", led by Nadica Jakovljev, Editor-in-Chief. »»

The Vojvodina branch-office of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) is organizing a series of public debates in rural communities throughout Vojvodina, entitled "This is not my Constitution". »»

The YIHR demands that Serbian courts start punishing hate speech. The First District Court in Belgrade rejected the YIHR's lawsuit against the daily "Kurir's" use of hate speech against Albanians. In her ruling, Judge Vesna Lazarevic emphasized, among other things, that the use of the word "Shiptar" to designate Albanians cannot be considered insulting. Referring to a segment in the said article that mocks Albanians as ignorant and unintelligent, judge Lazarevic stressed that "Kurir's" implied assessment about one nation's ignorance of the English language should not be understood as offensive. Finally, Judge Lazarevic expressed her own views about the situation in Kosovo. »»

On December 11th, at Belgrade’s "O3ONE" gallery, Maja Stojanovic presented the basic principles of the YIHR's election campaign, titled "The Mobilization of Civic Serbia". »»

On November 11th 2006, The Annual Assembly of the YIHR was held in Belgrade. The ceremony was opened by Anna Maija Korpi, Ambassador of Finland, the presiding EU country. Gustavo Delgado, US Deputy Chief of Mission to Serbia, advised that Serbia continue its democratic transition. "We want a responsible state, which will respond to each and every tax-payer, a state which will explain why Ratko Mladic has not been arrested yet", said Andrej Nosov, who was elected YIHR President, while Dragan Popovic is the YIHR's new Executive Director. Assembly members adopted the YIHR Strategy Plan for 2007-2011 period. »»

The Center for the Advancement of Legal Studies and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights demand that the Serbian National Assembly MPs take a stand against the amendments to the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Interest. »»

During the period of March 15 to July 15, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) monitored eight daily Kosovo newspapers. The newspaper included, Koha Ditore, Express, Zëri, Kosova Sot, Bota Sot, Epoka e Re, Lajm, and Iliria Post. The aim of the YIHR was to examine media coverage of a number of issues, the frame in which news are presented, and analyze how those frames might be grasped and interpreted by the public. »»

The Vojvodina office of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights requested from the Municipal Election Committee in Zrenjanin to be delivered copies of protocol from the polling stations suspected of having tolerated certain irregularities during the referendum on the new Constitution of Serbia. »»

A group of non-governmental organizations warned that the proposed text of the Constitution significantly reduces the level of human rights protection in Serbia. One of the basic principles of modern law is to forbid the reduction of the already achieved level of human rights. However, this principle will be fragrantly violated if the new Constitution is confirmed in the referendum on October 28th and 29th". »»

BELGRADE - Eight non-governmental organizations have warned that eleven years after the Srebrenica genocide, racist and nationalistic behavior of football fans and hooligans can be seen as the result not only of politics that have allowed nationalistic slogans ("Knife, Wire, Srebrenica") to materialize, but also of a subsequent politics that has done nothing to condemn, in a systematic and unambiguous manner, the nationalistic project that led to wars and killing. »»

KALUDJERSKI LAZ - The Podgorica Office of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights demands from state authorities of Montenegro to immediately compensate the victims and investigate the crime committed in Kaludjerski Laz in 1999. A ruling passed by the Podgorica Basic Court about interruption of compensation proceedings for murders in Kaludjerski Laz is flagrant violation of the law and a sign of mocking of victims of this grave crime. We remind that the accused in this case are the state of Montenegro, the Montenegrin Army and the Montenegrin Ministry of Interior. »»

During the period of March 15 to July 15, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) monitored eight daily Kosovo newspapers. The newspaper included, Koha Ditore, Express, Zëri, Kosova Sot, Bota Sot, Epoka e Re, Lajm, and Iliria Post. The aim of the YIHR was to examine media coverage of a number of issues, the frame in which news are presented, and analyze how those frames might be grasped and interpreted by the public. PRISTINE - The monitoring focused largely on the first round of the Vienna negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade officials, which included six meetings from the period February-May. YIHR focused on the Vienna negotiations due to the variety of issues discussed that will define the future status of Kosovo. »»

Psychiatrist in Kosovo Denounced for Hate Speech against Sexual Minorities Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) and Center for Social Emancipation (QESh) denounces the hate speech and misinformation proclaimed by Dr. Ferid Agani in the 26 September 2006 edition of the Daily Iliria Post Newspaper. Dr. Agani said: “Homosexuality is a serious psychological disorder” »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demand from the Serbian Ministry of the Interior and the General Inspectorate to immediately stop the persecution of M.V. (28) and E.Č. (28), both citizens of Subotica, who have been exposed to cruel torture by the Subotica police inspector, Tomislav Lendvai, his "punishing group" and other police officer since June 2006. On behalf of victims, the YIHR will press charges against a number of persons responsible for these acts of torture, and file lawsuit on grounds of inadequate response by Subotica SUP authorities and other state institutions. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands the Serbian National Assembly's Administrative Council immediately enact the Book of Rules about the internal structure of the Information Commissioner's office. This document will enable the Commissioner to perform his duties in a more effective manner. »»

PRISTINE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights expresses its deep indignation on the refusal of recommendation made by the special panel for amending the Article 2.3 of the Law for official usage of languages in Kosovo. The Kosovo Assembly in refusing this recommendation failed to meet one of the 13 priority demands made to Kosova by the Contact Group. The recommendation that the language of a community that represents 5% of the population of a municipality should become an official language was refused in the session held on 14th September 2006 with 48 votes against and 41 ‘pro’. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights is concerned about the assault on a human rights activist and Director of the Humanitarian Law Center, Natasa Kandic. The YIHR demands from the Serbian authorities to undertake decisive actions against yet another assault on human rights defenders in Serbia and to ensure adequate protect