NEWSLETTER # 2
ON ATTACKS AND PRESSURE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SERBIA
The Solidarity for the Rights of All Network presents the Newsletter # 2 on attacks and pressure against activists. The team documents attacks and pressures on the Incident Map through research of publicly available information and interviews with the victims. During 2020, 100 attacks and pressures were registered on the Map, both against those who deal with the protection of human rights, as well as those who found themselves in that role due to their actions and suffered consequences. The Solidarity for the Rights of All Network is led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM, Belgrade Center for Security Policy and the People’s Parliament. During March 2021, as many as eight attacks and pressures on human rights defenders in Serbia were registered.
MOST RECENT ATTACK
Threats of Miša Vacić against the activists of Do not let Belgrade d(r)own
|
|
| Do not let Belgrade d(r)own published a video on April 3, 2021, in which Miša Vacić, president of the Serbian Right political party, during a visit to Stara Planina in a conversation with the president of the local community Temska, Tomislav Pančić, insulted activists of this organization, calling them “traitors” and “f****s from downtown Belgrade”, anti-people and anti-Serbs. In a video he originally posted on his own Instagram account, Vacic, while offering help in connection with the defense of the Stara Planina rivers from the construction of mini hydro power plants, also threatened to beat and slap Do not let Belgrade d(r)own activists. | |
| Date | April 3, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Threats / Acts of intimidation / Blackmail |
| Type of attacker | Member / sympathizer of a political party |
| Endangered right | Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
 |
|
ATTACKS AND PRESSURE IN MARCH AND APRIL
| Attacks on the director of the Institute for European Affairs, Naim Leo Besiri | |
| Date | April 3,2021 |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Member / sympathizer of a political party |
| Endangered right |
Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
| Arrest of Milan Vujić for posting on Twitter |
|
| Date | March 26, 2021. |
| Type of attack | Deprivation of liberty under the supervision of a state body |
| Type of attacker | Police |
| Endangered right |
Freedom of expression and the right to liberty and security |
| Attack on the Initiative for Economic and Social Rights – A11 [portal It’s not nice to be silent] | |
| Date | March 26, 2021. |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Media |
| Endangered right |
Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
| Attack on Europolis activists [portal It’s not nice to be silent] | |
| Date | March 18, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Media |
| Endangered right |
Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
| More on the map… | |
REACTIONS
| 5. april 2021. | Orchestrated attack by the Radicals on Besiri because of Milosevic |
| Nova S | |
| 3. april 2021. | Tragicomic: Miša Vacić insults Do not let Belgrade d(r)own and offers to defend Stara Planina from SHPP |
| Do not let Belgrade d(r)own | |
| 3. april 2021 | Message from Temska after the video with Vacić: We don’t need those with muscles, but those who defend with their souls. |
| Južne vesti | |
PROGRAM SOLIDARITY FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL
SUPPORT TO HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
2021/2022.
 |
||||||||||||||
| We invite you to apply for the Program, which aims to increase the efficiency and resilience of local human rights defenders and improve the protection of human rights in local communities in Serbia. |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Save the date and join! April 19, 2021 at 10 a.m. The Lawyers’ Committee For Human Rights – YUCOM invites you to a presentation REPORT ON ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SERBIA FOR 2020 All those interested can apply until April 18, 2021 via email office@yucom.org.rs |
|
The report aims to provide interested domestic and international public with a simple insight into the current situation and information on the position of human rights defenders in Serbia, which has not been available so far on similar maps of regional and international type. Through research of publicly available data and interviews with victims of pressure and attacks, during 2020, 100 pressures and attacks were registered, both on those who deal with the protection of human rights, and on those who found themselves in that role and suffered consequences because of their actions. |
 |
ATTACKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN 2020
 |
CONTACT
|
You can report attacks and pressures against your organization and yourself to the contact below with a brief description of the event, date, place and identity of the attacker (if known). We would ask you to submit a contact phone number with the application, at which you can be reached for additional questions. You can report an attack at e-mail:office@yucom.org.rs |
