NEWSLETTER #1
ON ATTACKS AND PRESSURE AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN SERBIA
The Solidarity for the Rights of All Network presents the # 1 Newsletter on attacks and pressure on human rights defenders in Serbia. 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.
MOST RECENT ATTACK
New attack by MP Aleksandar Martinović on CRTA
|
|
| On March 17, 2021, Aleksandar Martinović, a member of parliament, continued a series of attacks by MPs on CRTA. Martinović made accusations against Raša Nedeljkov and Vukosava Crnjanski from CRTA, stating that they embezzled funds donated to this organization, from which they bought expensive cars and large apartments. Martinović added that the headquarters of this organization is located in a “villa in Dedinje” (traditional elite part of Belgrade), and he called on citizens and MPs to inquire where that location is. The reason for the series of attacks was the work of CRTA on the implementation of the new Code of Conduct for MPs, which was adopted with significant delay on December 24, 2020, as one of the recommendations of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe. In the previous period, CRTA filed 5 complaints against MPs for violating the Code, for hate speech and for inciting violence in the parliamentary forum. The Administrative Committee of the National Assembly rejected all of the complaints on March 23, 2021. | |
| Date | March 17, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Public official |
| Threatened right | Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
 |
|
ATTACKS AND PRESSURE IN MARCH
| Attack of MP Vladimir Orlić on CRTA | |
| Date | March 11, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Public official |
| Threatened right | Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
| Arrest of ORSP activist, Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta | |
| Date | March 11, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Deprivation of liberty under the supervision of state authorities |
| Type of attacker | Police |
| Threatened right | Sloboda izražavanja, Freedom of expression, freedom of association and freedom of assembly |
| MP Marko Atlagić’s attack on a CRTA member |
|
| Date | March 3, 2021 |
| Type of attack | Defamation via electronic media or social networks |
| Type of attacker | Public official |
| Threatened right | Freedom of expression and freedom of association |
| More on the map… | |
REACTIONS
WORD OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Why is civil society important? |
| Speakers: Françoise Jacob – United Nations Resident Coordinator in Serbia, Milena Vasić – attorney at law with the Lawyers’ Committee For Human Rights – YUCOM, Igor Bandović – Director of the Belgrade Center for Security Policy |
MOST AFFECTED HUMAN RIGHTS IN 2020
CONTACT
You can report attacks and pressures against your organization and yourself to the attached contact 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
