REGIONAL REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

This week, representatives of the Regional Network of Human Rights Houses presented the Regional Report on Human Rights Defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

The Regional Network of Human Rights Houses, including Human Rights House Belgrade, Human Rights House Banja Luka, Human Rights House Zagreb, and Sarajevo Open Center, who compiled the report, underscored the main challenges for human rights defenders and civil society in the region.

Some of the key issues are:

- In Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, organizations dedicated to advancing and protecting human rights, including those advocating for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, women’s rights, environmental protection, dealing with the past, and the fight for an independent judiciary and against corruption, are frequently targeted by physical, verbal, and hacking attacks.

- Serbia faces concerns about death threats, hate speech, and calls for violence against human rights defenders. Attacks on the premises of civil society organizations are also reported. Notably, environmental activists, who are often human rights defenders, face physical attacks.

- The lack of effective investigation, prosecution, and public condemnation of threats and intimidation against human rights defenders sends an unclear message about the unacceptability of violence.

- In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are particular concerns about cases involving human rights defenders of LGBTIQ+ persons. Some have been forced to leave their residences due to the state’s failure to protect them from physical violence, citing security reasons.