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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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

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 - 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 - 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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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." »»

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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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. »»

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 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 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 protection of those courageous individuals who dare to voice a stand different from the dominant one in Serbia. With their direct assaults or failure to adequately punish hate-speech incidents and other violations of norms, the authorities have contributed to the creation of lynching atmosphere against Kandic and other human rights activists. »»

PRISTINE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) and Center for Social Emancipation (QESh) condemn the incorrect behavior of Valon Baraliu from Black Panther Security Company against three QESh members. The threat that QESh members will be asked to leave the night club Aher was clearly based on their sexual orientation. This incident happened in the evening of 23 August 2003 in Pristina. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights has opened its regional office in Podgorica, which will advocate the rule of law in Montenegro, provide protection to the victims of human rights violations, and research the extent to which these rights are respected in Montenegrin society. »»

NIŠ - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands full and immediate accountability for those who intimidated YIHR activists during the past two days. Four YIHR activists today spent more than 3 hours being interrogated in what was termed an “information meeting” at the Secretariat of the Interior in Nis, where they were questioned about their political beliefs and received lessons in patriotism and global politics. »»

SREBRENICA - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) will commemorate the 11th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica by carrying out a series of activities in nine towns across Serbia, in order to pay respect to the victims of Srebrenica and to emphasize the necessity for the whole society to accept the truth about this atrocity. »»

The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) has filed charges against Nenad Cekić and Velimir Ilić for having violated the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Interest. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands that the President of the Serbian National Assembly withdraw his decision concerning the appointment of SRS MP Zoran Krasic as member of Serbia's delegation to the OSCE Assembly. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on the representatives of the Serbian authorities to stop the outpour of vindictive threats against the citizens of Montenegro in light of their possible majority vote for independence. »»

BELGRADE - On Tuesday, May 23rd 2006, the Serbian Supreme Court rejected the charges filed by the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) against the decision previously issued by the Serbian Commissioner for Information of Public Interest, by which the Agency had been given three days to submit the previously requested information to the Youth Initiative for Human Rights on the number of wiretapped citizens in 2005. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights demands that the Serbian Ministry of the Interior and other responsible state bodies urgently find, prosecute and punish the persons who wrote threatening messages on the premises of the Kraljevo-based non-governmental organization (NGO) "Lingua". »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) calls on authorities in Belgrade to urgently elect a new president for the Coordination Center for the municipalities of Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveda. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on the representatives of the Serbian authorities to stop the outpour of vindictive threats against the citizens of Montenegro in light of their possible majority vote for independence. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) requests the government of Serbia to acknowledge unconditionally the responsibility of Serbia in the aggression, genocide and war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to immediately extradite to the Hague Tribunal all war crimes indictees. The truth must be publicly acknowledged and justice met before the courts not only as an act by which dignity will have been restored to all victims of war crimes, but also as the fulfillment of the need for Serbian society to deal with its own past. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands the Parliament of Serbia respect the laws it has adopted and to immediately appoint an Ombudsman and thus lay the foundation for the establishment of this institution. »»

BELGRADE - Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) demands from the Belgrade District Prosecutor the immediate initiation of legal proceedings against the editor-in-chief of the daily "Glas javnosti" and unknown persons who had published an ad in this daily, entitled "The Boycott", on March 16, 2006. »»

PRISTINE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights and the Center for Social Emancipation strongly condemn the violence against two Kosovo Albanian homosexuals, Mr. L.B and Mr. G.P. on the morning of December 31st, 2005 in Prishtina. Furthermore, we condemn the mistreatment of the victims by Kosovo Police Service (KPS) officers. »»

BELGRADE - The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) wishes to inform the public that the Security Information Agency (BIA) has filed a lawsuit aimed at annulling the Information Commissioner's request for the BIA to submit to the YIHR information on the number of persons who were under surveillance and wiretapped in 2005. YIHR additionally asked the Serbian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) to reveal the data on the number of BIA's wiretap requests, as well as the number of lawsuits initiated on the basis of its wiretapping activities. After MUP's refusal to submit the requested information, the YIHR filed a complaint to the Information Commissioner. On January 26th 2006 the Commissioner ordered the MUP to submit the requested information. The Ministry of the Interior is yet to effectuate the Commissioner's decision. »»

BELGRADE - YIHR calls on the Serbian authorities to stop threats The Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls on the representatives of the Serbian authorities to stop the outpour of vindictive threats against the citizens of Montenegro in light of their possible majority vote for independence. »»