The Balkans is among the most difficult regions in Europe to be an activist, an independent journalist or a dissenter. Newspaper pages in Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia and other emerging democracies routinely are filled with reports of harassment, funding cuts, lawsuits, prosecutions, threats and occasionally violence against government watchdogs and critics.
The civic space in Southeast Europe is narrowing due to a range of worrying factors, a new report released in July finds. Throughout the region last year, severe restrictions were imposed on freedom of assembly and expression, public funding and project opportunities were cut, and very few legal changes were introduced to improve the enabling environment for NGOs. Groups were not properly engaged in the COVID-19 response, the report concluded, and a lack of tax incentives continues to deter companies and people from donating to civil society organizations.
Along with insecurity and fear, such a landscape also nurtures solidarity and strength. These are the hallmarks of activism and independent journalism in the region, and they are the driving motivation of the Balkan Civil Society Development Network. Founded in 2001, the Network is a leading capacity-builder of NGOs in a place where activists think regionally and act locally.
One of the Network’s leaders is Ana Novaković, the long-time executive director of one of Montenegro’s oldest and most influential NGOs, the Center for Development of Non-Governmental Organisations...
Read Full Story: https://whistleblowersblog.org/global-whistleblowers/solidarity-and-strength-balkan-ngos-flex-their-muscles/
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