The participants of the International Conference on the Status of Defenders of Human Rights on 9 October in Sarajevo most strongly condemn the attacks against Sonja Biserko, the chairwoman of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia. The representatives of human rights non-governmental organizations from 16 countries, members of the Human Rights House Network, express full solidarity with Sonja Biserko, as well as admiration for her courage and determination to advocate protection of human rights of every individual citizen. Over the past fifteen years, Biserko has been a part of the narrowest circle of those who had condemned the war-waging policy of Slobodan Milosevic, the crimes committed on the territory of former Yugoslavia, the malignity of Serb’s nationalism, but also all other nationalisms in the region.
Deeply concerned for safety of Sonja Biserko, reminding the State authorities about their duties stemming from the content of the UN Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, we request from the Serbian authorities to identify the perpetrators of the physical assault against Sonja Biserko, punish them accordingly and carry out their duty of guaranteeing safety for the citizens fighting for protection and promotion of human rights.
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