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Advocating for increased support for civil society, and marking 30 years of the Network of Human Rights Houses
From October 7-11, 2024, 15 human rights defenders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine gathered for a week of advocacy as a part of the Network of Human Rights Houses’ 30th anniversary celebrations. Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) and Network partners aimed to deepen engagement with Norwegian policymakers and raise awareness of critical human rights challenges across the region, emphasising the need for increased political and financial support from Norway for civil society.
Portraits of Strength 3rd Edition: Dragana Dardić, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dragana Dardić is a human rights defender from Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is currently a Program Director at Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, member organisation of Human Rights House Banja Luka. In her work, Dardić focuses on women’s rights, the rights of marginalised groups, and the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.
Highlighting rising authoritarianism – Our work at HRC56
At the 56th UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) worked alongside civil society partners to highlight the situation for human rights in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans.
Authorities in Georgia & Republika Srpska must irrevocably withdraw legislation threatening to stifle independent civil society
Human Rights House Foundation and members of the Network of Human Rights Houses urge the Parliament of Georgia and the National Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska to drop proposed “Foreign agent” legislation that can damage civil society and media irreversibly, to respect international obligations undertaken by their states under Council of Europe and the UN instruments, and to uphold fundamental freedoms underpinning free and independent civil society.
Regional Network of Human Rights Houses launched in the Balkans
On 19 March 2024, a new Regional Network of Human Rights Houses was launched by Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade, Zagreb and the Sarajevo Open Centre. The group also launched their first Regional Report on the situation of human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.
HRHF Annual Report 2023
The human rights situation across the regions where Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) works was further influenced by military conflict and crackdown against independent civil society. Despite this, we continued to work closely with the Network of Human Rights Houses to protect and advance human rights. Read our 2023 Annual Report.
Launch: The Regional Network of Human Rights Houses
On 19 March, Human Rights Houses Banja Luka, Belgrade, Zagreb and the Sarajevo Open Centre will launch the Regional Network of Human Rights Houses, as well as present a regional report on the situation of human rights defenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.
Human rights in Republika Srpska are at a “crucial point”
Authorities in Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, aim to introduce Russian-style “foreign-agent” legislation, amidst an alarming deterioration in the situation for human rights in the region. In this interview with HRHF, human rights defender Tanja Boromisa, discusses what these developments mean for Republika Srpska, the wider region, and more.
Why we continue to defend human rights
Ahead of International Human Rights Day 2023, HRHF has spoken to several human rights defenders from around the Network of Human Rights Houses to ask them about the state of human rights in their countries and why they find it important to continue their work.