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Human Rights Houses in Belgrade, Banja Luka, and Zagreb, along with the Sarajevo Open Center – united in a Regional Network – strongly condemn yesterday’s armed police intrusion into the premises of member organisations of the Human Rights House Belgrade, conducted without a proper court order.

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.

Sara Kekuš is a human rights defender from Croatia. She works at the Centre for Peace Studies, a member organisation of Human Rights House Zagreb, as a Programme Director and Coordinator of the Protecting and Promoting the Right to Asylum and Migration Programme.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After several years of unprecedented global events, the Network of Human Rights Houses convened in Warsaw from 20-24 November for the first in-person Network meeting since 2019. Colleagues from 28 CSOs from 12 countries reconnected to discuss successes, common challenges, and emerging human rights trends. Together, the Network welcomed its newest member, Human Rights House Banja Luka.