Full Coverage: South East Europe

31.05.2005 The “Women and Society” centre from Sarajevo strongly condemned the decision by the State Electoral Commission to fill its ranks not through a public competition, but that the members should be appointed by the Parliament. At the same time, the Centre reminded at the appalling gender misballance in the Commission and demanded that it is repaired .

31.05.2005 On the initiative started by Zelena Istra in December 2004, the Inspectorate of Urban Planning of Pula, Istria, annulled two location permits for construction of buildings in the most beautiful recreation zone of Pula Riviera.

31.05.2005 Thirteen years after the deportations of tens of B&H refugees from Herzeg Novi back into war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Humanitarian Law Centre and the Group for Changes NGOs demanded that the authorities start investigation of the perpetrators and persons who ordered this crime against humanity.

31.05.2005 The Group 484 released its Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation of Forced Migrants in Serbia and Montenegro for 2004.

31.05.2005 If the Government of B&H Federation and the Middle-Bosnian Canton fail to pay their share of the funds necessary to cover the costs of meals and accommodation by June 1, 500 students at the Sarajevo student dormitories will be forced to start a hunger-strike.

30.05.2005 A group of Non-Governmental Organizations from Belgrade submitted an initiative to the Skupstina of the Republic of Serbia (the Parliament) to adopt a Declaration on Srebrenica.

30.05.2005 The Initiative Board for Students’ Rights, made of representatives of students from all student dormitories in Skopje starts an initiative for a review of the work and operation of Tenants Councils. The announcement was made at the press conference, held today in Skopje, at the NGO InfoCentre.

30.05.2005 Human rights are universal and they belong to everyone”, said Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Adem Salihaj, during his opening speech of the workshop “Drafting of the Strategy for Human Rights in Kosovo”, on Friday in the premises of Hotel “Grand” in Prishtina.

30.05.2005 The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in partnership with local organizations from the involved countries, has been implementing the programme for conservation of the natural wealth of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastlines for several years.

30.05.2005 The associations of persons with disabilities support the new Book of Rules and Regulations on the use of accessibility sign. The new Rulebook states that the disabled persons that don’t suffer from disabling conditions on their lower extremities, or have suffered less than 70 percent damage to their legs, won’t be able to use the parking slots reserved for vehicles driven by disabled persons.

30.05.2005 A survey, conducted by UK Department of International Development DFID for the needs of the B&H Council of Ministers, shows that the level of poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina is falling down, but nonetheless, 17.8 percent of the population still lives in poverty.

29.05.2005 Several non-governmental organizations and political parties announced an initiative with the Skupstina (Serbian Parliament) for an adoption of a Declaration on Srebrenica.

27.05.2005 The majority of persons tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Croatian Courts were Croatian Serbs, and Croatian judiciary continues to discriminate on ethnic principle in the investigation and prosecution orf war-time violations of human rights, states the latest Amnesty International Report 2004, presented last Wednesday in Zagreb.

27.05.2005 Zdruzenijata na invalidi go poddrzuvaat noviot Pravilnik za znakot na pistap. Noviot pravilnik veli deka licata so invaliditet, koi nemaat ostetuvanje na dolnite ekstremiteti ili ostetuvanjeto na dolnite ekstremiteti im e pomalo od 70 otsto poveke nema da mozat so svoite avtomobili da se parkiraat na mestoto rezervirano za invalidi.

27.05.2005 In 2004, the widely established practice of non-prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the 1992-1995 War continued Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the conclusion of the Annual Report on Global Human Rights, prepared by Amnesty International.

27.05.2005 The OSCE Special Representative on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Helga Konrad, today called for a review of the mechanisms for combating human trafficking.

27.05.2005 Vulkan është një revistë e shtypur dhe online dedikuar njerëzve me aftësi të kufizuara në Maqedoni. Revista botohet nga organizata PolioPlus Lëvizja Kundër Paaftësisë . Vullkan botohet çdo dy muaj dhe mbulon të gjitha çështjet me rëndësi për PAK në Maqedoni

27.05.2005 Vulkan is a print and online magazine dedicated to persons with special needs in Macedonia. The magazine is published by PolioPlus Movement Against Disability organization. Vulkan is published bi-monthly and covers all issues of importance to persons with special needs in Macedonia.

27.05.2005 Gjendja e personave me aftësi të kufizuar në Bosnje Hercegovinë po degjeneron dita ditës. Legjislacioni i adoptuar për përmirësimin e gjendjes se tyre nuk është i dukshëm, këto persona nuk janë të aftë për të gjetur punë, arsimimi i tyre i vështirë... nga ana tjetër nuk ka sanksione për shkeljet e dhunshme të të drejtave të njeriut. Ne diskutuam mbi kushtet e jetesës dhe problemet e tyre me personat me aftësi të kufizuar, me Nada Jovanivic, presidente e Shoqatës së Personave Distrofike nga Doboji.

27.05.2005 The status of persons with special needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina deteriorates with every passing day. The legislation adopted to improve their status are not observed, the disabled persons can't get a job, their education is hard... The state, on the other hand, doesn't sanction such violations of human rights. We discussed the living conditions and problems met by persons with special needs with Nada Jovanovic, the President of the Association of Dystrophic Persons from Doboj.