This also marks the start of new projects aimed at improving the rule of law and human rights in different parts of Serbia. The participating organizations and groups presented their projects, planned activities and target audiences.
Planned activities include public advocacy campaigns, trainings and workshops in local communities, awareness‑raising and citizen engagement actions, research and monitoring of the situation regarding human and minority rights, as well as media projects that promote ethical and investigative journalism. The selected projects also involve marginalized groups and promote gender equality, with a clear potential for sustainability and long‑term impact in the community. This grant‑making cycle is part of a wider project through which a total of 30 associations and informal groups across Serbia will be supported.
Grants have been awarded to the following organizations and informal groups, with projects that cover a wide range of approaches to the rule of law – from engaged art and media to public health, gender equality and minority rights:
Donorship Is Heroism
The association Donorship Is Heroism focuses on patients waiting for organ transplantation and, through its project, will address the problems related to transplant waiting lists, analyze the existing legislative framework and draft public policy proposals, along with public advocacy for improving regulations and practices in this area. The goal of the project is a more transparent, fair and efficient transplantation system that respects patients’ rights.
Public Health Association of Serbia
The project of the Public Health Association of Serbia focuses on research and public advocacy in the field of reproductive health rights of women with disabilities. Through data collection, analysis, cooperation with institutions and awareness‑raising campaigns, the Association seeks to improve access to services and ensure that the needs of women with disabilities are systematically taken into account.
Committee for Human Rights
The Committee for Human Rights from Bujanovac will, through its project, address the issue of the “passivization” of addresses, which affects the Albanian community in Serbia. The organization will work on informing citizens about their rights, documenting the consequences of passivization, and advocating for systemic solutions that guarantee access to rights and public services for all affected individuals.
FemIn Collective
The FemIn Collective from Požarevac will implement a project dedicated to menstrual justice, which includes research and analysis of the availability and affordability of menstrual products, as well as public campaigns and advocacy activities. The aim is to reduce menstrual poverty and improve public policies related to the health and dignity of girls and women.
Youth Volunteers Association
The project of the Youth Volunteers Association focuses on combating antigypsyism as one of the pressing issues affecting the Roma community. Through educational programmes, public events and cooperation with local stakeholders, the initiative aims to identify, document and challenge discriminatory practices against Roma women and men, and to encourage more active participation of the Roma community in public life.
Baza aktivističke zajednice – SviĆe
The Baza aktivističke zajednice – SviĆe (Activist Community Hub – SviĆe) is dedicated to developing activism and will produce a film about repression against marginalized groups during student protests. Through engaged art, documenting personal experiences and public screenings, the project creates space for broader discussion on the use of repression, solidarity and the right to protest.
Blokada INFO
The informal group Blokada INFO is a student editorial team bringing together young journalism students. Their project “Voice of Youth” is aimed at empowering young people and marginalized groups by creating a safe and independent media space for reporting on their views, increasing participation in public debate, strengthening critical thinking and promoting human rights. In this way, the project will contribute to building an open, democratic and pluralistic society in which the media serve as a tool for community empowerment.
Citizens’ Association KOLEKTIV PLUS
The Niš‑based association Kolektiv Plus is dedicated to advancing human rights, equality, and the visibility and dignity of LGBTIQ+ persons. With this support, it will produce a film on the development of LGBTQI+ identities in southeastern Serbia, accompanied by an exhibition and public presentations of personal stories. The project brings visibility to the experiences of LGBTQI+ people in local communities, fosters empathy and contributes to the fight against homophobia and discrimination.
Democratic Institute Mosaic
The Preševo‑based Democratic Institute Mosaic, founded to promote the development of an inclusive society in the Preševo Valley, will focus in its project on improving the rights of the Albanian national minority in Serbia. Through research, monitoring, public debates and cooperation with local institutions, the project aims to strengthen the participation of minority members in decision‑making and to improve the implementation of existing laws and minority rights.
Freedom or Nothing
The informal group Freedom or Nothing will carry out an engaged art project by producing a film dealing with the themes of freedom, resistance and social injustice. Through creative work and public screenings, the initiative seeks to encourage citizens to critically reflect on the state of human rights and to actively participate in social change.
We thank all organizations and groups that submitted project proposals and congratulate the grant recipients. We look forward to our cooperation and to the results their projects will bring in the field of the rule of law and human rights.
This webpage was created and is maintained with the financial assistance of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the project contractor, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, and partner organizations YIHR, CHRIN, LINK, Livrit, VCC and CAP, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. The activity is carried out within the project “RIGHTS FIRST”.
