Every November 25th marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Although the phrase "against" has long been in use, I prefer the word "towards," because, perhaps illusorily, it evokes an image of equality. I choose to believe that it is possible to escape violence and that society is ready to shed the shackles of imposed patriarchal values and step toward equality for all members of our society.
The Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) has made a decision stating, without further explanation, that there is "no basis for initiating proceedings ex officio" against TV B92 following a complaint by the Youth Initiative concerning the coverage of the “Mirëdita, Dobar Dan!” festival. We believe that this decision by REM directly encourages and incentivizes electronic media to engage in reporting that incites hatred and promotes hostility, by establishing a principle of absolute irresponsibility that leads to a reduction in freedoms, rather than their enhancement.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights invites you to apply by the end of the month for a training on human rights and reconciliation, with a special focus on preventing hate speech and dominant ethnonationalist narratives in Serbia.
We demand that the authorities put an end to the repression against citizens, activists, and opposition figures who are seeking criminal accountability for the deaths of 15 citizens following the roof collapse at the Railway Station in Novi Sad.
Tolerance – a word often invoked as a moral ideal, a value we are told we should cherish. But what does it really mean when we say “tolerance”? Does anyone truly want to be tolerated? Imagine someone telling you, “I tolerate you.” Does that sound like acceptance, respect, or genuine appreciation? Hardly. Tolerance isn’t a sign that we are truly seen; on the contrary, it draws a line, a distance between us.
