Civil society organizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia, gathered around Amplifying Voices platform, join together to mark the 19th of June, the International Day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict. Today, we gather with a shared commitment to combating this horrific crime and advocating for change.
On the occasion of the arrest of journalist, activist, director and lawyer, Boško Savković, who was ordered detention for up to 30 days for the criminal offense of calling for a violent change of the constitutional order, we, the undersigned organizations, whose goal is to protect the rule of law and human rights, alarm the domestic and international public of this organized intimidation of citizens and gross violation of freedom of expression by the highest Serbian state authorities.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights - Serbia (YIHR Serbia) calls the President of the Republic of Serbia and the members of the Government not to approach peace in such a delicate situation as if it were established by simply using the word peace in light of the escalating gravity of the situation in the north of Kosovo. Actions and responsible public discourse that prevents the escalation of ethnic hatred is the foundation of a lasting peace. In order to prevent the situation in the northern part of Kosovo from turning violent again, we request that the President of the Republic speak with representatives of the Kosovo Serbs.
During the “A Step Closer to Peace” program, young people from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina had a chance to learn about the past of the city of Tuzla, with a focus on the Tuzla massacre, as well as honour the victims and send a message of peace and readiness to work on building a society where crimes like this won't ever happen again. Furthermore, as part of the program, which lasted from the 24th until the 27th of May, participants had the opportunity to talk to youth, peace and LGBTQ+ activists from Tuzla.
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia is concerned about the statement made by Aleksandra Djurovic, Ambassador of Serbia to the Council of Europe (CoE), at the organization's 4th Summit on May 17, in which she pointed out that "Serbia is in a situation to consider the further meaning and modality of its membership in this organization, by the decision to start the procedure for Kosovo's membership." Such announcements by government officials pose an additional risk to Serbia's deeply breached human rights protection commitments.
