{"id":8729,"date":"2019-08-16T11:57:02","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T09:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gradjanske.org\/?p=8729"},"modified":"2019-08-29T11:44:24","modified_gmt":"2019-08-29T09:44:24","slug":"three-freedoms-under-the-magnifying-glass-1-15-august-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gradjanske.org\/en\/three-freedoms-under-the-magnifying-glass-1-15-august-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Three freedoms under the magnifying glass: 1-15 August, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Belgrade, 16 August, 2019 –\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Review of violations of freedom of association, assembly and expression in Serbia<\/h2>\n

1-15 August, 2019<\/h2>\n

Association. Assembly. Expression.<\/p>\n

These three freedoms must be guaranteed to all. These three freedoms form the basis of civil society. No country can call itself democratic without guaranteeing these rights.<\/p>\n

These freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia. Practice, however, shows the opposite. We are witnessing more and more frequent attacks on associations, activists and the free media. The space in which they operate is increasingly narrowed as the number of attacks, threats, intimidation and insults increases.<\/p>\n

Following the publication of the summary account<\/a> of violations of these rights in Serbia from March to July, last week, we are now presenting key cases of violations of freedom of assembly, association and expression in Serbia from August 1-15, 2019.<\/p>\n

We believe that regularly collecting and publishing cases of violation of these rights can help to raise the visibility of this trend that is growing rapidly and draw attention to the seriousness of the problems we face.<\/p>\n

In March this year Serbia was placed on the CIVICUS Monitor Watch List as a country where these freedoms are seriously threatened.<\/p>\n

* Civic Initiatives as a partner of CIVICUS Monitor for Serbia send bi-weekly reports in English since August 2018.\u00a0 Learn more about the CIVICUS Monitor here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Representatives of 20 civil society organisations signed in Belgrade the Three Freedoms Platform<\/a><\/em> for the Protection of Civic Space in the Republic of Serbia, in order to protect and promote the freedom of association, assembly and information.The Platform is intended to act as a joint block of civil society organizations (associations, professional organizations, foundations, endowments, and other forms of associations including informal groups of citizens) to stand for the protection of endangered freedoms and create conditions for unhindered participation of citizens in public affairs through civil society <\/em>development.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n