Migration, although one of the key topics for the European Union, was not adequately represented in the pre-election campaign in Croatia. That is why the Center for Peace Studies, ahead of the EU Parliament elections, decided to organize the panel discussion Europe and Migration: Where do we draw the line?. Centre for Peace Studies invited representatives of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who today, on May 20th in Zagreb, presented their insights on the relations of the EU member states towards migration.
Centre for Peace Studies invites you to join us on Monday, May 20th, 2019 at 10:00am at HUB365, Petračićeva 6, in Zagreb, for the public panel: „Europe and Migration: Where do we draw the (border) line?“ where local and international experts will present and discuss the current migration situation, as well as the expectations that decision-makers at the local and European Union levels bring to an end the current human rights abuses, prevent the occurence of future abuses, and respect the rule of law. Candidates for the upcoming European parliamentary elections have been invited to the panel.
Although the HDZ’s Members of European Parliament recently supported Orban in the European Parliament, the Prime Minister Plenković should insist on condemning the Hungarian human rights violations during the today’s meeting with Prime Minister Orban in Zagreb – this is the joint message by civil society organisations: Human Rights House Zagreb, Center for Peace Studies, Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity - CROSOL, GONG and the Welcome! Initiative.
The Danube Compass Platform was presented in Zagreb, Croatia on November 21st to help migrants find their way to economic and social integration in the society to which they have arrived. The Danube Compass covers all major aspects of living: housing, employment, learning the local language, education, health, and everyday life, offering an overview of all the important rights and opportunities depending on the national context of the host country. The platform currently offers information for Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovaki, Hungary and Serbia.
On behalf of the Centre for Peace Studies and the Welcome Initiative, we would like to express our concerns regarding German Chancellor Angela Merkel's praise of Croatia three days ago at the press conference in Berlin, after her meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, which was also highlighted on the German government website.
Commonfare.net is pleased to announce our first Call for Common Stories! Share your ideas of what a „good“ society means to you, and if your story is selected, Commonfare will send you to the amazing Santarcangelo Festival in Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy from July 12th to 15th, 2018 as a Commonfare.net blogger. Commonfare will cover the expenses of travel, accommodation and provide a daily allowance for you to enjoy the Festival to the fullest.
The civil society organizations Are you Syrious (AYS)?, Centre for Peace Studies, and lawyers Sanja Bezbradica Jelavic and Ivo Jelavic held a press conference on Apr 18 and warned about the pressure that the Croatian Ministry of Interior puts on the attorney's office that protects refugees, as well as against the activists of organizations providing legal and humanitarian protection to refugees.
Today, the European Court of Human Rights sent an urgent notification of their decision on an interim measure requiring the Croatian Ministry of Interior to immediately place Madina’s family in an environment where the family will not be exposed to inhumane or degrading treatment. The Court also emphasizes that they are convinced that Croatia will not deport the family to Serbia or Afghanistan until they have answered the questions submitted by the Court.
This paper is designed to inform EU decision-makers about the increasing restrictions facing independent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the EU. NGOs are vital to the proper functioning of healthy, rights-respecting democracies operating under the rule of law. Yet the practices, laws and policies of national authorities and sometimes the EU itself are hampering the ability of these organisations to operate – often this is indeed the express aim of national governments. This paper will begin by explaining the role that NGOs play in facilitating democratic participation, upholding the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights. It will then outline the principal obstacles facing NGOs before putting forward recommendations directed at the EU institutions that would allow the EU to preserve the freedoms that NGOs require to perform their tasks and facilitate their development.
