Civic Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Whistleblowers

Due to increased number of pressures and attacks against human rights defenders (particularly via the Internet and social medial channels), as well as due to high number of pressures, threats and repercussions that (potential) whistleblowers have been facing with, the special body was created in order to protect this group of activists. Through the activities of the Civic Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Whistleblowers (acting upon the reports by endangered activist, educational and advocacy activities), the goal of the project is providing direct help to those who need it, with particular focus on digital security of activists and whistleblowers. Another goal is raising awareness and knowledge among human rights defenders’ groups in order for them to be encouraged to report corruptive and other criminal acts in public and state institutions, security sector. Finally, as the result of these activities, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy expects that human rights defenders and whistleblowers get the knowledge of mechanisms of protection in the case of pressures and attacks. Another expected result is the increased number of actors (lawyers, journalists) who would be enabled to act on their own in case they face pressures and attacks against human rights defenders.

The project is supported by the Open Society Foundation, Serbia. The activities of the project is the responsibility of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.