Human Rights

To date, ISC has funded 86 projects related to human rights issues. Part of working for the improvement of human rights in Serbia requires combating the long standing hostility on the part of many Serbians toward human rights NGOs due to propaganda campaigns in earlier periods of unrest. ISC is working to change public views on civil society organizations by connecting CSOs with business and government, and exposing their work to the public.

Among ISC's activities on human rights, we supported our partner Civic Initiatives' work on changing the Law on Associations. CI has been working with other NGOs, and with the government to edit and pass the draft Law. The Law on Associations is of vital importance to Serbian civil society because it will regulate the work of every NGO in Serbia, including a range of human rights organizations. Thus, CI has acted to ensure that the draft Law presented to parliament is structured to provide the best benefit to the civil society sector. CI continues to collaborate with the government to expedite the law's passage.

ISC continues to fund a range of other NGOs working to improve human rights. Many of these organizations advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups in society including women, children, ethnic minorities, LGBT people, and people with disabilities.