Recent meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.
Mission & Goals
The Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) aims to contribute to the building of lasting peace and rule of law at the national, regional, and international levels through the holistic approach to designing and implementing comprehensive programmes related to transitional justice, democratisation, and human rights. Furthermore, YIHR is reinforcing youth take-change involvement in opposing nationalism and similar rightist politics that affect especially youth, women, minorities and LGBTIQ+ population, thus contributing to the building of democratic institutions and free social space. YIHR pursues the creation of an inclusive social atmosphere where peace, freedoms, and human rights of all individuals are its guiding principles. To impose these ultimate values, the YIHR informs and educates young people in Serbia about the war past and advocates for accountability fostering good-neighbourly relations between ex-Yugoslav and European countries.
EU Legislative Interests
EU Enlargement Policy / Accession Negotiations with Serbia (especially Chapters 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security, and 35 – Normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo) EU Rule of Law Framework EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020–2027 Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027 EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 European Democracy Action Plan EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020–2025 Council Conclusions and EU policies on Transitional Justice, Reconciliation and Regional Cooperation in the Western Balkans EU policies concerning civil society participation, media freedom and protection of civic space in candidate countries EU-facilitated Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue framework and related policies on regional stabilisation and reconciliation
Communication Activities
YIHR Serbia has engaged with EU institutions through meetings, consultations, policy briefings, written contributions and participation in public events related to EU enlargement, rule of law, human rights, transitional justice, youth participation and regional reconciliation in the Western Balkans. Outreach activities have included: -exchanges with representatives of the European Commission, particularly DG NEAR and EU Delegations in Serbia and the Western Balkans; -participation in consultations and civil society dialogues connected to Serbia’s EU accession process and IPA programming; -contributions to monitoring and reporting on Chapters 23 and 24, rule of law reforms, human rights and civic space; -engagement with Members of the European Parliament and parliamentary delegations on democracy, reconciliation and regional cooperation issues; -participation in conferences, roundtables and stakeholder meetings organised by EU institutions and partner organisations; -submission of analyses, recommendations and policy papers concerning transitional justice, youth policy, anti-discrimination, media freedom and regional cooperation; -cooperation within regional civil society networks advocating for accountability, reconciliation and democratic reforms in the Western Balkans.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
As one of the leading human rights organisations, YIHR associates and builds partnerships with other organisations, groups and individuals. With a trend of fast evolving threats deriving from digital space, YIHR extended its networking capacities by joining European Peacebuilding Liaison Office - EPLO, South-East Europe Digital Rights Network and Coalition for Privacy Rights. YIHR is a member of all notable civil society coalitions: Coalition for RECOM, National Convention for the EU, Civil Society Forum of the Berlin Process, Belgrade Pride Organisational Committee, and Coalition for Access to Justice on national level, but also globally members of European Grassroots Anti-Racism Movement (EGAM) and Coalition for the ICC.
Organisation Members
YIHR function as a regional network with offices in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Croatia.