Time to Act | Page 41

OCTOBER JULY NOVEMBER Serbia Western Balkans Youth Initiative awarded for work Moot Court Grand Finale in Stras- against discrimination Civil Rights Defenders’ partner Youth Initiative for Human Rights was one of the recipients of the Annual Award for fighting discrimination, handed out by the Coalition Against Discrimination in Serbia. bourg Montenegro Anti-corruption activist included SEPTEMBER in Natalia Project Vanja Ćalović, Head of the organisation MANS that works on corruption issues in Montenegro, was included in the Natalia Project security system. Sweden Pussy Riot IN SWEDEN Pussy Riot take part in Almedalen, Sweden, an important political forum where human rights became a focus at the gathering in 2013. On 7–9 November the Trans-European Moot Court Grand Final took place in Strasbourg for the first time ever, between the winning teams from the Western Balkans and Scandinavia organised and supported by Civil Rights Defenders. Myanmar Burmese human rights lawyers inspired in Serbia Sweden Serbia Civil Rights Defenders organises a two-week study tour to Serbia for ten Burmese lawyers, to meet with our partner organisations that work in the field of legal aid. Tommie X raises money for Civil Photo competition challenges Rights Defenders work prejudices about Roma Serbia Tommie X rarely sits still, and under his leadership, the fashion brand Faggot Apparel was launched with the profits going to Civil Rights Defenders. Montenegro First Pride Parade in Podgorica a test of tolerance Civil Rights Defenders supports the first Pride Parade in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica which saw over 200 participants, dignitaries and representatives representatives attend the event. VICTORY IN THE STRUGGLE FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION Civil Rights Defenders welcomes the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, which clarifies conditions under which public authorities may limit or restrict the right to free access to information. Bosnia & Herzegovina Bosnia adopts trans-inclusive hate crime law Bosnia & Herzegovina’s House of Representatives adopts hate crime legislation that is inclusive of gender identity and sexual orientation. AUGUST Russia & Sweden LGBT issues in Russia in focus during Stockholm Pride During Stockholm Pride, Civil Rights Defenders, supported by the Swedish Institute, organises an exchange of experience between two groups of parents from Russia, the Swedish network Proud Parents lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children, and RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans­ gender Rights). Western Balkans New media and art as tools for human rights advocacy Sweden Civil Rights Defenders organised a five-day working conference in Przno, Montenegro entitled “Empowering people – ideas worth spreading“. The goal of the conference was to increase the participants’ capacities in using media and technology as well as art in their advocacy work. UN supports Civil Rights Defenders’ criticism of the Swedish Government After reviewing Sweden’s reports regarding strategies against racism, discrimination and hate crimes the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination continue to criticise the Swedish governments work in preventing racism and hate crimes. Sweden Civil Rights Defenders among the Civil Rights Defenders organised a photo competition concerning life conditions of the Roma population in Serbia. The competition called “Under the Same Roof” aims to demonstrate to all Serbian citizens that they share the same future, regardless of nationality or ethnicity. CAMBODIA Cambodian Supreme Court must free housing rights activist Yorm Bopha. Civil Rights Defenders continues its advocacy efforts to have Cambodia housing rights activist freed from incarceration on trumped up charges. Sweden/All Regions Gold and silver to the Civil Rights Captcha Civil Rights Defenders won gold and silver with the campaign “Civil Rights Captcha”. The gold was in the category “Campaign of the year in social media”, and the silver in the category “Mass media campaign of the year”. DECEMBER most influential in the aid debate According to a list published in the Swedish magazine Omvärlden, Robert Hårdh, Executive Director of Civil Rights Defenders, holds 12th place in the list of Sweden’s most influential persons in the debate on aid and development cooperation. Sweden/All Regions Civil Rights Defenders awarded in Albania Eurobest Second Albanian LGBT activist Eurobest is the leading communications contest in Europe and Civil Rights Defenders was awarded for the Captcha, in the categories Public Relations an [