The Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection officially welcomed new members to the organization during the Coalition’s Annual Meeting in Sarajevo in February 2023, namely the Pomak Association in Croatia, FaceUp in Czech Republic, Centre for the Development of Youth Activism (CROA) and Association Baby Steps in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Civic Alliance in Montenegro, Belgrade Center for Security Policy and Bureau for Social Research in Serbia.
The Croatian Organization for the Promotion of Good Governance and Work “Pomak,” which was established in January of 2022, is dedicated to aiding whistleblowers by providing legal guidance and emotional support. The primary goal is to collaborate with all relevant parties who can assist in the protection and advancement of whistleblowers’ rights within society. The Association aims to secure both present and future whistleblowers against any form of irregularity or danger posed by their actions while also ensuring their financial stability.
Jan, David, and Pavel founded FaceUp in the Czech Republic after witnessing bullying during their primary school years. Although they felt uneasy about being bystanders to these situations, they were hesitant to speak up. They later developed a web and mobile app at age 17 that allows children facing similar circumstances to anonymously report instances of bullying or any other struggles directly to trusted teachers within their schools. As of 2020, numerous companies have approached them requesting a comparable platform for ensuring compliance with regulations, whistleblowing procedures as well as promoting an environment conducive for workplace safety which led the creators to add various features suited towards corporate environments. Today thousands of organizations across four continents rely on FaceUp’s services.
The Centre for the Development of Youth Activism (CROA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina is dedicated to strengthening and engaging young individuals across the nation in civil society. The organization’s focus areas include civil activism, volunteerism, combatting corruption within education systems, preventing peer violence, promoting media literacy and access to information, as well as advocating for ecological sustainability and energy efficiency.
The Association “BABY STEPS” in Bosnia and Herzegovina strives to promote positive societal changes that enhance the welfare of children, parents, future parents, and families. The organization provides information, aims to educate, identify prevailing issues and suggest viable solutions. The primary focus is on protecting women’s labor rights against obstetric violence and corruption rampant in maternity hospitals.
The Civic Alliance in Montenegro has been aiding citizens for nearly a decade by advocating for their civil and human rights. This is due to the complex nature of transitional changes within Montenegrin public administration and judicial systems, which have resulted in inefficient procedures, poor transparency, and accountability towards ordinary citizens who are meant to benefit from such services. The organization aims to help overcome issues related to inadequate institutional cooperation, improper interpretation of legal norms as well as negligence on part of individual civil servants.
Belgrade Center for Security Policy has increasingly focused on the field of human security over the past three years. The organization’s decision to prioritize this area was influenced by a concerning decline in the position of human rights defenders and whistleblowers, who have faced increased pressure and attacks. Due to inadequate implementation of existing laws protecting whistleblowers, their situation is particularly precarious. BCSP has established a Civil Committee dedicated to supporting these individuals with practical and legal assistance. In light of Serbia’s authoritarianism and lack of respect for human rights, BCSP has decided not only to advocate publicly but also launch networking initiatives at national, regional, and global levels with organizations dealing with these problems.
A team of sociologists founded the Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) in 2005 with the aim to utilize sociological science to produce and evaluate social transformations. Since its inception, BIRODI has carried out various supervisory procedures such as monitoring policies, elections and media. The Center also formulated an Annual Report that scrutinizes how Local anti-corruption plans are being implemented by local authorities where BIRODI took charge in initiating their creation. In addition, BIRODI created a social network called www.integrist.net and a portal known as www.tvojstav.com for research purposes and discussions related to integrity development.
