October 2011

- 20 - 21 October, 2011, Vinkovci: Representatives of Centre for Peace – Vukovar, Ms. Milena Babić and Ms. Milica Mutić, attended the workshop „Public Policies – Suppression of Discrimination“. The workshop was organized as one of the activities of the project „Equality Scan“, implemented by Croatian Institute for Local Government in partnership with Vukovar-Srijem County. The objective of this project is to increase the effectiveness of the Croatian civil society organizations (CSOs) in an independent monitoring of anti-discrimination policies through strengthening their administrative and managerial skills and enhancing cooperation between CSOs dealing with monitoring of policies concerned with national minorities in Vukovar-Srijem County and the regional authority. During the workshop the participants were acquainted with the main concepts and context of public policies creation including public policy objectives, stakeholders, policy brief, policy paper, monitoring, public policy evaluation, and analysis of public policy influence (ex-ante and ex-post). Besides, an overview of the Croatian public policies related to suppression of discrimination was made as well as the importance and role of civil society organizations in public policy creation emphasized. In line with the needs expressed, during the training the participants defined possible public policy priorities and shaped the plans for their further work on creation and influencing public policies. Since this training is the first of four within the planed education series for civil society organizations, in the incoming months representatives of Centre for Peace – Vukovar will participate in other trainings, which will during the course of several months be organized in other cities of Vukovar-Srijem County – Vukovar, Ilok and Županja.

- 5 October 2011, Vukovar – President of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, Mrs. Ankica Mikić attended the meeting as part of the study visit of a circle of friends of Heinrich Böll Stiftung. The aim of the visit was for the participants to get an insight into the operation of the Foundation in Sarajevo, Belgrade and Zagreb, and through thematic meetings and discussions with politicians and project partners get familiar with the political situation in all three countries and discover the political, cultural, and geographic contrasts of the region. Mrs. Mikic familiarized participants with the work of the Center for Peace – Vukovar in Vukovar and the surrounding region, the projects implemented as well as the local economic and political situation.

September 2011

- 30 September – 2 October 2011, Vukovar - Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Branislav Tekić attended the opening, while Ms. Ivana Juričević participated in the International Regional Conference "Towards intersectoral cooperation and networking in the music sector", which took place from 30 September – 2 October 2011 in Vukovar. The conference was organized by Youth Peace Group Danube - Vukovar within the framework of the project "Music Without Borders", implemented in partnership with Kultur Aktiv from Dresden (Germany), Generator from Vranje (Serbia) and Taksirat, Skopje (Macedonia), which is funded by the EU through the IPA Regional Programme. The aim of the project and the conference was to bring together stakeholders who are engaged in music, in order to promote culture and art in multi-ethnic communities of the Balkans and to initiate new intra-regional and inter-regional partnerships between organizations and stakeholders involved in the culture in the Balkans and the EU. Conference participants were NGO activists, representatives of institutions, young musicians and promoters from Germany, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, and experts from the broader region active in organization and implementation of cultural events in Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- 27 September 2011, Osijek – A representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Drago Pepić participated in the roundtable "The Fight against Corruption at local level", organized by Croatian Ministry of Justice under the auspices of the Delegation of the European Union within the project " "Strengthening the Inter-Agency Cooperation in the Fight against Corruption-Raising Awareness Campaign". Roundtable was attended by representatives of local (regional) self-governments, political parties, judiciary, police, academics, NGOs and the media and discussed the causes, manifestations, incidence and consequences of corruption and ways to prevent corruption at local level.

- 21 September 2011, Zagreb – Representative of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, Mrs. Danka Katanić, attended the seminar of association - beneficiaries of the institutional support of the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, titled "The legal, financial and tax aspects of NGO businesses." Topics of the seminar were an overview of relevant legal obligations of persons responsible for representing associations as well as examples of financial and tax regulations in non-profit organizations.

- 15 September 2011, Vukovar – Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance - Vukovar joined the initiative of civil society organizations to open a public hearing regarding the final draft of the new Law on the Ombudsman, as a key law regulating the system of human rights in Croatia. Public hearing is to contribute to the transparency of state institutions in the decision-making processes and, in accordance with the Code of Positive Practice on Consultation with Interested Public on Public Policy Making, include civil society, the profession, institutions in the system of protection of human rights and other interested public in decision-making process in order to strengthen the role of the Ombudsman in the Republic of Croatia.

- 7, 8 and 9 September 2011, Donja Stubica – Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Branislav Tekić participated in the educational workshop "Monitoring and evaluation of public policies" within the framework of the project "The Initiative of Civil Society Organizations for Changes in Anti-Discrimination Policies", financed by the EC under the IPA 2008 "Strengthening the capacity and the role of civil society organizations monitoring the EU acquis communautaire in the field of comprehensive anti-discriminatory strategies". The project is implemented by the Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance - Vukovar, Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - Osijek and Serbian Democratic Forum (SDF). Topics of this workshop were achievements / deficiencies in current monitoring and advocating for public policies, monitoring methods and indicators, analysis and interpretation of data, formatting the findings and drafting recommendations, design and communication of the final report for the purpose of advocacy, as well as strengthening analytical capacity of civil society and the production of profiled reports on which to base future advocacy activities.

August 2011

- 31 August 2011, Kovačica (Serbia) – Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Branislav Tekić attended the second meeting of the project “Development of the Civil Society Network in the Western Balkans region“. A document entitled “Review of the decision of the government of the Republic of Croatia on the purchase of apartments within and outside Areas of Special State Concern” was presented during the meeting and preparatory activities were conducted for the upcoming launch of the document “Access to free legal assistance for displaced persons in the Western Balkans" in the Serbian Assembly in October 2011. The meeting was organized within the framework of the regional project Support to civil society in finding durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in the Western Balkans, implemented by the Group 484 from Belgrade with the support of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Serbia.

- 30 August 2011, Vukovar: Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Drago Pepić attended the presentation of the "Scanning equality", implemented by the Croatian Institute for Local Self-Government together with Vukovar-Sirmium County. The aim of the project is to increase the effectiveness of civil society organizations in independent monitoring of anti-discrimination policies by strengthening their administrative and management skills and strengthening cooperation between civil society organizations involved in monitoring public policies related to national minorities in the Vukovar-Sirmium County and units of the regional self-government.

July 2011

- 21 July, 2011, Vukovar – President of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, Mrs. Ankica Mikić met Dr. Janine Natalya Clark, a university lecturer in international politics and ethnic conflict at the Queen’s University in Belfast during her visit to Vukovar. Dr. Clarke is currently working on her second book, looking at the impact of the Hague Tribunal on inter-ethnic reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia and included three case studies from Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.

- 8 July, 2011, Zagreb – Representatives of the Centre for Peace - Vukovar, Mrs. Ankica Mikić and Mr. Branislav Tekić, attended a joint workshop organized by the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management in cooperation with UNHCR, Zagreb, on housing programs, amendments to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern (ASSC) and the purchase of apartments in the state ownership. Topics of the workshop were: New deadline for housing outside the ASSC by the decision on housing returnees - former tenancy rights holders enacted by the Government on March 3, 2011; Sale of the state-owned apartments under favourable terms available to the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management; and, Law on Amendments to the Law on ASSC. The workshop was attended by representatives of UNHCR and representatives of national offices for refugees in the region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia), representatives of local civil society organizations, representatives of government offices for the promotion and protection of human rights, international community representatives in Croatia and representatives of regional offices of the Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management.

June 2011

- 13-14 June, 2011, Zagreb - Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Branislav Tekić, attended a two-day meeting of organizations registered and authorized to provide free legal aid in the Republic of Croatia, organized by the Centre for Peace - Osijek, Human Rights Centre, Centre for Peace Studies and Human Rights House for organizations registered to monitoring the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid in the light of new amendments.
During the first day, Centre for Peace - Osijek presented the IPA 2008 project "The Initiative of Civil Society Organizations for Changes in Anti-Discrimination Policies", dedicated to all registered NGOs, and also provides further training in the field of monitoring laws.
The second day held a public discussion on amendments to the Law on Free Legal Aid and presented a comprehensive proposal of amendments drafted and supported by 21 registered free legal assistance providers plus another seven organizations and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Republic of Croatia.

- 8-9 June, 2011, Belgrade (Serbia) - Representatives of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mrs. Ankica Mikić and Mr. Branislav Tekić, attended the conference "Challenges of Forced Migration in Serbia - The status of refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and asylum seekers", organized within the framework of the project "European - Serbian Cooperation in the Field of Forced Migration". The project is a part of the initiative of the Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Serbia entitled "Strengthening Serbia – EU civil Society Dialogue", implemented by "GOPA Consultants", Germany. The conference was organized by the Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Serbia, Open Society Foundation, European-Serbian Cooperation in the Field of Forced Migration, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and Group 484.
With the coordination of "Group 484" from Belgrade, a team of non-governmental organizations from Serbia has published a thematic paper on the status and problems of refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and returnees - "Challenges of Forced Migration in Serbia", on the basis of readmission agreements, with an aim to, in the context of obligations in the process of Euro-integration, raise awareness on the complexity of the problem of forced migration in the former Yugoslavia and to encourage cooperation and exchange of knowledge and experience between national and international institutions, civil society organizations, academia and interested individuals.
The work of the conference was organized in panels and Mr. Branislav Tekić took the part as one of the speakers on Panel I – Refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

May 2011

- 12 May, 2011, Zagreb - Representative of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mrs. Danka Katanić, attended a joint meeting of the association - beneficiaries of institutional support of the National Foundation for the Development of Civil Society. During the meeting, the Foundation reported on further activities in the context of additional investment in the sustainability of NGOs - beneficiaries of the institutional support and informed the present NGOs on additional sources of funds through international and domestic cooperation.

- 2 May, 2011, Vukovar - Center for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights - Osijek, in partnership with the Centre for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance - Vukovar and Serbian Democratic Forum, initiated implementation of a two-year project "The Initiative of Civil Society Organizations for Changes in Anti-Discrimination Policies", financed by the European Community under the IPA 2008 "Strengthening the capacity and the role of civil society organizations monitoring the EU acquis communautaire in the field of comprehensive anti-discriminatory strategies".
The purpose of the project is to increase the availability of free legal aid to marginalized groups and thus contribute to reducing discrimination and strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations for greater participation in legislative initiatives and the development of anti-discrimination policies.
Project activities include providing free legal aid, monitoring the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid and Anti-Discrimination Act, drafting reports with findings and recommendations, capacity building of civil society organizations through training on the monitoring of public policies and advocacy for legislative changes.
The intention of the project implementer is to contribute to the improvement of anti-discrimination policies through the implementation of aforementioned activities and regular and efficient cooperation with relevant institutions, such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ombudsman.
The project is designed for people of lower economic status (unemployed, long-term unemployed, persons belonging to national minorities, women, pensioners with minimum pensions, people affected by war - displaced, returnees, refugees and other vulnerable persons), civil society organizations engaged in promotion and protection of human rights and organizations registered to provide free legal assistance.
The project is carried out in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in eight cities in Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Sirmium, Sisak-Moslavina and Karlovac counties: Osijek, Beli Manastir, Vukovar, Vinkovci, Ilok, Glina, Petrinja and Vojnić.

April 2011

- 18 April 2011, Vukovar: Representatives of the Center for Peace – Vukovar welcomed a film crew of the Austrian national TV Channel ORF2 together with Mrs. Suzana Gotthardi Pavlovsky, Croatian journalist, who were visiting the area of eastern Croatia as a part of the film „The Region – 20 years after the war in former Yugoslavia“, directed by Mr. Friedrich Orter. The film will be broadcast on June 30, 2011 on ORF2. Topics of the meeting were the post-war life in Vukovar, national relations and education in eastern Croatia.

- 9 April, 2011, Bizovac: Center for Peace - Vukovar, organized a 2nd workshop „Monitoring and Reporting / Networking (production of a report / shadow report as appropriate)” within the framework of project „2010 / 2011 Capacity building program for Roma minority leaders and representatives to advocate for minority rights”. The seminar was attended by 9 representatives and activists of Roma NGOs in Croatia. Lecturers and speakers at the seminar were Mrs. Milena Babić, project manager of the Center for Peace – Vukovar and Mrs. Danka Katanic, accountant of the Center for Peace - Vukovar. „2010 / 2011 Capacity building program for Roma minority leaders and representatives to advocate for minority rights” is carried out with financial support of the Embassy of Finland in the Republic of Croatia.

- 7-8 April, 2011, Krk: Legal advisor of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, Mr. Drago Pepić, participated in a seminar for lawyers “Procedure before the courts of the European Union in refugee law”, organized by the UNHCR representatives in the Republic of Croatia and the Center for Peace Studies in Zagreb. The seminar was attended by attorneys and lawyers dealing with cases of discrimination and the status of aliens, or similar fields, while a number of attending lawyer are providers of free legal aid in asylum procedures before the Commission for Asylum. The seminar was attended by experts: Mrs.  Lana Tučkorić from the Croatian Legal Center, Mrs. Ivana Canjuga Bedić, lawyer, Mr. Flip Schuler, lawyer and Mr. John Andrew Young from UNHCR. The seminar was organized within the framework of the Center for Peace Studies projects 'Support for the integration of refugees' and 'European Convention on Human Rights', with a specific goal to encourage information and training/education on procedures and practices of the European Court of Human Rights in the field of refugee law and the Court of Justice of the European Union to build the foundation for future litigation in this area.

- 5 April, 2011, Vukovar: Representatives of the Center for Peace – Vukovar met deputy Ambassadors of Finland and Sweden, Mrs. Karin Anderman and Mrs. Miia Rantanen to discuss the work and activities of the Center for Peace as well as the state of human and minority rights in eastern Slavonija.

March 2011

- 26 March 2011, Zagreb: Center for Peace - Vukovar, organized the 1st workshop „Census 2011 and Elections for National Minority Councils/Individual Representatives joint strategy development” within the framework of the project „2010 / 2011 Capacity building program for Roma minority leaders and representatives to advocate for minority rights”. The seminar was attended by 20 representatives and activists of Roma NGOs in Croatia. Lecturers and speakers at the seminar were Ms. Aleksandra Bojadžieva, independent consultant and member of the Advisory Board of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities; Mr. Nadir Redžepi, project manager at the Open Society Institute - Budapest; and Mr. Ljubomir Mikić, former president of the Center for Peace - Vukovar. „2010 / 2011 Capacity building program for Roma minority leaders and representatives to advocate for minority rights” is carried out with financial support of the Embassy of Finland in the Republic of Croatia.

- 16 - 18 March, 2011, Ečka (Serbia): Representatives of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, Mrs. Ankica Mikić and Mr. Branislav Tekić, participated in the 1st working meeting of the continuing project „Development of the civil society network in the Western Balkans region“. The meeting presented a theme paper on free legal assistance and review of the decision of the Croatian government on the purchase of apartments within and outside the ASSC (Area of Special State Concern). The meeting was organized within the framework of the regional project Support to civil society in finding durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons in the Western Balkans, implemented by the Group 484 from Belgrade with the support of Mission of OSCE in Serbia.

- 3 March 2011, Zagreb: Legal advisor of the Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance Vukovar attended the meeting „Improving the system of monitoring discrimination in the Republic of Croatia“, organized by the Center for Peace Studies from Zagreb. This meeting is one of the conclusions of international / regional conference on combating discrimination held on 14-15  January, 2011 organized by B.a.B.e., Center for Peace Studies, Center for Human Rights, Croatian Legal Center, CERD, Center for Peace – Vukovar and "Ćakula kroz život" NGO. The meeting brought together representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman and special Ombudsmen offices in Croatia, as well as representatives of civil society organizations, the Croatian Employers Association and trade unions. The aim of the meeting was to discuss possible changes and the possibility of harmonizing the existing forms for monitoring discrimination that would be used by all organizations / institutions that monitor cases of discrimination, and create a comprehensive database in the field of combating discrimination.

February 2011

11 February, 2011, Zagreb: Upon the invitation of Mr. Paolo Berizzi, Counsellor in the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Ankica Mikic, President of the Center for Peace – Vukovar, attended the meeting dedicated to issues of minority rights in Croatia, the views of civil society organizations about the current situation in the promotion and protection of human and minority rights, especially issues related to chapter 23 (Judiciary and fundamental rights) in the negotiations for Croatian accession to the European Union.

January 2011

14-15 January, 2011, Zagreb: Legal advisor of the Center for Peace - Vukovar, Mr. Drago Pepić participated in the international / regional "Anti-Discrimination Conference" held in the House of Human Rights in Zagreb, organized by "Be Active, Be Emancipated” (B.a.B.e.) Zagreb and the Center for Peace Studies from Zagreb. Conference theme was anti-discrimination policies and their implementation in practice, which brought together experts in the field of combating discrimination from Croatian, the region and Europe. This conference is an integral part of two projects: "Support to the implementation of the Anti-Discrimination Act II" and "Paths of discrimination" aimed at effective implementation of national anti-discrimination legislation through the development of public policy and better public inform on national and European anti-discrimination policies and legislation.

14 January, 2011, Vukovar: Center for Peace -Vukovar responded to the call of Amnesty International, London (UK) and signed a petition “Reform of the European Court of Human Rights – Court Fees”. Together with civil society organizations from Europe, the Amnesty International calls on Member States of the Council of Europe to the debate on the reform of the European Court of Human Rights, inter alia, and reject the proposal to introduce payment of court fees to applicants who, in accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom, seek court protection before this court. The imposition of monetary compensation to the applicants could completely disable access to justice to victims of human rights violations because of conditionality of their payment ability.

 26 January, 2011, Vukovar: Center for Peace, Legal Advice and Psychosocial Assistance Vukovar held its regular assembly. The Assembly decided that Mrs. Ankica Mikic will continue to serve as the President of the Center for Peace - Vukovar in the next two years. The Assembly elected a new Management Board and a new Supervisory Board of the Center for Peace - Vukovar. Also, the Assembly adopted a decision on amendments of the Statute of the organization expanding the activities of the Centre for Peace - Vukovar in a way that allows active actions being taken to combat discrimination and raising joint active claims.