Human Rights Declaration Adopted at Balkan Youth Summit

Youth activists, representatives from member states, institutions, the EU Presidency, and human rights advocates from the Western Balkans and around the globe gathered in Serbia from December 4–6 to review critical challenges in the region and possible solutions. Three hundred participants attended the Belgrade Youth Summit, where future young leaders from Balkan countries presented and analyzed pressing concerns, from anti-discrimination laws and policies and freedom of movement issues, to youth involvement and role in establishing a regional truth commission on war crimes. Speakers at the opening ceremonies included Dragan Djilas, mayor of Belgrade; Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy; Ambassador Krister Bringeus of Sweden; and RBF President Stephen Heintz.

The Summit concluded with concrete plans made for continued cooperation among participants and their joint activities. Participants from Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Kosovo also unanimously approved the Belgrade Declaration, which will be presented to governments of the Western Balkans and European Union.

The meeting, the first of its kind in the Balkans region, was organized by RBF grantee Youth Initiative for Human Rights to foster channels of dialogue and cooperation among human rights activists, European Union officials, and young leaders and members of civil society in the Western Balkans. Future meetings will be held annually to give the Presidency of the EU the opportunity to hear directly from youth from the periphery and outside of the European Union.