BALKANS. BOSNA HERZEGOVINA. ORC - hCa Tuzla

http://www.omladina-bih.net/

On April 8, 1995, hCa officially opened its office in Tuzla. Since that time, the hCa office in Tuzla has been actively involved in promoting, strengthening and linking civil initiatives in Tuzla and BiH. We co-operate intensively with the hCa offices formerly in Sarajevo (opened in 1993) and still today in Banja Luka (opened in 1996). Furthermore the hCa Tuzla office cooperates closely with the Forum of Tuzla Citizens, the Citizens Alternative Parliament and various other local organisations.

More to Read...

Youth Resource Centre (ORC) Tuzla (HCA-Tuzla) produces besides a monthly informative bulletin for the larger Youth Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bulletin is published on Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian and English language. It contains information about the activities of Youth Resource Centre (ORC) Tuzla and Youth Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina, information about monthly activities of youth organizations and groups-member groups of this network, their plans for the coming period, and other useful information (about donors, scholarships, stipends, invitations for attending seminars and conferences, etc.) If you want to be on the mailing list for the next editions of the monthly informative bulletin, contact orctuzla@bih.net.ba. You can find the monthly informative bulletin and archive of former editions on the web site of Youth Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina : http://www.omladina-bih.net

Hadzi Bakirbega Tuzlica 1, 75000 Tuzla - Tel/fax : 035 258 077 - E-mail : orctuzla@bih.net.ba, hcatuzla@bih.net.ba

BALKANS. BOSNA HERZEGOVINA. hCa Banja Luka

http://www.omladina-bih.net

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) Banja Luka was officially registered on August 16th 1996 as a local nongovernmental organisation in Republika Srpska/Bosnia and Herzegovina . Since then, hCa Banja Luka has been actively involved in promotion, strengthening and networking of civil initiatives both locally and regionally in South Eastern Europe, working on reconciliation and empowerment of depressed and disadvantaged groups.

• Its mission : hCa Banja Luka is an organisation that supports and stimulates autonomy and freedom of all citizens, involving depressed social groups in democratic processes, particularly women and youth.
• Its vision : Society of equal opportunities for all.

Nowadays hCa Banja Luka is an advocacy and support organization as well as a resource centre directing its actions into three main program areas :

• Strengthening civil society and transformation of public institutions into a citizens’ service Through : Creating conditions for communication and influence between civil society and public institutions ; Planning, designing and implementing advocacy campaigns with interested disadvantaged groups through partnerships ; Creation of Peace Forum on local and regional level
• Advocacy for Gender equality...
• Creating conditions for more intensive involvement of youth in public life...

More to Read...

Krfska 84, 78000 Banja Luka - Tel : 051 432 751, Fax : 051 432 752 - E-mail : hcalido@inecco.net, hcabl1@blic.net

BALKANS. MONTENEGRO. ADP-Zid.

www.zid.cg.yu

ADP-Zid is an independent Montenegrin non-governmental organization established on December 26, 1996. It was initially created as a students’ organization named KSG (Club of Civil Engineering Students). In May 1998, it changed its name into the Association for Democratic Prosperity - Zid (ADP-Zid). ADP-Zid is one of the most active NGOs in the country. It focuses on advocacy and civil society development, independent media, and regional cooperation.

From the very beginning, freedom of public speech has been one of the basic orientations of ADP-Zid. Since March 1997, ADP-Zid has been publishing the magazine Zid. Initially, the magazine Zid started as a student newsletter. Today, it is a nationally recognized monthly magazine that is distributed all over the country. Through Zid, we aim at offering the Montenegrins an alternative perspective and providing them with reliable and objective information about a wide range of issues at local, national, and regional level.

ADP-Zid considers voluntarism crucial for development of our communities and the civil society in general, and therefore has established the first Volunteer Center in Montenegro. ADP-Zid gives its contribution to the democratic transition and integration process of the region by actively participating in regional cooperation...

More to Read...

Address : Gavra Vukovica bb. 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro. Posta Addressi : P.O. BOX 370 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro.
Tel : +381 081 207 050. Fax : +381 081 207 050. zid@cg.yu

HCA-TURKEY

http://www.hyd.org.tr/

Since its establishment in September, 1993, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly [hCa] Turkey has been conducting activities in the following fields :

• Minority rights and multiculturalism
• Civic approaches to conflicts
• The rule of law
• Human rights and civic participation
• Strenghtening local democracy and civil society
• EU integration process
• Refugee Advocacy and Support Program

hCa-Turkey’s activities are organized on the basis of projects and campaigns with definite themes. To reach its goals, hCa-Turkey holds local or international conferences, meetings, seminars, panels, symposia and exhibits ; provides audiovisual and print publications, collaborates with non-govermental organizations and institutions working in related fields.

More to Read...

Adress : Tomtom Mah. Kumbaracý Yokuþu No : 50/3 34433 Beyoglu
Istanbul - Turkey Tel : +90 212 292 68 42 & 43 Fax : +90 212 292 68 44
e-mail : info@hyd.org.tr

GERMANY. YHRM-Berlin

www.yhrm-berlin.org

Maybe the most recent initiative, created 2006, joining 2007 the HCA-Network ! Their website is still quite under construction but is already quite operational. Besides, a lot of activities, debates, seminars have already been organised by its growing number of members !

NETHERLANDS. IKV-PAX CHRISTI Netherlands

www.ikvpaxchristi.nl

IKV is a Dutch peace movement that works under the assignment of the Dutch churches to further political solutions in crisis and war. Therefore IKV initiates projects and invites society in general and the churches in particular to participate and speak out. IKV develops and implements projects furthering peace in conflict areas. IKV holds high two leading principles : civil society and international presence. On the basis of these principles and long-lasting and intensive cooperation with partners in conflict areas a large number of successful projects has been realised. These projects have one or more of the following objectives :
* Conflict prevention
* International presence and protection
* Democratisation and community building
* Harmonising inter-ethnic relations
* Improvement of the position of women in conflict
* Reconciliation through religion
* Globalisation of education for peace

In order to realise these objectives the following intervention strategies are used :
* Political lobby
* Awareness raising
* Capacity building
* Horizontal linking
* International networking

The new 2007 organisation IKV Pax Christi is a cooperation between the IKV (Interchurch Peace Council) and the peace movement Pax Christi Netherlands.

YHRM - Russia

www.yhrm.org

Headquartered in Voronezh, Russia, Youth Human Rights Movement (YHRM) is a network of young activists and youth organizations in Russia and other New Independent States working to shape a new generation of human rights leaders, to promote human rights and universal human values, and to develop effective methods for protection of rights and freedoms. Over the past five years YHRM, along with its partners around the country, has engaged in numerous projects campaigning against nuclear waste imports, fascism, xenophobia and intolerance, for the rights of prisoners of conscience, and for the rights of young people for an alternative civilian service. Some of the recent Youth Human Rights Movement projects cover the relationship between young people and various branches of power, and the challenges facing human rights activists. Through these projects, YHRM educates youth on ways to defend and exercise their civil, political, social, student and labor rights. As part of these campaigns YHRM and its partners prepare and distribute printed materials, develop guidebooks, create web resources, participate in demonstrations, picketing, and other forms of action.

POLAND : Nigdy Wiecej (Never Again)

http://www.nigdywiecej.prh.pl/

Nigdy Wiecej was established in 1992 in response to the growing wave of racism and anti-Semitism in postcommunist Poland. Its aim is to promote human rights, multicultural understanding and to contribute to the development of a democratic civil society in Poland. Nigdy Wiecej is particularly concerned with the problem of education against racial and ethnic prejudices among the young. Nigdy Wiecej is an independent organisation, not linked to any political party.

Since 1994 Nigdy Wiecej has produced a regular publication in the form of ’NIGDY WIECEJ’ magazine, providing reliable information on the various extremist and racist groups operating in Poland and in the rest of Europe. Nigdy Wiecej works with other organisations internationally such as the London-based international anti-fascist magazine ’Searchlight’, the European anti-racist network UNITED for Intercultural Action, the Football Against Racism in Europe network as well as with partners in Eastern European countries. Many of the authors for the magazine ’NIGDY WIECEJ’ are well known experts in the field of ultra-nationalism in Eastern Europe. The Nigdy Wiecej Association also provides information directly to journalists and institutions interested in the problem of racism and xenophobia.

More to Read...

SOUTH CAUCASUS. ARMENIE. HCA-Vanadzor

http://www.hcav.am

The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly - Vanadzor office (HCAV) was established with the help and support of the national Armenian HCA committee on the 21st of March 1998. Fifteen people, including two lawyers, volunteer for the organization ; seven directors sit on the board, and the finances are overseen by a three-person commission. HCA Vanadzor also benefits from the support of two volunteers in the capital Yerevan. Its staff has participated in a lot of national and international trainings and seminars and now constitute one of the leading NGO’s in Armenia. Its mission is to build civil society. The committee has worked jointly with numerous other organizations such as the Armenian Women’s Association, the Helsinki Association, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Armenian Centre to Defend the Constitution, the All-Armenian Women’s Union and "Nor Seround"...
The office has been further integrated into the HCA Transcaucasus dialogue program, and now works jointly not only with the international HCA network, but with HCA committees in Georgia and Azerbaijan (Ganja, Telavi).

Besides its involvement in the “Missing Soldiers” - project, HCA-Vanadzor is one of the participating organizations in the “Red Bridge - Trust Zone” initiative, and carry out the Armenian component of human-rights monitoring in this cross-border project with Georgia and Azerbaijan.

HCA - Vanadzor, Tigran Mets 59, 377200 Vanadzor (Armenia ), Tel. (00371) 51-42268, hcav@hcav.am

CAUCASUS. HCA ARMENIA, YEREVAN.

HCA Armenia Address : 19a Koryun St, IV Floor Yerevan, 375009 Republic of Armenia. Tel : +3741 520974 and +3741 520957. Contact person : Anahit Bayandour and Natalia Martirosyan (Co-chairs) hca@netsys.am

Nagorno-Karabakh Committee "Helsinki Initiative - 92"

Nagorno-Karabakh Committee of "Helskinki Initiative- 92", the first non-governmental organization in Nagorno-Karabakh, was established in 1992 in response to violence over civilians taking place during severe hostilities between Armenians and Azeris. The main activities of the organization are human rights protection, development of theoretical and practical approaches in the transformation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, psychological rehabilitation of war-time victims, and educational activities aimed at the development of democracy and building of an open and civil society.

The organization has helped release over 500 prisoners of war and hostages, has psychologically rehabilitated over 2000 victims of war, and has organized cross border initiatives between Azerbaijani and Nagorno-Karabakh society. The organization was first to apologize before the Azerbaijani people for the violence against civilians in Khojaly village by Karabakhian forces. Our organization was the first to invite Azerbaijanis to Nagorno-Karabakh during the escalation of the conflict and was the first to visit Azerbaijan from Karabakh. For the first time during the whole history of Nagorno Karbakh, our organization developed a model of peaceful transformation of the conflict. Our organization plays a key role in forming a civil society in Nagorno-Karabkh.

Address : 34/5 Saroyan St.
Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh 3750000 -Tel : (+374)71 4-04-57

www.hca.nk.am/

CAUCASUS. HCA AZERBAIDJAN, BAKU.

hCa Azerbaijan Address : Apt. 6, 174 Bashir Safaroglu, Baku, Azerbaijan Tel : +99 412 93 16 14 Fax : +99 412 93 16 14 Contact person : Arzu Abdullayeva (hCa Co-chair) assembly-baku@azeurotel.com

CAUCASUS. AZERBAIDJAN. HCA-Ganja.

hCa Gence - Azerbaijan Address : Ataturk Aandnue 269, Ganja 374700, Azerbaijan. Tel : +99 422 56 74 86. Fax : +99 422 56 04 60. Contact person : Aliyeva Akifa (Coordinator) akifahca@yahoo.com

www.hca-az.org/

CAUCASUS. GEORGIA. TELAVI.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly National Committee of Georgia works in Telavi region since 1993. Here were carried out several conferences of regional and international level. In 1993 was organized the first meeting of the Youth of hCa from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia at the Academy of Ykalto (Georgia).In Summer 1998 was carried out International Summer School on Intercultural/Confessional Dialogue and Understanding in Tsinandali, Georgia. In 1998 was held the Conference "Migration Policy - Civil Platform". When implementing these and other activities the initiative group was formed and in April 1999 its regional office in Telavi was established. This was one of the first nongovernmental organizations established in Kakheti region.

Mission of the organization : support to peacebuilding, democracy, civil society building, raising of material, cultural and moral welfare of the population of Telavi and other regions of the East Georgia.

Tasks of the organization :

• Mobilization and development of human resources in Telavi and other regions of Georgia ;
• Support to building of the institutes of civil society ;
• Rendering material, medical, legal advice and other kinds of support to the socially unprotected strata of the population in the region ;
• Recovery of historical monuments of culture ;
• Informational providing of the population ;
• Solution of ecological problems in the region
• Solution and development of intercommunication / cooperation among towns of the South Caucasus (Telavi-Ganja-Vanadzor)
• Support to integration of Telavi and whole region into international social,economic, scientific and cultural infrastructures ;
• Support to the development of farming and small business ;
• Support to the development of charity culture.

380002, Georgia, Tbilisi, Tsinamdzgvrishvili St.31,
Tel./Fax. :(995 32) 96-15-14, Tel. : (995 32) 96-99-05,
hcagc@caucasus.net

HCA Moldova

Its field of activities : Conflict Resolution | Democratic Reform | Dialogue, Deliberation and Consensus-Building | Human Rights and Civil Liberties | Human Rights Protection | Peace and Peacemaking

Youth HCA of Moldova is a branch of the HCA of Moldova, being independent juridical person.
The main purpose of the YHCA of Moldova is the promotion of human rights in the country with the involvement of youth. The organisation devotes itself to the realisation of ideas and principles laid down in the OSCE Helsinki Final Act (1975) and Prague Appeal of Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly (1990) among youth and by means of youth.

The key areas of activity are :

• ethnic tolerance, rights of national and linguistic minorities,
• fight against nationalism, racism and anti-Semitism,
• Transdniestrian and Gagauzian regional conflicts in Moldova, conflict prevention policies,
• refugees’ rights, women rights, vulnerable groups in the period of transition,
• youth empowerment.

The YHCA of Moldova actively co-operates with the UNHCR Branch Office in Moldova, aiming to promote tolerance of local population to refugees and minorities. That is why it published the book "Anti-Judaism, or Troglodyte World" against anti-Semitism as example of consequences of
interethnic intolerance, in two languages (Romanian and Russian). The YHCA of Moldova actively co-operates with the OSCE Mission to Moldova, foundation of USAID, and other international organisations. It is permanently involved in the activities of International Youth Network of HCA (Paris, France). The YHCA of Moldova is an active member and supporter of the UNITED for Intercultural Action Network (the Netherlands).

yhca_moldova@yahoo.com, Tel. : (+373 9) 294653, PO Box 1479, Chisinau, MOLDOVA

UNITED KINGDOM

www.europeandialogue.org

European Dialogue works at local, national and international levels within the wider Europe to promote equality and social integration for excluded communities and vulnerable minorities. It works to engage and support excluded communities and vulnerable minorities in their struggle to combat discrimination and racism, in the interests of human rights, equality and diversity.

European Dialogue was launched in 1990, with the support of Charter 88 and Liberty, as an independent, not-for-profit organisation to promote peace, democracy, social justice and environmental responsibility in a united Europe. European Dialogue developed out of the work of European Nuclear Disarmament (1980-1990) which helped to establish a network of opposition groups in Central and Eastern Europe and the non-aligned peace and democracy movements in Western Europe and North America (the OSCE countries). European Dialogue is a founding member of the pan-European Helsinki Citizens Assembly (hCa) network.

175 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7HJ, Tel : +44 (0) 20 7253 3337, Fax : +44 (0) 20 7253 5790, info@europeandialogue.org

hCa France - Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens (AEC)

http://aec.reseau-ipam.org

The European Citizens’ Assembly (Assemblée Européenne des Citoyens, AEC) is the French HCA office and has been created 1990.

AEC has developped activities in France about main topics like identity, citizenship and intercultural dialogue, and works on an international level in solidarity with other HCA partners, also inside Middle East Citizens’Assembly and Middle East Youth Forum.

AEC is a founding member of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) network. It is also part of the French alterglobalist network Initiatives pour un autre Monde (IPAM).

21ter rue Voltaire, 75011 Paris, France. Fax : +33 1 43 67 16 42, aec@reseau-ipam.org