In partnership with the Slovenian Institute 8th of March, Heartefact organized a seminar as part of the Human Rights Leadership Program. The seminar aimed to empower 23 activists from various parts of Serbia, selected through a public call for participation in this one-year program.<\/p>\n\n
The participants come from 14 cities of Serbia and deal with various topics in the field of human rights, including improving the rights of the Roma community and transgender people, combating violence against women and gender inequality, advocating for a better position of workers and youth in rural communities, solving problems of persons with disabilities and families of children with disabilities, and improving mental health.<\/p>\n\n
During this five-day seminar, the Institute 8th of March worked with the group on developing campaigns that have the potential to result in concrete changes in the local area. Emphasis was placed on finding ways to run campaigns without requiring substantial financial resources. \n<\/p>\n\n
Mojca Lukan from the Institute 8th of March, one of the facilitators, believes that it is crucial to empower the activists so they do not feel alone in their efforts. \u2018We brought a little hope and a little knowledge to the people at the seminar. Then, in ten steps, we explained to them how to plan a campaign, using examples of some of our most successful actions\u2019, she said. \n<\/p>\n\n
Ana Vu\u010dini\u0107, director of the organization Balance from \u0160abac, noted that her main impression from the seminar was the energy of the people from the Institute 8th of March and Heartefact. \u2018That energy has revitalized us all and shown us that we can really change something and that we are on the right track\u2019, she said. \n \nTatjana Jovicic, president of Re\u010d i delo (eng. Word and Act) organization from Loznica, pointed out after the seminar that she was particularly impressed by the program\u2019s atmosphere, as well as the diversity of people she met, which is something that she cannot easily find in her environment. <\/p>\n\n
Heartefact chose the Institute 8th of March from Slovenia as a project partner as they are an internationally renowned organization for leading advocacy campaigns that result in concrete resolution of local problems, such as changes to laws and improvement of regulations, all aimed to achieve a fairer and safer Slovenia for everyone. As the project goes on, the participants of this program will have the opportunity to continue working with the Institute 8th of March through individual consultations, and they will also be able to apply for financial resources that Heartefact will allocate to them to initiate their own actions. \n<\/p>\n\n
The seminar was held within the Human Rights Leadership Program, implemented by Heartefact with the financial support of the European Union. The project led by Heartefact seeks to address issues of social exclusion, violence, and marginalization in Serbia, fostering a democratic political culture and respect for human rights. Through targeted interventions, the project aims to increase practical understanding of the challenges faced by frontline human rights defenders and critically examine patterns of violence directed at those representing marginalized communities. \n<\/p>\n\n