.Balkan Yearbook of Human Rights 2003


Articles

Prof. Rexhep Meidani
EDUCATION AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT

Dr. Ana Pesikan
HUMAN RIGHTS: FROM KNOWLEDGE TO CONDUCT

Sinisa Bjekovic
CIVIL SOCIETY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Marita Nika Flagler, Nikoleta Mita, Prof. Dr.
A CROSS - CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

Ankica Gorgic
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THE REPUBLIC OF
CROATIA CONCERNING RETIREMENT INSURANCE

PhD. Leke Sokoli
PROSTITUTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Halim Hyseni
SOME CURRENT ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN
KOSOVA, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE HUMAN
RIGHTS EDUCATION

Miroslav Zivanovic
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
IN HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION: CASE STUDY OF
HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF SARAJEVO

Aurela Hazizaj (Pano) MD
FOR A BETTER FUTURE OF THE ROMA CHILDREN
IN ALBANIA


BOOKREVIEWS

Robert Gjedia
MANUALS ON HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
DIFFERENT SCHOOL SUBJECTS

Daniela Barabanova
BASIC HANDBOOK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Igor Tasevski
STREET LAW

Igor Tesevski
THE POLICE AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS - A HANDBOOK
FOR POLICE TRAINING

Dr. Enver HASANI
THE BASIC OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Ditmir Bushati
ON EUROPEAN CONVENTION - A BRIEF
COMMENTARY ON THE EUROPEAN
CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Igor Tasevsi
THE HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE BIBLE TO THE PRESENT

Jaroslav Pecnik
GENOCIDE OVER ROMA PEOPLE: Jasenovac 1942

REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BHRN

Snjezana Ivandic, Aida Vezic

I - BHRN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES:
WEBSITE, DATABASE AND NEWSLWTTER

II - REPORTING ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
(MINORITY RIGHTS)

III - RE-EDUCATION OF MEMBERS OF THE LAW
PROFESSION IN THE COUNTRIES MMBERS THAT
ARE MEMBERS OF THE BHRN IN THE FIELD OF
HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW

IV - HUMAN RIGHTS SCHOOL FOR FUTURE
DECISION MAKERS - SUCCESS STORIES

FOREWORD

The present Yearbook is the third one of the series published in the framework of the Balkan Network for Human Rights. The collected papers reflect some of the aspect from the work of this Network. It is evident from them that the main goal of the organization is uniting efforts to give a modest contribution in establishing a democratic society in the Balkan countries. It is understandable that democracy nowadays is not only an aspiration of our region, but it also has become a global ideal, inspiring millions of people in all the continents. However, for the South - Eastern Europe countries emerged from the severe communist dictatorship, the ideal of freedom, democracy, human rights, formerly unknown and for a ling time violated, assumes a specific value and importance. Because of the historical and social circumstances of their development, our countries show many differences with other countries, and as a result, the ways to build up a democratic order are different even within the region. From this angle, the papers included in the Yearbook are also important to the exchange of experience to date accumulated by the member organizations of the Network, an experience which could be of great value to all. Among the papers of the collection the attention is called to the good experience of Sarajevo University (Bosnia - Herzegovina) in the successful use of the modern information technology for promoting and implementing human rights; on the order hand, Croatia carried on a good work in procuring the pensions of the aged people; Serbia also made interesting comparisons between the explanation of the theoretical principles and their implementing to the practice, adapted to the specificity of the community in which they are applied. Albania on her part has found and used effective ways and methods in training the students graduating from the teacher preparing faculties with theoretical and practical knowledge on the human rights, and was also successful in the efforts to integrate to the social life of the country the children from various ethnic minorities, in particular Romany minority. It is clearly seen from the papers of the Yearbook that through a painful road overcoming many difficulties and obstacles Kosova brings to our region a valuable experience on the establishment of a new juridical system. Without wishing to be overlong, I think that these few facts clearly speak about the indisputable values of the present Yearbook for the exchange of the experience accumulated until today through the member organizations of the Network.
The papers collected in the book, giving concrete cases from the countries of our region, give the possibilities to draw some general conclusions, theoretically and practically important to the present and the future of the Balkans. Thus, from them it is evident that democracy can be only established in a country from build up citizens, well acquainted with and ready to implement the great principles of the freedom and human rights, and that citizens of this type cannot be by themselves built up, they are to be systematically educated, following a well studied program, on the base of which lies the philosophy of the human rights, and its deep under - standing from theoretical and practical point of view.

From the papers of the present Yearbook it is evident that in general this education is understood and is correctly implemented bearing in mind specific characteristics of the region countries, and the social categories with which the work goes on. It is a positive fact that the member organizations of the Network are working to introduce a new spirit into the region, in order to change the bad image of the Balkans, which the European diplomacy so long has branded through the terrible metaphor of the "powder keg", a region that produces quarrels, conflicts and war. They aim to transform the region in an oasis of peace, understanding, coexistence and friendly relations between different peoples and ethnic groups, upon which the historical destiny decided to live and develop close to each other not as enemies, but as friends.

Apart from the theoretical and practical writing, the Yearbook gives a review of the publication in the field, among them on methodical books, manuals and works from well known authors, which discuss important international documents providing definitions of and sanctioning fundamental human rights and freedoms.

In the last part of the Yearbook are included some of the projects implemented in our region in the frame of the cooperation between NGOs of the Balkan Network. They show that the coordination of the activities and the mutual help of the region organizations is a guarantee for greater achievements in the future, for the strengthening of democracy, in order to line with dignity the Balkans along with civilized countries of developed Europe.

The Yearbook was prepared by the Albania Center of Human Rights (ACHR), Tirana, Albania.

 

Kozara KATI

Executive Director
ACHR, Tirana, Albania