STOP THE REPRESSION AGAINST ACTIVISTS
FOR PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

The women who attended the Second Regional European Conference of Women in Black against War, which took place in Leuven 1-4 May of 2014, with the participation of 120 women from 22 countries of Europe, have verified the vulnerability of peace organizations and defenders of Human Rights.

Resulting from their work for peace, anti-fascism, anti-militarism, anti-war and against impunity, the Women in Black of Belgrade are experiencing constant harassment and repression by actors of the State and non-governmental actors in Serbia, leading to stigmatization, persecution and death threats to their activists.

In Russia and Ukraine non-violent opposition to war is stigmatized and criminalized.

The attacks in Serbia and accusations in Russia and Ukraine are developing right before the eyes of the European Union and tolerated with no thought other than that of their own geo-strategic interests without regard to the rights of the citizens.

We demand of the candidates to the Parliament of the European Union, as well as of Catherine Ashton*, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

-Careful monitoring of respect for and protection of Human Rights of the Government of Serbia as a basic condition for their entry into the European Union.

-Support for the peace movements and non-violent opposition to war and defense of Human Rights in Russia and Ukraine.

-As citizens of Europe, we consider the European Union complicit in this situation and therefore responsible for the repression, persecution and stigmatization of the activists and defenders of Human Rights in Serbia, Russia and Ukraine.

http://www.eeas.europa.eu/ashton/spokespersons/index_en.htm
Maja.KOCIJANCIC@ec.europa.eu
Eamonn.PRENDERGAST@ec.europa.eu


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