Spaces
Civic space in the Balkans is shrinking. Activists face surveillance, intimidation, smear campaigns, and institutional apathy. Online, hate speech, harassment, and digital exclusion are widespread. Our SPACES programme addresses these challenges head-on, working to protect and expand both physical and digital spaces where civic action, dialogue, and dissent can safely happen.
We support the creation of safe meeting spaces for vulnerable groups, help communities develop digital tools for protection and connection, and work to eliminate institutional and informal barriers that silence marginalised voices. We also collaborate with media, tech platforms, and legal experts to tackle hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation targeting minorities and civic actors.
Safety is not a privilege – it’s a condition for participation. Without a safe civic space, leadership cannot emerge, and reforms cannot take root. That’s why we treat the defence of civic space not as a background issue, but as a core part of our mission to build a freer and more just region.