Non-government organizations must be proactive both through public visibility in order to reach an increasing number of citizens, but also through cooperation with the media, associations and other partners, because only through good cooperation, initiatives, support, transparency and constant activity can goals and more sustainable changes in society be achieved.
In the modern world, where information circulates quickly, but also numerous challenges occur, it is crucial that non-government organizations maintain open channels of communication with relevant stakeholders, and this is exactly what the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) Banja Luka does, in terms that it strives to be increasingly visible to citizens, the media and the public and also has numerous initiatives, activities and cooperation that make this visibility completely relevant.
This has all been further improved in HCA thanks to the SMART Balkan project, which is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, and within which a Core Grant was awarded, i.e. a core grant which one of the goals is to strengthen the capacity of the organization and staff.
“Faster communication with the public and the media allows the organization to inform the wider community about its work, mission and achievements. This not only increases the visibility of our activities, but also draws attention to important issues and challenges faced by certain communities, groups or individuals. On the other hand, launching initiatives and activities, especially in cooperation with other organizations, citizens and informal groups, allows organizations to create synergy and work together to solve problems. HCA has always been open to cooperation with other organizations, and through mutual cooperation, organizations can combine resources, exchange experiences and implement project goals. Such cooperation not only contributes to greater efficiency, but also to strengthening mutual trust between organizations and groups, which can bring positive changes in the long term”, says Aleksandar Žolja, Executive Director of HCA.
He emphasized the importance of the Core Grant, because HCA has increased resources for even more proactive communication activities and visibility of the organization itself and its initiatives.
That this visibility in the public and the media is greater, but also the initiatives, activities and cooperation that HCA launches or works on together with other associations, or through the Human Rights House Banja Luka, which it is a member, was also confirmed by media representatives.
“There have been several great announcements, independently from the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and through the Human Rights House. The latest is regarding the decision of the Constitutional Court of RS, which is so important that some media, those who flatter the authorities, tried to ignore it, but it was simply everywhere. My experience is that people from HCA BL have always been available to the media, now – whether the media has enough interest in what HCA BL is doing is another question. However, the situation has changed recently, there are more announcements, there are more statements”, says Rubina Čengić, a journalist.
Journalist Tijana Grujić agrees that the visibility of HCA is greater in the public, including various initiatives, and she highlighted the holding of several public tribunes, forums and conferences, which HCA organized, such as being part of the organization of the “International Women’s Day March”.
“There are more and more announcements about various activities that the HCA is implementing, while HCA representatives have always been accommodating when it comes to statements to the media. Also, the reactions of the Human Rights House regarding certain legal solutions have been noticed. I would like to emphasize that the support that the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, through the Human Rights House, which it is a member, provides to citizens in implementing initiatives, such as the still ongoing “For the Plan”, is definitely important. Thanks to this, citizens have undoubtedly implemented the plan and collected signatures”, says journalist Tijana Grujić.
Rubina Čengić, a journalist, believes that joint actions bring together more people, and that actions in public space, primarily on the street, are more visible.
“The “For the Plan” campaign is excellent because it is important for every person who lives in a certain area and people understand that. If freedom of access to information or freedom of association are abstract and not interesting enough for “ordinary” people, the space in which they live is important to everyone, and then, through such projects and activities, organizations like HCA BL are getting even closer to citizens. Generally speaking – in larger cities like Banja Luka, without strong media support, it is difficult to reach ordinary people and present to them the importance of their work, which is why street actions and actions like this “For the Plan” are important because they concern everyone”, believes Rubina Čengić.
Sandra Gojković Arbutina, editor-in-chief and corresponding editor of “Nezavisne”, believes that HCA’s visibility has increased, among other things, due to frequent activities on social networks, which are an important channel of communication to which no one is immune anymore.
“It seems as if there is an understanding within the organization that for every activity, visibility through the media and networks is important as well and, I would say, it is important that the general public is clearly informed about what the HCA does. Due to specific topics, it seems that they previously addressed the same group of people, but now a step has been made towards a wider audience”, says Gojković Arbutina.
She also emphasized that it is important to support every activity that shares the same values as the HCA “regardless of whether the support is mutual, but it is important to send a message about which topics the organization supports”.
While she believes that the visibility of the Human Rights House Banja Luka is still weak and that it could be better, Andrijana Pisarević, a journalist for the Capital portal, emphasizes that the concentration of several organizations will certainly give strength to the Human Rights House Banja Luka in the communication segment as well, but that it is an ongoing process and it takes time to develop.
“In the recent period, the visibility of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly, at least for me, has significantly improved, especially at a time when the current government announced and almost forcibly adopted a series of repressive provisions and legal solutions in the Republic of Srpska. HCA members are always available for statements, launch initiatives and are actively involved in a number of activities. The announcements are timely, clear and send strong messages”, says Andrijana Pisarević, a journalist of Capital.
She points out that “in a country where the government thinks least of the welfare of citizens and favors owners of private capital, it is very important to launch civic initiatives, advocate for the protection of human rights and hold performances that draw attention to certain categories that are on the margins”.
“HCA is doing well in this job, but I think that sometimes it remains alone in the fight, due to the lethargy of numerous other organizations that do not react to social problems at all or advocate for what they were founded for”, says Andrijana Pisarević, a journalist.
Aleksandar Žolja, executive director of HCA, says that this organization will continue to launch initiatives and various activities, in order to hear the voices of all those who may not be heard in the current system and social community, and that the work of HCA will remain clear and proactive.
Such grants, such as this one within the SMART Balkan project, which is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, are intended for civil society organizations that have achieved an important impact in the areas of security and stability and/or management and have the potential for even greater impact in the community, which HCA undoubtedly has.
