The Lawyers' Committee For Human Rights (YUCOM) was founded in November 1997 (then called Yugoslav Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights) as an expert, voluntary, non-governmental organisation whose members are legal experts engaged in promoting and advocating for the idea of the rule of law and upholding of human rights, raising public awareness, leading civic initiatives, rendering legal assistance to victims of human rights violation, as well as developing cooperation with national and international organisations involved in human rights protection and promotion. YUCOM is recognised as an organisation advocating for human rights and promoting the active participation of citizens in legal initiatives and it is profiled as a human rights defenders organisation.

In Serbia attacks have continued against human rights defenders with the apparent complicity of the state authorities. Those mainly targeted are human rights defenders campaigning for investigations into past human rights abuses and in favour of cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal.

"Most influential NGOs in Serbia have earned substantial public recognition and support because of their constant public engagement and their courage to address burning issues such as war crimes, transitional justice, Kosovo, organised crime and corruption.

A recent public opinion poll, testifies to a high degree of recognition of major NGOs, and their activities, as well as high approval ratings among the general population, giving a better score than for any political party or government or state institution in Serbia. (see www.cesid.org/eng/programi/istrazivanja/index.jsp)

Such ratings have, on the other hand, made NGOs one of the most targeted parts in Serbian society in the last three years, and especially their leaders, who happen to be women. Women leaders of NGOs: Natasa Kandiç (the Humanitarian Law Centre), Stasa Zajoviç (Women in Black), Sonja Biserko (the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia), Biljana Kovaçeviç-Vuco (the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights - YUCOM) and Borka Paviçeviç (the Centre for Cultural Decontamination) are the subject of attack from various directions, starting from official government institutions, members of parliament, so-called independent analysts, the media, the church, some NGO activists close to the establishment, to less visible and equally dangerous centres of power and the secret services.

Attacks vary from direct physical violence and open threats, to creating a more sophisticated atmosphere of animosity against woman human rights defenders. Charges pressed against woman HRDs in courts at different levels also represent a method of obstructing the work of these HRDs.

What is disturbing is that the campaign is led not just by the tabloids, but also by the mainstream media, especially NIN weekly and Politika daily (both controlled by the government of Vojislav Kostuniça). Using stereotypes previously used by Miloseviç they insist on:

• the demonisation of woman HRDs as symbols of evil

• Human Rights NGOs are linked with foreign secret services

• NGOs finances are not transparent

• Human Rights activists are treacherous and anti-Serb

• NGOs are anti-democratic

The fact is that negotiations on Kosovo and the possible resolution of its status can only worsen the attacks and threats against woman HRDs.

A campaign of filing law suits and pressing criminal charges against Biljana Kovacevic- Vuco and YUCOM started in 2004. This aimed to disturb the HRDs’ regular activities. To that end 9 criminal charges and law suits against Biljana Kovaçeviç-Vuco were filed by either former officials of the Milosevic regime, or by journalists close to Prime Minister Kostunica or by those close to both groups. Aleksandar Tijanic, Director of State Television, appointed by the government, filed 4 criminal charges against Biljana Kovaçeviç-Vuco and YUCOM).

Along with fighting its own court cases filed against Biljana Kovaçeviç-Vuco or against itself, YUCOM also represents other NGOs in an increasing number of cases, and is monitoring cases and trends in attacks against HR activists (physical attack and threats to Woman in Black, the case of a militant right-wing organisation “Svetozar Miletiç” that pressed charges against 8 NGOs for defamation, cases of threats to LGBTI organisation – Queeria, 20 cases of hate crime in the media against woman HRDs, NGOs and minority groups."