Search

The aim of this article is to examine applicability of classical geopolitics to interpret the context of the war in Ukraine. The author argues that the classical geopolitical approach has shortages in explaining the current warfare in Ukraine, because territory, space, and geography are not sufficient to explain complex international relations in today's globalized world. The interventionistic policy of the US, the main force of Atlanticism, undoubtfully has the key role in shaping the situation in Ukraine, but a wider picture indicates presence and influence of corporate and financial non-state actors that benefit from strengthening military-industrial complex. The author concludes that critical geopolitics offers deeper inquiry into the geopolitical claims than the classical geopolitical thought because the former recognizes that nowadays states are not only geopolitical agents. There are indications that the war in Ukraine is waged by Western political, economic, military, and financial elites against Russia as a part of the strategy to maintain global power and prevent rising multipolarity.

The subject of this paper is the international legal and political framework of the right to water and relevant regulations in the Republic of Serbia, and the focus is on the state's responsibility for water management in accordance with the realization of the common good. The starting point of the paper is the position that access to water is a human right and that water can be managed only by the state and exclusively in the general interest. The first part of the paper discusses the risks of marketization, privatization and commodification of water for the realization of the right to water and the protection of this vital natural and strategic resource. The second part summarizes the activities of the United Nations related to the recognition of the right to water as a basic human right and the obligations of states in this sense. The third part analyses the normative and strategic framework of the Republic of Serbia in this area from the perspective of the right to water and responsible state management. Deficiencies in terms of the compliance with international human rights standards and the risks that the current regulation can produce for the population, water resources and the state are pointed out. No effective instruments have been envisaged for the protection of water from pollution, nor against commodification and marketization, while the privatization of water and public companies in this area threatens the sovereignty of the state over its natural resources. The goal of the paper is to point out the importance of establishing national regulations that will ensure sovereign and responsible management of water resources and protection of the right to water.

Existing knowledge of the geopolitics of public health and the coronavirus pandemic indicates that states, particularly the most powerful ones (the United States, China, Russia), have used the current global crisis to strengthen their influence worldwide, in line with their geopolitical, economic, and military aspirations. Geopoliticisation of the COVID-19 vaccines have not been explored so far. Based on the qualitative analysis of the media content and statistics on the vaccines' distribution, this article makes two arguments. First, these vaccines have become an extension of foreign policy by other means. Second, geopoliticisation of the distribution of vaccine contributes to an instrumentalisation of the pandemic, raising global insecurity and the destabilisation of states and economies on the periphery and semi-periphery. Due to this new Cold War between the 'vaccine superpowers' , the world has become divided into Western and the Eastern 'vaccine-blocs'. Within this context, the chances for multilateral cooperation to counter global threats are on a downward trajectory.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an innovative methodology and a process for facilitating positive change in organizations, groups, and communities (Cooperrider, Srivastva, 1987). This approach has been successfully implemented worldwide in management, the non-profit sector, health care, education, community development and other fields. Problem- solving gets replaced with innovation and by identifying the positive core that gives life to an organisation, a group, or a community when it is vital, effective, and successful. The concept is based on the heliotropic principle: that people move toward those things that give them energy and life. AI starts from the inquiry of the inner values of an individual and his/her positive images of the future that motivate and drive him/her towards affirmations and positive visions of the future. This paper considers the possibilities of implementation of AI in the field in which it has not been applied so far: in victims' support programmes. The first part of the paper presents the principles, methodology, and phases of AI. Examples of good practices are presented in the second part of the paper. The third part introduces possibilities, methods, and expected outcomes of the implementation of AI in victims' support programmes. The author concludes that AI has great potential to be implemented in victims' support programmes as an additional programme for their empowerment and envisioning optimistic expectations in future. It is expected that AI workshops would empower victims to successfully overcome the consequences of victimisation and achieve personal growth at the same time. The paper aims to consider the potential of AI regarding its implementation as additional content in victims' support and assistance programmes.

The subject of the paper is a transdisciplinary approach to public health research, with an emphasis on the role and implementation of legal sciences towards this concept. The aim of the paper is to discuss the potential of a transdisciplinary approach to public health research, as it regards the policies and practices in the Republic of Serbia. The method used is a qualitative analysis of the best practices of other countries. It has been established that legal sciences have rarely been implemented in this kind of research. This ignores the role of law in promoting public health by translating research conclusions into legal solutions.

Food sovereignty is a specific concept that is, at the same time, an overarching right, an alternative model of development and a political framework, which objective is realization of the rights of local food producers and rural people to determine their own food and agriculture systems. It is about a specific "right to right to food". The origin of the concept is in the global social movement lobbying for food sovereignty. As a result, at the end of 2018 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. It calls upon the states to urgently undertake measures for promoting sustainable food systems and ensuring the right to healthy and adequate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods that respect their cultures. Up-to-date, about twenty states have already integrated food sovereignty in their constitutions and legislation. There are also regional initiatives, such as those of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament and of the Pan-African Parliament, to develop a model law that would assist states to include food sovereignty in their legislation. The subject of this paper is exploring the Latin American states' legal practice with this respect, as these states are pioneers in this field. The qualitative analysis has shown that they differ with respect to legal solutions regarding food sovereignty, due to their efforts to build upon the specificities of the rural population and the needs of local communities. The objective of the paper is to indicate the increasing practice of states in including food sovereignty in designing legislation aiming at protecting the right to adequate food, health, healthy environment, and other basic human rights.

The subject of this paper is the analysis of the way the daily printing in Serbia is engaged in the reporting on suicide and the level of respect of the Code of Ethics of Serbian Journalists. The aim of thee paper is to present and analyse the findings of the research on the manner of reporting on cases of suicide in electronic editions of eight daily newspapers in the period from 1st January to 30th September 2018. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the media content, including photographs and video footage was performed. The research findings showed that only two dailies out of eight fully followed the professional and ethical conduct for journalists. In total, 223 articles have been published about cases of suicide. Out of this number, the Code of Ethics has been violated in 147 articles (65.9%). In 40 articles media un-ethically reported on cases of suicide of children and minors. The most frequent methods of the Code of Ethics’ violations include: disrespect of dignity, privacy and grief of people who have experienced the death from suicide of a loved one, publishing photographs of the scene of a given suicide, and pictures of an individual who has died by suicide and of his/her family members, and using language which sensationalises suicide. Due to unethical reporting, members of the family of the persons who committed suicide have been exposed to additional trauma and stigmatization, thus becoming invisible victims of irresponsible media reporting. The analysis of the legal and institutional framework has shown that mechanisms for the protection of their right to privacy and dignity are in place. Beside court protection, the victims of non-ethical reporting may seek protection from the Press Council, an independent self-regulatory body that has been established for monitoring the observance of the Code of Ethics and solving complaints made by individuals and institutions related to media content. However, it has been found that the traumatised and stigmatised family members very rarely use these opportunities provided. The analysis of the complaint proceedings before the Press Complaints Commission from the beginning of its work in September 2011 to 2019 showed that only three persons filed complaints against media seeking protection of their right to privacy and dignity.

Data recording and keeping the official unique database on hate crimes contributes to increasing visibility of this type of crimes, as well as to formulating effective policies of preventing discrimination, racism and non-tolerance. At the end of 2012, the Republic of Serbia introduced the aggravating circumstance in sentencing crimes motivated by hatred on the basis of race, religion belief, national or ethnical belonging, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Action Plan of the Implementation of the Strategy of Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (2014) foresees introducing the unique database on hate crimes by the end of 2016. The subject of the paper is the analysis of the importance of establishing this type of database from the perspective of acknowledging victims’ rights. The relevant activities and the recommendations of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the OSCE to the member states, with respect to efficient recording data on hate crimes, have been also introduced. The aim of the paper is to contribute developing of the methodology of data recording of hate crimes in the Republic of Serbia in line with the given recommendations of the FRA and the OSCE. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 179044: Razvoj metodologije evidentiranja kriminaliteta kao osnova efikasnih mera za njegovo suzbijanje i prevenciju]

The Republic of Serbia has introduced special circumstances for the determination of sentence for hate crime in the Criminal Code amended in December 2012. If a criminal offence is committed through hate based on race or religion, national or ethnic affiliation, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity of another, the court shall consider any aggravating factors except when it is not stipulated as a feature of the criminal offence. However, the State still neglects to consider mitigating factors. Moreover, it does not pay sufficient attention to eliminating verbal expressions of hatred and discrimination that often precede crimes motivated by hate. The paper discusses the possibility of improving education and coordinated activities of the State, particularly of courts, prosecutors, police and local self-governments, to combat hate speech and hate crimes. The aim of the paper is to present mechanisms of improving institutional capacities to prevent these phenomena that have been implemented within the project “Implementation of Anti-Discrimination Policies in Serbia” financed by the European Union. The paper concludes that central to the success of this process are the education of state actors, and the development of a value system based on equality and acceptance of diversity.

Corruption within public services has devastated negative impact on a state, a society, its economy and its citizens. It represents a major threat to the rule of law, democracy, enjoyment of human rights, fairness and social justice. It hinders economic development and endangeres sustainable development, empowerishes national economies, and facilitates the emergence of other threats, such as organized crime. Fighting corruption has become more urgent than ever. This paper deals with the public liability of domestic public officials, highlighting the substantive main international standards for fighting corruption in public services in the international legal instruments adopted by the United Nations and the Council of Europe, such as the United Nations Conventions against Corruption, and the two Convention of Council of Europe, on Civil Law and on Criminal Law. The paper argues that corruption can be prosecuted after the fact, but first and foremost it requires prevention. Preventive policies include the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must endeavour to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption in particularly critical areas of the public sector such as the judiciary and public procurement. Those who use public services must expect a high standard of conduct from their public servants. Preventing public corruption also requires an effort from all members of society at large.

The majority states in the world, as well as Serbia and Montenegro, took over the obligations from international law documents with regards to prevention, protection and prosecution of domestic violence. Over the last several years, in Serbia and Montenegro, there have been some positive steps regarding more decisive reaction on domestic violence, in the first place thanks to NGOs advocacy. However, the state involvement and contribution is still symbolic in comparison with obligations that international documents require from it. Having that in mind, authors try to explain the role and significance of international law for improving social responses on family violence. They also give systematic review of the most important demands that international law set up before the state. The main aim of the text is the analysis of the role that international law has in making state strategies in the field of domestic violence, as well as systematic review of existing international standards in this area which have to be taken into consideration in legislative, institutionalized and other reforms which are on going in Serbia and Montenegro.

The increased development of technology and integration of markets have created possibilities to eradicate hunger, poverty and other illnesses of the mankind. Contrary, the world is facing opposite trends: the widening gap between the rich and the poor, increasing poverty, human security and conflicts. The negative effects of the globalisation that experience the majority of the world population are rooted at the ruling neoliberal model of macro economy, shaped and dictated by the international financial institutions, WTO, multilateral companies and transnational corporations. This logic is based on the free market economy, free flow of capital, resources, investments and labour force, trade liberalisation, deregulation, privatisation, reduction of social services, and elimination of the concept of “the public good”. This economic model induces exploitation, discrimination, and inequalities, and therefore, it suits only to the big and powerful (states, markets, companies, individuals...), while brings disadvantages to the small and less powerful (states, markets, companies, individuals...). In addition, it deepens historical and contemporary inequalities based on race, sex, ethnicity, nationality etc. between and within states, and regions, including the West and the North. This context of development especially hurts vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women, resulting in their social exclusion and increased poverty. The efforts regarding the realisation of the UN Millennium Development Goals, including eradication of poverty and hunger, and development of gender equity, will be not effective at all until the neoliberal model should be replaced by the heliocentric, human rights approach to development.

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an innovative methodology and a process for facilitating positive change in organizations, groups, and communities (Cooperrider, Srivastva, 1987). This approach has been successfully implemented worldwide in management, the non-profit sector, health care, education, community development and other fields. Problem-solving gets replaced with innovation and by identifying the positive core that gives life to an organisation, a group, or a community when it is vital, effective, and successful. The concept is based on the heliotropic principle: that people move toward those things that give them energy and life. AI starts from the inquiry of the inner values of an individual and his/her positive images of the future that motivate and drive him/her towards affirmations and positive visions of the future. This paper considers the possibilities of implementation of AI in the field in which it has not been applied so far: in victims' support programmes. The first part of the paper presents the principles, methodology, and phases of AI. Examples of good practices are presented in the second part of the paper. The third part introduces possibilities, methods, and expected outcomes of the implementation of AI in victims' support programmes. The author concludes that AI has great potential to be implemented in victims' support programmes as an additional programme for their empowerment and envisioning optimistic expectations in future. It is expected that AI workshops would empower victims to successfully overcome the consequences of victimisation and achieve personal growth at the same time. The paper aims to consider the potential of AI regarding its implementation as additional content in victims' support and assistance programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Temida is the property of Victimology Society of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Data recording and keeping the official unique database on hate crimes contributes to increasing visibility of this type of crimes, as well as to formulating effective policies of preventing discrimination, racism and non-tolerance. At the end of 2012, the Republic of Serbia introduced the aggravating circumstance in sentencing crimes motivated by hatred on the basis of race, religion belief, national or ethnical belonging, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Action Plan of the Implementation of the Strategy of Prevention and Protection against Discrimination (2014) foresees introducing the unique database on hate crimes by the end of 2016. The subject of the paper is the analysis of the importance of establishing this type of database from the perspective of acknowledging victims' rights. The relevant activities and the recommendations of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and the OSCE to the member states, with respect to efficient recording data on hate crimes, have been also introduced. The aim of the paper is to contribute developing of the methodology of data recording of hate crimes in the Republic of Serbia in line with the given recommendations of the FRA and the OSCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Temida is the property of Victimology Society of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)