- Project duration: January 2025 – December 2028
- Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
- Project implemented by: Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) and the Prosecutors Association of Serbia (PAS)
- Project value: EUR 2,298,753.05
Environmental crimes are illegal activities that pose a risk or cause significant harm to the environment and/or human health. The most common examples include air, water, and soil pollution, in violation of regulations governing the disposal and discharge of hazardous waste or substances. In Serbia, only a small number of criminal offenses related to environmental protection have been prosecuted so far. In order to ensure adequate environmental protection, it is essential to strengthen cooperation between institutions and society so as to provide an effective criminal-law response.
The project aims to ensure effective access to justice, reduce environmental crime in Serbia, improve penal policies for violations of environmental protection regulations, and increase public awareness and participation in environmental protection policies.
The project plans to achieve these objectives by:
- strengthening institutional capacities to sanction violators of regulations, with a focus on public prosecution;
- developing communication and cross-sector cooperation among different institutions;
- providing material and legal support to human rights defenders in the field of environmental protection;
- improving public information and raising awareness, especially among youth and the business sector, about access to justice and environmental protection;
- reducing corruption and protecting environmental activists and whistleblowers.
