Belgrade Centre for Human Rights / Beogradski centar za ljudska prava

What Belgrade Centre for Human Rights / Beogradski centar za ljudska prava does

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (Beogradski centar za ljudska prava) is a non-governmental, non-profit civil society organization founded in 1995 in Belgrade, Serbia. Its mission is to advance human rights theory and practice through four pillars: education, free legal aid, research/publication, and advocacy. The organization serves multiple beneficiary groups, including asylum seekers and refugees (via free legal aid as a UNHCR partner since 2012), legal professionals (judges, prosecutors, lawyers across Serbia and the Western Balkans), youth and students, and victims of human rights violations such as police brutality and torture. It is the only NGO member of the Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI) from Southeast Europe and the largest human rights publisher in Serbia, with over 140 titles published including the International Human Rights Law textbook used in university programs.

Core products include annual monitoring reports (Human Rights in Serbia since 1998, Right to Asylum reports, Youth Human Rights reports), the Human Rights Schools program named after founder Vojin Dimitrijević, the ten-day Schools of Human Rights for future decision-makers, seminars on the prohibition of torture and the European Convention on Human Rights, free legal aid clinics, and specialized programs on business and human rights and digital privacy. The organization has implemented more than 200 projects delivered across more than 15 Serbian cities and the Western Balkans, reaching approximately 60% of Serbian judges and over 1,200 legal professionals regionally. Recent additions include a multi-year digital surveillance and data protection project (2026-2028) and a victim-of-trafficking support program (2025-2027).

The organization operates entirely on donor funding from over 60 sources, including EU institutions, UN agencies (UNHCR, IOM, UNICEF, UNDP), national governments (Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Norwegian, Canadian, German, Swiss, UK, US), embassies, and international foundations (Open Society Foundations, Freedom House). It is governed by a board including international law professors and former ICRC and ICJ-affiliated experts. Current leadership comprises Executive Director Sonja Tošković, Program Director Dušan Pokuševski, and Legal Team Manager Vladica Ilić. The Centre has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no commercial revenue streams; all services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Name

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights / Beogradski centar za ljudska prava

Legal name

Beogradski centar za ljudska prava

Website

https://bgcentar.org.rs

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights is a non-governmental, non-profit civil society organization founded in 1995 in Belgrade, Serbia, providing human rights education, free legal aid for asylum seekers, advocacy, and research publications. It serves vulnerable populations, legal professionals, and youth across Serbia and the Western Balkans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Civil Society Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Human rights education
• Free legal aid
• Asylum and refugee support
• Human rights publications
• Judicial training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Belgrade

HQ country

Serbia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Funding: The organization operates entirely on donor funding from international organizations, governments, embassies, foundations, and civil society support organizations. It has received support from over 60 donors including EU institutions, UN agencies, governments (Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Canadian, German, Norwegian, US, Swiss, British), and international NGOs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights is a non-governmental, non-profit civil society organization that delivers human rights education, free legal aid, research, and advocacy in Serbia. It provides free legal representation to asylum seekers and refugees as a UNHCR partner, runs Schools of Human Rights and judicial training seminars, publishes annual human rights monitoring reports and over 140 publications, and engages with international human rights mechanisms including the European Court of Human Rights and UN committees.

Product overview

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights is a non-governmental organization offering a portfolio of publications, educational programs, legal aid services, and advocacy initiatives focused on human rights protection in Serbia. The core products include annual human rights monitoring reports (Human Rights in Serbia, Right to Asylum, Youth Human Rights reports), educational publications including the International Human Rights Law textbook, and the Human Rights Schools program. The organization provides free legal aid for asylum seekers and implements projects on digital privacy, business and human rights, and youth engagement. The portfolio operates as a unified mission-driven offering where publications inform advocacy, education supports capacity building, and legal services deliver direct assistance to vulnerable populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Godišnji izveštaji o stanju ljudskih prava (Ljudska prava u Srbiji) - Annual Human Rights Reports Annual comprehensive reports monitoring and analyzing the state of human rights in Serbia, covering rule of law, civil liberties, and institutional compliance with international standards. Targeted at legal professionals, academics, civil society, and government stakeholders.
• Pravo na azil u Republici Srbiji (Right to Asylum Reports) Regular and periodic reports monitoring asylum procedures, refugee protection, and migration policies in Serbia. Targeted at policymakers, civil society, and international organizations.
• Izveštaji o ljudskim pravima mladih (Youth Human Rights Reports) Annual reports documenting the human rights situation of youth in Serbia, tracking issues such as education access, peaceful assembly, police violence, and political participation. Targeted at youth organizations, educators, and policymakers.
• Međunarodno pravo ljudskih prava (International Human Rights Law Textbook) Comprehensive textbook on international human rights law, authored by Vojin Dimitrijević and colleagues, used in academic programs and professional training. Targeted at law students, legal scholars, and practitioners.
• Škole ljudskih prava „Vojin Dimitrijević" (Human Rights Schools) Intensive ten-day courses on human rights for university students, activists, and future decision-makers, conducted across Serbia. Targeted at university students, activists, and future decision-makers.
• Besplatna pravna pomoć za tražioce azila (Free Legal Aid for Asylum Seekers) Free legal assistance and representation for asylum seekers and persons under temporary protection in Serbia, provided since 2012 as UNHCR partner. Targeted at asylum seekers, refugees, and persons under temporary protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of Serbian judges trained through Centre's educational programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered important, core, major and minor.

• Rainbow Migration Network (RMN)importantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Centre supports the work of RMN, a network of 16 civil society organizations working in asylum, migration, and LGBTQ+ rights, established under the GIZ project during 2022.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Since 2012 as UNHCR partner, the Belgrade Centre provides free legal aid to asylum seekers and persons enjoying international protection in Serbia. The partnership involves legal representation in asylum procedures and integration support.
• House of Human Rights Belgrade (Kuća ljudskih prava)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2011The Belgrade Centre was one of five founding organizations establishing the House of Human Rights in Belgrade in November 2011.
• European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Belgrade Centre is a member of ECRE and serves as the regional representative for Southeast Europe on ECRE's Administrative Board. Active in regional cooperation of NGOs monitoring asylum rights.
• Association of Human Rights Institutes (AHRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre was admitted to AHRI due to its scientific capacity and educational activities. It is the only member from Southeast Europe and the only NGO among 55 institutes worldwide.
• EU4FAST Consortium (EU and GIZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of the EU4FAST project 'Support to EU for Strengthening the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants on the Western Balkans', providing legal aid in asylum centers and transit centers.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2015, the Centre worked with IRC in activities aimed at protecting persons in transit through Serbia.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2015, the Centre partnered with IOM as part of protection activities for persons in transit.
• Partners SerbiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in the EU-funded project 'Strengthening the Rule of Law in Serbia: Towards Effective Data Protection in the Era of Digital Surveillance', focused on privacy and digital rights.
• Zemljani - Are You Syrious? (Croatia)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Erasmus+ project 'Intercultural Competences and Innovative Approaches in Working with Refugees and Migrants', implementing joint activities and regional exchange.
• Coalition of Organizations for Monitoring Child Rights (KO RSD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Coalition for Monitoring the Realization of Child Rights in Serbia.
• Balkan Council for Refugees and MigrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of the Balkan Council for Refugees and Migrations.
• Balkanske mreže za ljudska prava (Balkan Human Rights Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Balkans Network for Human Rights.
• KORAK Regional CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of regional KORAK (HAPI Step) coalition for equality.
• Croatian Law CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partner in asylum system development in the former Serbia and Montenegro state, implementing project 'Protection of Asylum Seekers in Republic of Croatia and Region'.
• AIRE Centre (London)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1999, joint seminars for judges on European Convention on Human Rights application, preparing Serbia for Council of Europe membership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Civil Rights Defenders: Stockholm-based international human rights organization actively working in the Western Balkans on similar rule-of-law and rights-monitoring programs. Comparable as a regional human rights operator with overlapping thematic scope and donor base.
• Hungarian Helsinki Committee: Budapest-based human rights NGO providing legal aid, asylum representation, and strategic litigation in a neighboring Central European context. Closely comparable by mission, structure, and ECRE membership.

Direct peers

• Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia: Serbian human rights NGO of comparable size and scope that conducts monitoring, legal aid, and advocacy across similar thematic areas. Directly comparable as a national human rights umbrella organization operating in the same legal and donor ecosystem.
• ASTRA - Anti Trafficking Action: Serbian NGO specializing in anti-trafficking and victim support, partnering with BCHR on the 2025–2027 EU4FAST trafficking/migrant smuggling project. Comparable as a thematic human rights service provider in Serbia sharing similar donor pool.
• European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC): International legal advocacy organization working on minority rights, asylum, and discrimination across Europe including the Western Balkans. Comparable in its litigation-driven human rights advocacy model and EU donor profile.
• Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM): Serbian legal-professional NGO providing free legal aid, strategic litigation, and human rights education to legal professionals. Closest functional peer given shared legal-aid franchise and overlapping judge/lawyer training programs.
• Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPE): Serbian CSO focused on democratic governance, rule of law, and political education. Comparable as a similarly sized, donor-funded Belgrade-based NGO operating in the rule-of-law space and frequently partnering with BCHR.

Broad incumbents

• International Commission of Jurists (ICJ): Geneva-based global organization of jurists promoting rule of law and human rights through legal expertise. Comparable as a peer-level organization in international human rights law — board member Jelena Pejić is a former ICJ-affiliated legal counsel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mladibgcentar
• Xx.com/bgcentar
• Facebookfacebook.com/BelgradeCentreForHumanRights
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bchr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Belgrade Centre for Human Rights / Beogradski centar za ljudska prava