The Plenum’s Annual Award for the Fight for Democracy and Human Rights, this year, has been presented to the Free University of Novi Sad, which, in a year marked by student uprisings and profound social upheavals, demonstrated what academic courage looks like. While the institutions were captured, this network of professors and researchers stood with the students, defending the integrity of knowledge and the right to freedom of thought.
The Centre for Civic Education (CCE), the Regional Academy for Democratic Development (ADD) from Novi Sad, the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Sarajevo (FPN), and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), as organizers of the regional plenum, present this recognition to initiatives and communities whose work makes an exceptional contribution to the protection and advancement of democracy and human rights in the Western Balkans.
Founded just a year ago, the Free University has become a symbol of academic honour and solidarity, civic courage, and resistance to an undemocratic regime. Their work stands as an example of how professional integrity and social responsibility can be lived and defended even under conditions of political pressure.
“It is particularly significant that the award goes to Novi Sad – a city that, even under the burden of great tragedy, has shown that it has the strength to carry the torch of resistance and hope. Montenegro was, even during the Milošević regime, a refuge for those who fought for freedom in Serbia. Today, when authorities in Montenegro support an autocrat who has suffocated pluralism in Serbia, we want to clearly state: civic-minded Montenegro stands with free people, with those who refuse to succumb to fear but instead transform it into strength, and strongly supports the free-thinking citizens of neighbouring Serbia,” emphasized Daliborka Uljarević, Executive Director of the CCE, on behalf of the organizers at the award ceremony.
On behalf of the Free University, the award was accepted by professors Nataša Milićević, Ljubica Oparnica, and Vanja Manić Matić.
“We see this award as recognition of the entire rebellious and free academic community in Serbia, and we dedicate it to our comrades – all the disobedient citizens of Serbia. Serbia is not the only country where university autonomy has been violated, but it is a country in which the destruction of democracy has become a prerequisite for the private interests of political groups. As long as the authorities view students as enemies, we will continue to show that the movement is alive and that our position is clear: one resistance, one university,” stated Nataša Milićević on that occasion.
“After thousands of our students began their unique and incredibly difficult fight for justice and accountability, it became our duty to support them and to begin the struggle for a free university. Many battles have begun and last. The consequences include institutional and administrative pressure. The fight for basic autonomy, for labor and human legal security of the academic community and society, is difficult,” added Milićević, noting that the Free University of Novi Sad has recently filed a historic lawsuit against the Ministry of Internal Affairs for violating the spatial autonomy of the university, as well as the personal and labour rights of employees at the University of Novi Sad.
“With this award, the plenum confirms its commitment to supporting those who defend spaces of freedom, dialogue, critical thought, and democracy – values that are more endangered today than ever, yet that persist thanks to courageous individuals and communities such as the Free University,” reads the award explanation.
Maja Marinović, Programme Associate