The work of NPA in South Eastern Europe is based on two pillars, humanitarian mine action and support to civil society and media.

Humanitarian Mine Action

Explosive remnants of war still pose a considerable risk to a large part of the population in areas of South Eastern Europe that were affected by the wars of the 1990s. Millions of landmines, grenades, rockets, cluster bombs and other forms of explosives were used in the hostilities, many remaining on or in the ground after the guns fell silent posing a threat to civilians as well as a considerable obstacle to reconstruction, resettlement, agriculture and development. More than 10 years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a threat to a quarter of the population in that country. In Croatia, the situation is similar, with around a quarter of the population exposed to explosive remnants of war. In Serbia, there are still minefields on the border between Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, whereas cluster bombs used during the NATO bombing in 1999 remain a threat to the population in several places. NPA seeks to support national authorities, development of national capacities while focusing on mapping mined areas (survey) as well as clearing minefields in high priority local communities that typically live from agricultural activities. NPA sees humanitarian mine action as a prerequisite for reconstruction and development of sustainable local communities that are mine affected. NPA combines practical fieldwork in humanitarian mine action with international lobbying within the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and The Cluster Munitions Coalition.

Grbavica, Sarajevo, 1996 - Grbavica, Sarajevo, 2005

Civil society and media

A viable civil society consisting of NGOs that raise the voice of citizens in their local communities as well as at the state level is one of the cornerstones of a sustainable democracy. Authoritarian states are typically lacking any civil sector and have a limited if any respect for the freedom of expression. Whereas governments come and go, the need for organisations that represent interests of citizens in general and minority groups in particular remain. NPA sees a viable civil society as necessary bulwark against authoritarianism, and as an arena where the interest of the state meet interests of citizens and particular groups, and where state policy can be questioned, and hopefully improved in the best interest of the citizens. Furthermore, a free and democratic media that report on events in an unbiased manner, is another cornerstone of a democracy. The media, or “The Fourth State Power” can only serve the interests of the citizens if it is not controlled by the state. In South Eastern Europe, NPA focuses on support to strengthening organisations representing vulnerable and marginalised groups such as minorities, youth, women and IDPs, while we also support NGOs that monitor the political situation and engage in election monitoring. Our combined effort within the civil sector is aimed at contributing to creating sustainable democracies in the region of South East Europe.

“You are not a child anymore!”. Get out to vote campaign.