The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia (YIHR Serbia) is using community action to challenge hateful political graffiti across Belgrade, replacing divisive messages with expressions of peace, love, solidarity, cooperation and inclusion.
The action builds on the organisation’s broader work against hate speech and nationalist messages in public spaces. YIHR Serbia has previously campaigned for the removal of murals and graffiti glorifying convicted war criminals, calling on institutions to take responsibility for addressing such messages. In 2022, it launched the “Let the Truth No Longer Be Delayed” campaign to document murals and graffiti dedicated to Ratko Mladić.
The current initiative takes a hands-on approach, with members participating in the repainting of walls and covering offensive messages with more positive ones. Rather than relying solely on institutional responses, the action puts the emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for the environment around them and showing that public spaces can communicate respect, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
By sharing the initiative through its dedicated Instagram presence, YIHR Serbia hopes to reach a wider audience and encourage more people to join the effort. The initiative reflects the organisation’s wider commitment to human rights, reconciliation and peacebuilding across the region.
