Download: HERE

 Download: HERE

Download: HERE 

Download: HERE

On the occasion of 18 December, the International Migrants Day, Praxis wants to draw attention at difficult position of asylum seekers and irregular migrants in Serbia.

During 2014, more than 10,000 persons with intention to seek asylum crossed over Serbia, running away from armed conflicts and harsh violations of human rights, without being able to exercise their rights in our country either. Non-functional asylum system, postponement of adoption of amendments to the Law on Asylum, insufficient accommodation capacities, impeded access to socioeconomic rights are just some of systemic problems that reflect the lack of political will to find a durable solution. In addition to these problems, there is also widespread xenophobia expressed not only by citizens but also by the representatives of public authorities.

The International Migrants Day is the last change to ask ourselves why, as a society, we are not moved when people in our neighborhood sleep in woods and abandoned factories, exhausted by hunger and thirst, with frostbite, in fear of an uncertain future. We are calling on authorities to fulfil their obligations with an aim of establishing the efficient asylum system, but also on citizens to show understanding for all those who are forced to leave their homes and seek asylum somewhere else.

On the occasion of the eviction of refugees and internally displaced persons from the unrecognized Collective Center "Pioneer City", Jasmina Mikovic, Praxis Deputy Executive Director, made a statement for Vecernje novosti Daily.

Read the news here.

On the occasion of the eviction of refugees and internally displaced persons from the unrecognized Collective Center "Pioneer City", Jasmina Mikovic, Praxis Deputy Executive Director, made a statement for Vecernje novosti Daily.

Read the news here.

In November, Praxis organized five trainings on anti-discrimination law in Belgrade, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad and Nis. The trainings were held together with the partner organization Equal Rights Trust (ERT) from London, with the support of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, within the project Empowering Civil Society to Improve the Implementation of Anti-discrimination Laws in Serbia, supported by the European Union.

The first training was organized in Belgrade on 17-18 November 2014 in the premises of the National Assembly. It was primarily dedicated to lawyers dealing with anti-discrimination law. The goal of the training was to provide the participants with the knowledge about the national and international law, and strategic litigation for determination of discrimination. The training was led by Ivana Krstic (Faculty of Law of the University in Belgrade), Joanna Whiteman (ERT), Milica   Pavicevic (The Commissioner for Protection of Equality), lawyers Aleksandar Olenik and Violeta Kocic-Mitacek. The training was attended by the representatives of the persecution, public attorney’s office, the Ombudsperson, the Commissioner for Protection of Officer, Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and non-governmental organizations. The training consisted of the lecture about the legal framework on anti-discrimination, through illustrative examples from practice and exercises, aimed at practical application of knowledge and opening of a discussion. The participants had an opportunity to listen about anti-discrimination and strategic litigations from different perspectives: academic, non-governmental and that of independent institutions and lawyers.

This training was followed by trainings organized in Novi Pazar (20-21 November), Novi Sad (24-25 November) and Nis (27-28 November). These trainings were intended for activists of non-governmental organizations dealing with anti-discrimination and were led by Joanna Whiteman and Jim Fitzgerald (Equal Rights Trust), Ivana Stjelja (Praxis) and Rejhana Corovic, Lazar Rodic and Relja Pantic from the Office of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality.

In addition to the above stated trainings, on 26 November 2015 one more training was organized in Belgrade intended for media representatives. The training referred to the role of media in promotion of equality and was led by Vladimir Curgus (EBART),  Jim  Fitzgerald (Equal Rights Trust) and Danica Balaban (EBART). The participants talked about the principles of ethical reporting, different media reporting on children from different social groups and on discrimination in media based on national affiliation.

The trainings showed that discrimination is still an insufficiently explored issue, that term discrimination is often widely interpreted and often not recognized or wrongly understood in practice. The participants of trainings showed a great interest in this topic, especially in cases from practice. The conclusion of all trainings was that civil society needs to be more seriously empowered and informed about this subject and that such trainings are necessary. 

Download the report: Protecting the Rights of Migrants in the Republic of Serbia

Today we are marking the Human Rights Day and 66 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This day should remind us that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, but also that there are those whose rights are violated and who need protection.

On this day we would thus like to point at the position of refugees and internally displaced persons accommodated in the informal Collective Centre “Pionirski grad”. Sixty three persons are being evicted at this moment. The evictions will be also carried out during winter, which is contrary to international standards binding on Serbia. The eviction of the CC “Pionirski Park” affects children, single parents, unemployed, socially vulnerable and persons of poor health, who are in constant fear and state of uncertainty, without durable and sustainable solution for their problems. We express sincere concern about the lack of understanding and will of the competent institutions to prevent homelessness, which for some is the only certain perspective. The authorities point out that the evictions are now unavoidable, but there will be opportunities for final resolving of their housing issue in the future.

Therefore, on this day we are calling on the authorities to urgently suspend the evictions during winter and find a durable and sustainable solution for refugees and internally displaced persons threatened with homelessness.