Praxis became a member of Federation of NGOs in Serbia (FeNS). FeNS is the network of NGOs, which was founded at the annual conference of the Civic Initiatives in February of 2003. Namely, a number of non-governmental organizations initiated forming of a network of non-governmental organizations, with the aim to clearly define legislative framework within which to work and define financial and institutional support. They realized that only through joint activity by means of this legitimate body, could they improve their working conditions and develop a strategy for survival of this sector in Serbia.

Today, FeNS comprises of 513 member organizations from 102 municipalities in Serbia.

HELP is a German non-governmental relief organization, founded in 1981 by the members of German Parliament. HELP started its work by providing humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees that have fled to Pakistan. Today, HELP is engaged in emergency assistance, as well as in rehabilitation and development projects worldwide.

HELP has been operating in Serbia since 1999, providing socio-economic support for vulnerable individuals – refugees, IDPs, local social cases and Roma population. HELP has been implementing a large number of humanitarian projects in Serbia: socio-economic support programmes and micro-enterprise development through income generation assistance; support to the closure of collective centres by providing alternative housing solutions; trainings and support for start-up businesses; construction and rehabilitation projects; humanitarian relief projects such as distribution of food, hygienic items and firewood, etc, thus supporting implementation of several National Strategies.

Praxis and HELP signed the Memorandum of Understanding, thus establishing close cooperation with the aim to contribute to recognition of displaced persons and members of ethnic minorities before the law and their enjoyment of individual rights on an equal and non-discriminatory basis. The organizations also agreed to share information, experience and knowledge related to issues of relevance for the displaced population and, when it is of mutual interest, undertake joint advocacy initiatives for removal of barriers the displaced face in accessing their rights.

HELP is currently implementing the Project “Housing and Income Generating Support to Refugees and IDPs in Serbia”, with the overall objective to support the implementation of the National Strategy for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and IDPs of the Republic of Serbia through facilitating the closure of collective centres and contributing to the overall living standard enhancement in the target areas. Within the MoU, Praxis agreed to assist HELP in obtaining documents for the displaced, needed for successful implementation of this project.

You can obtain additional information on the activities of HELP in Serbia at www.help-serbia.org.rs.  

On 24 March 2009, Praxis and NGO Centre for Youth Integration signed a Memorandum of Understanding, thus establishing cooperation of the two organizations with the aim to provide free legal assistance to “street children and youth”. Centre for Youth Integration aims to contribute to social integration of youth by raising awareness about the importance of their active and constructive involvement in the community. The Centre began its programme of working with children and youth living and working in the street in 2005 through field work in the central municipalities in Belgrade and, afterwards, the Drop-in Centre for street children was opened within this organization.

Centre for Youth Integration and Praxis have established cooperation with the aim to provide “street children and youth”, beneficiaries of the Drop-in Centre, with personal documents, which will enable them to access their basic human rights.

On 9th February 2009, in Belgrade, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of the Republic of Serbia organized a ceremony at which it formally signed Memorandum of Cooperation with the organizations dealing with human and minority rights, among them Praxis as well.

With the aim of establishing closer cooperation and promoting human rights in Serbia, and with the aim to report regularly and objectively about the cases of violation of human rights and provide timely and adequate reaction to such violations, non-governmental organizations and the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights have obligated to provide regular exchange of information about the activities referring to drafting, adoption and implementation of the law and strategies in the field of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Ministry promised to provide support to NGOs and strengthen relations with them, while NGOs, on the other side, promised to, according to their knowledge, point to the Ministry to the violations of human rights occurring due to the shortcomings in the legal system or within discriminatory and inadequate practice.

In June 2009, Praxis and Civil Society Research Centre from Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding wishing to establish close cooperation in the provision of legal assistance and protection of rights of the displaced and the members of Roma minority in Serbia and Macedonia.

The Civil Society Research Centre is a non-governmental organization established in 1997 with the objectives of assuring growth and promotion of a society based on a solid civil premise, respect of human rights and the principle of the rule of law. The Centre provides free legal, technical, consulting and other support to citizens, refugees, non-governmental organization and institutions, both local and international, in their efforts to pursue activities related to the domain of civil society and the rule of law.

The close cooperation between the Civil Society Research Centre and Praxis is agreed upon with the aim to contribute to the recognition of the displaced and the members of Roma minority before the law and their exercising of human rights on an equal and non-discriminatory basis.

In February 2010, Roma Educational Centre (ECR) and Praxis signed a Memorandum of Understanding, wishing to establish close cooperation in empowering the Roma to access and protect their rights, combat discrimination and participate in the society on an equal basis.

ECR is a non-governmental organization from Subotica with the mission of inclusion of the Roma population in the local environments on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, aimed at Roma capacity building, improving their living conditions and active incorporation into integrative social processes. ECR has been implementing projects regarding education, culture and representation of Roma rights.

The close cooperation between ECR and Praxis has been agreed with the aim to contribute towards social inclusion of the Roma and to their full enjoyment of civil rights.

In February 2010, Roma Women’s Association Osvit and Praxis signed a Memorandum of Understanding, wishing to establish close cooperation in empowering the Roma to access and protect their rights, combat discrimination and participate in the society on an equal basis.

Osvit is a non-governmental organization based in Nis and established in July 2005. Osvit has been supporting the emancipation and social inclusion of Roma women, youth and children for almost five years now. Osvit’s aims refer to increasing the level of awareness of Roma women in the region of the City of Nis about women’s rights and empowerment of Roma women to actively participate in the life of local community and access to socio-economic rights, rights to education, health care, employment, etc.

The close cooperation between Osvit and Praxis has been agreed with the aim to contribute towards social inclusion of the Roma and to their full enjoyment of civil rights.

As UNHCR implementing partners within the Project “Social Inclusion: Regional Support to Marginalized Communities”, the organizations Civil Rights Programme, Kosovo, Association “Vasa prava BIH”, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Civil Society Research Centre, Macedonia, Legal Centre, Montenegro, and Praxis, Serbia, have signed a regional MoU in order to formalize and strengthen regional ties ad promote cross-border/boundary cooperation to issues linked to social inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Eguptians (RAE)  communities and other marginalized groups in the Western Balkans.

The cooperation is aimed at contributing to prevention and reduction of statelessness in the region and reduction of persons at risk of statelessness, which particularly affects the RAE population, especially those displaced during the conflicts in the region. Finally, the cooperation should contribute towards the social inclusion of RAE and other marginalized groups and to their full enjoyment of human rights in the region of the Western Balkans.

In February 2008, Association Roma in Exodus from Kosovo and Metohija and Praxis signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the aim to closely cooperate on issues related to prevention of statelessness and reduction of statelessness persons in Serbia and prevention, legal protection and reduction of the number of “legally invisible” persons in Serbia. 

Association Roma in Exodus from Kosovo and Metohija is a domestic non-governmental organization working on protection of human rights of internally displaced persons in Serbia, more specifically in obtaining personal documents, exercising right to health care, social welfare and children’s allowance, registering permanent or temporary residence and registering children in birth registry books.

The cooperation between Association Roma in Exodus from Kosovo and Metohija and Praxis has been agreed with the aim to contribute to social inclusion and enjoyment of basic human rights of the Roma population in Serbia.

Praxis became a member of the Coalition for Free Access to Information, which arose from the need to, through a joint action and support from the civil society and citizens as individual, put pressure on the authorities in Serbia – the Government and National Assembly, to adopt the Law on Free Access to Information as soon as possible. Members of the Coalition greatly contributed to bringing a law which would guarantee every citizen of Serbia freedom of access to information available to authorities. The Coalition continues its work which will be especially important in the process of implementation of the Law.

Free access to information of public importance is a condition for quality and efficient enjoyment of other rights and freedoms (freedom of thought, right to information, voter’s right, etc) and is an irreplaceable instrument for monitoring the work of the authorities. This right opens the way to citizens to take part in doing public duties and in the decision making process, truly and responsibly and without an intermediary, as well as to influence their content and efficient implementation.

You can read more about the Coalition here.