On 10th December 2010, on the International Human Rights Day, along with numerous other organizations, Praxis took part in the “ILLUMINATION”, a peaceful gathering in solidarity with those who are “invisible” to our society. The gathering was organized with the aim to jointly send a message to all competent State institutions to get down to the adoption and implementation of a systemic legal solution which would enable recognition of all citizens before the law.

There are many citizens living in Serbia today who are invisible, due to their living conditions, belonging to a national minority or their manner of living. The responsibility of everyone is to support them to become visible. The responsibility of the State is to provide conditions to make them visible.

They are invisible when we do not see them in the street, when we do not see where they sleep; invisible because we are not aware of their problems, because they are stigmatized and discriminated by others; they are invisible because they do not possess birth certificate and cannot finish school and find employment; invisible because they are different from the majority. They are invisible to other people and institutions, and, at the same time, they endure discrimination by both people and institutions.

The gathering was held at the Republic Square in Belgrade, where representatives, activists and beneficiaries of programmes of civil society organizations working with marginalized population groups read their requests.

The gathering was organized as part of the Project Illumination of the Centre for Youth Integration and, apart from Praxis and the Centre, other NGOs also took part – Labris, Regional Centre for Minorities, Association of Citizens “Woman Plus”, Association of Young Roma of Serbia, Velikimali and Women in Black.

You can find more about the Project Illumination here .