Koordinatorka Praxisovog programa za prava deteta, Jelena Petrović, gostovala je u emisiji TV Kopernikusa “Jutro Online” i govorila o problemu dečjih, ranih i prinudnih brakova. Jelena je objasnila zbog čega dečji, rani i prinudni brakovi nisu privatna stvar porodice, te zašto rešenje ovog problema zahteva sveobuhvatan pristup i dugoročno zalaganje. 

Emisiju možete pogledati na sledećem linku.

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Praxis respectfully submitted their written comments concerning Serbia for consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at its Concluding Observations of the 74th Session, which will be held from 16 January to 3 February 2017. The ERRC and Praxis have undertaken regular monitoring of the human rights situation of Roma in Serbia and this report reflects the current priorities in our work in Serbia.

According to current official estimates, Roma in Serbia make up approximately 2.05% of the total population or 147,604 Roma. This makes Roma the second largest minority after Hungarians. However, a verified and accurate count remains elusive. Unofficial sources suggest that the number of Roma in Serbia is significantly higher, ranging between 250,000 to 500,000.

In addition to the autochthonous groups, approximately 4,000 – 50,000 Roma fled during and after the conflict in Kosovo to Serbia; only half of whom registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, it is not known if all of them remained in Serbia or left for destination in Western Europe. Furthermore, thousands of Roma have been returned to Serbia from Western European countries in the last years as failed asylum seekers; including Roma who were originally from Kosovo.

Roma are the youngest ethnic group in Serbia. The average age is 27.5 years, compared to 40.2 years among the general Serbian population. According to UNICEF, the primary school completion rate for non-Roma children is 94.5% and the transition rate to secondary school is 96.5%, while for Roma children the primary school completion rate considerably lower - 63%, while the numbers for secondary school for Roma youngsters is even lower - 55.5%.

Illiteracy rates range between age groups from 13.7% amongst adolescents to 57.2% among the elderly. Romani women are extremely disadvantaged when it comes to education achievements; illiteracy is estimated to reach up to 80%.

The submitted comments can be accessed HERE.

On the occasion of the completion of the project “Legal Assistance to Persons at Risk of Statelessness in Serbia”, funded by UNHCR, Praxis held a conference on 20 December 2016, with an idea to point at problems and challenges faced by the Roma community in access to status rights, and to present the activities carried out in the field of child, early and forced marriages. Praxis presented also the reports “Analysis of the Procedures for Determining the Date and Place of Birth and for the Exercise of the Rights to Citizenship and Registration of Permanent Residence” and “Child, Early and Forced Marriages are Not a Private Family Matter”.

Through the presentation of the report “Analysis of the Procedures for Determining the Date and Place of Birth and for the Exercise of the Rights to Citizenship and Registration of Permanent Residence”, the representatives of Praxis once again drew the attention to the problems that have been impeding the access to the rights to birth registration, citizenship and registration of permanent residence for years. The problems are illustrated by the examples of irregular acting identified in the procedures of provision of free legal aid. At the same time, the progress made in this field over the past few years was highlighted, since the amendments of the applicable and adoption of new regulations provided for the possibility to register in birth registries and register permanent residence for the persons who had not been able to do it before. In addition, as it is stated in the report, the competent ministries issued relevant opinions and instructions to the competent bodies in order to unify the proceeding practice, and training for professionals who conduct procedures have been organized for several years. 

During the presentation of another report “Child, Early and Forced Marriages are Not a Private Family Matter”, the title of which clearly indicates that this phenomenon must not be a private family thing, but it is serious violation of the rights of the child and gender-based discrimination, the problems of child, early and forced marriages were defined and Praxis activities on prevention and elimination of child, early and forced marriages were presented.  Also, the proposed policies aimed at prevention and elimination of child, early and forced marriages were presented. It was also indicated which level of authorities should be responsible, and added that most of the recommendations may be implemented at the level of local self-governance by single acting of professionals in their fields of work.  

The presentation of reports was concluded with the discussion of the participants who emphasized the importance of joint and coordinated acting at all levels, which should include the conclusion of formal agreements on joint acting, with the note that holistic approach to the problems is the guarantee of success, regardless of whether it is the exercise or prevention of the violation of rights. 

Jelena Petrović, Praxis Child Rights Programme Coordinator, participated in the show "Our Children" and spoke about the situation of legally invisible children and about child, early and forced marriages. Nevena Vučković Šahović (Union), Saša Gajin (CUPS) and Dragana Ćirić Milovanović (MDRI-S) spoke about discrimination of vulnerable children.

You can see the show at this link.

“I lived in Raqqa, Syria, with my family. Before the war, I worked as a carpenter, I had my own handicraft shop, the business was going well, there was money, and we lived very well. The entire Raqqa lived very well; people were not even thinking about politics. Then the war started between Assad and the Free Syrian Army, the bombs were dropped every day. We were scared to go out in the street, to stay at home; you never knew where the bomb would fall. Then the poverty started, the business stopped. Dollar rose twelvefold, people were starving to death. But we were still not thinking about leaving. It would stop, we thought, it would pass, it was our home after all. Then ISIS came. “

Ahmad (37), Belgrade, October 2016

On the occasion of December 18, International Migrants Day, we would like to point out to the importance of protecting the rights of migrants, as well as to highlight that the problems migrants are facing all over the world, are the same problems they are facing in our immediate surrounding too.

Ten years after the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, to highlight the importance of these rights, in 2000 the United Nations General Assembly declared this day as the International Migrants Day. Sixteen years later, while we are faced with one of the greatest migrant crises in a modern history, marking this day seems more important than ever.

During the past two years, thousands of migrants died trying to reach the countries of the European Union. On their way, migrants have been exposed to the arbitrary violence, beatings, exhausting and uncertain journey through the often hardly passable areas, to smugglers, severe weather conditions and to the absence of any security.

According to the Ministry of Interior, from the beginning of the migrant crisis around 900,000 people passed through Serbia. According to UNHCR estimates, around 6,900 refugees/migrants are in Serbia at the moment. Every day we witness their stories.

Unfortunately, at the same time, with the growing number of migrants, we also witness the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment and rhetoric, hate speech and xenophobic, racist actions. By marking this day, we would like to remind that the migration has always been inherent to humanity, and that the movement of people has significantly contributed to global development, be it in culture, science or economic progress. More importantly, for most migrants whom we met in the past two years, just like Ahmad, the decision to leave their home had been imposed, and thus one of the most difficult decisions they had ever taken. Yet, their journey of difficult decisions is inseparable part of our journey. While providing support to migrants and taking a stand for their rights, we also stand out for respect of rights of every person, the rights of each one of us.