Praxis
Praxis on a Study Visit to the German Province of Schleswig-Holstein
The visit was financially supported by the governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Province of Schleswig-Holstein with the aim of presenting and exchanging experiences and good practices in the field of policies related to supporting youth, members of national minorities, overcoming obstacles in the educational system and moving from the world of education to the world of work. In that respect, the Province developed the programme of support for youth from vulnerable groups of population with the aim of fostering their skills related to vocational education and employment, inter alia through direct access to dual education, which should facilitate entry into professional life. The participation in this programme is voluntary and free of charge. It is intended to provide support to pupils in planning their professional future by learning more about their own capacities and making informed decisions, which should result in taking responsibility for their future careers. In the period 13-18 May 2019, the German Organisation for International Cooperation - GIZ organised a study visit for relevant institutions and organisations that participated in or advocated for minority support programmes in Kiel, the capital of the German Province of Schleswig-Holstein, well-known, even outside Germany, for its successful inclusive minority policy. Over the past decades, the Province has implemented many projects and measures to support vulnerable groups, especially in the field of career guidance and counselling for the purpose of continuation of their education and employment.
The legal framework in the field of dual education has recently been established in Serbia. Among other things, it has introduced novelties regarding the structure and networking of school teams for career guidance and counselling, while taking into account the specific characteristics of dual education system. On the other hand, pupils from vulnerable groups often need additional support in terms of career guidance and counselling because of their specific situation and obstacles they face during their professional development. The need was recognised to develop a brochure in order to provide guidance to career guidance and counselling teams in the secondary school implementing dual educational programmes. The brochure would enable representatives of Serbian institutions to learn about positive and specific knowledge, methods and experiences from Schleswig-Holstein, as well as to get acquainted with institutions, models and ways of working with vulnerable groups in that province, which would contribute to the establishment and implementation of the standards of career guidance and counselling for young people in Serbia.
Despite the fact that the problems encountered by the Roma national minority in the province of Schleswig-Holstein are more or less similar to those in Serbia, the study visit has revealed that the measures of support for young people in acquiring vocational qualifications and getting vocational training are successful because of the individual approach to pupils, focused on the potentials of each of them.
In addition to Praxis representatives, Jasmina Miković and Marija Dražović, the study group consisted to representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, the Institute for the Improvement of Education, the National Employment Service, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Union of Employers, the Kragujevac City School Administration, the Secondary Vocational School in Kragujevac, Inventiva Centre - Association for the Development of Vocational Orientation, the Educational and Cultural Community of Roma “Romanipen” from Kragujevac, the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the German Corporation for International Cooperation - GIZ and the European Center for Minority Issues (ECMI) from Germany.
Pored predstavnica Praxisa, Jasmine Miković i Marije Dražović, studijsku grupu su činili i predstavnici Ministarstva prosvete, nauke i tehnološkog razvoja, Zavoda za unapređivanje obrazovanja i vaspitanja, Nacionalne službe za zapošljavanje, Privredne komore Srbije, Unije poslodavaca, Školske uprave grada Kragujevca, Srednje stručne škole u Kragujevcu, Centra Inventiva - Udruženja za razvoj profesionalne orijentacije, Obrazovno-kulturne zajednice Roma „Romanipen“ iz Kragujevca, Tim za socijlano uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva Vlade RS, Nemačke organizacije za međunarodnu saradnju GIZ i Evropskog centra za pitanje manjina (ECMI) iz Nemačke.
Child Rights in Serbia 30 Years After Adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
On Wednesday, 9th October, in the Media Center, as part of the Children’s Week, the Friends of Children of Serbia organised the panel discussion “Child Rights in Serbia 30 Years After Adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”.
Jasmina Miković, Praxis Deputy Executive Director and member of the Council for the Rights of the Child was also a speaker. She stressed that the child’s rights continued not to be a priority for our country and that we were far from the full implementation of ratified international treaties in the field of child’s rights. In this respect, she pointed to the existing shortcomings of the institutional and regulatory framework in this field.
She also drew attention to some of the trends and challenges in the field of child’s rights identified by Praxis in working with target groups, which had not been properly addressed:
•The state has not yet taken measures within its remit to remove legal barriers that prevent immediate birth registration of children born to mothers without personal documents.
•There is no adequate institutional response to child marriages, which occur disproportionately more frequently among the Roma population and particularly affect girls.
•Segregation in education continues to exist, which seriously jeopardises the rights of the child and has far-reaching negative social consequences. Although it still exists in some schools in Serbia, no concrete measures or activities have been taken to prevent this discriminatory phenomenon.
•Discrimination against particularly vulnerable groups of children is still widespread and represents a major challenge in our society. Decisions taken at the local level are also disconcerting because they often discriminate against particularly vulnerable groups of children, such as children with IDP status, Roma children, children with disabilities and others.
For more information, see here.
Child Rights in Serbia 30 Years After Adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
On Wednesday, 9th October, in the Media Center, as part of the Children’s Week, the Friends of Children of Serbia organised the panel discussion “Child Rights in Serbia 30 Years After Adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”.
The speakers were Dragan Vulević, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs; Nataša Jović, Assistant Secretary-General for Child’s Rights, Gender Equality and Rights of Persons with Disability in the Ombudsman’s Office; Vesna Dejanović, UNICEF Children Protection Programme Manager; Jasmina Miković, Praxis Deputy Executive Director and member of the Council for the Rights of the Child; Saša Stefanović, MODS Director; and Dunja Joldžić, member of the participatory Group of 10 Friends of Children of Serbia. The panel discussion was moderated by journalist Marija Šehić
The speakers presented the main trends and challenges in the field of children's rights in Serbia, after which they had the opportunity to discuss and exchange opinions on current challenges with children and other participants.
Jasmina Miković stressed that the child’s rights continued not to be a priority for our country and that we were far from the full implementation of ratified international treaties in the field of child’s rights. In this respect, she pointed to the existing shortcomings of the institutional and regulatory framework in this field.
She also drew attention to some of the trends and challenges in the field of child’s rights identified by Praxis in working with target groups, which had not been properly addressed:
•The state has not yet taken measures within its remit to remove legal barriers that prevent immediate birth registration of children born to mothers without personal documents.
•There is no adequate institutional response to child marriages, which occur disproportionately more frequently among the Roma population and particularly affect girls.
•Segregation in education continues to exist, which seriously jeopardises the rights of the child and has far-reaching negative social consequences. Although it still exists in some schools in Serbia, no concrete measures or activities have been taken to prevent this discriminatory phenomenon.
•Discrimination against particularly vulnerable groups of children is still widespread and represents a major challenge in our society. Decisions taken at the local level are also disconcerting because they often discriminate against particularly vulnerable groups of children, such as children with IDP status, Roma children, children with disabilities and others.
Based on the presentations and discussion, the following recommendations were formulated:
1. Better monitoring and implementation of the existing legislation, as well as continuous work on maintaining the achieved standards and further improving the regulatory and institutional framework in Serbia;
2. Base policies and practices on realistic research and possibilities, plan rationally and direct resources accordingly;
3. Strengthen the role of the Children’s Rights Council - provide financial and human resources so that the Council can become the main institutional mechanism for inter-ministerial coordination, with the clear mandate and authority to coordinate all activities related to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at cross-sectoral, national and local level;
4. Enhance accessibility and investment in the systems on which the situation of child's rights directly depends - health care, social protection, education, culture, etc. Austerity measures must not affect services related to children and protection of their rights;
5. Continuously work on raising public awareness about the importance of respecting children’s rights;
6. Continuously involve children in topics that concern them - raise awareness about the importance of participation among the general public, professionals working with children at all levels and decision makers;
7. Intensify work on the prevention of child marriages;
8. Urgently amend the regulations that prevent immediate birth registration of children born to mother without personal documents;
9. Improve support and control systems for foster families;
10. Strengthen support for social services for families, especially from vulnerable groups;
11. Urgent social response to burning issues that affect children - violence, poverty, etc.
12. Work on the prevention and elimination of discrimination against particularly vulnerable groups of children and prohibit segregation in the education system, especially for Roma children and children with disabilities;
13. Work on strengthening support systems and alternative accommodation systems for young people with disabilities as well as young people from vulnerable categories of population;
14. Provide minimum housing standards for each child/family;
15. Work on the promotion and strengthening of dialogue between the government and civil sectors.
Praxis Published Protection Monitoring Report on Migration for September 2019
In September 2019, Praxis continued providing assistance to refugees/migrants, through information, psychosocial support, referrals to the targeted assistance provided by various organisations/institutions or covering the costs of transport to the asylum and reception centres.
A total of 1977 newly arrived refugees/migrants were informed about current situation in Serbia and the region, legal status and available legal options (seeking asylum in Serbia, assisted voluntary return to the country of origin, possibilities of family reunification abroad or resettlement to a third country when possible), accommodation in asylum centres (AC) or transit-reception centres in Serbia, means of transportation to the assigned centres, other rights and available services (medical care, psychosocial support, food, NFIs, various workshops for refugees/ migrants etc).
Download the whole Protection Monitoring Report for September 2019 here.
Praxis' submission concerning Serbia to CESCR
Praxis podneo izveštaj Komitetu za ekonomska, socijalna i kulturna prava
Praxis je Komitetu za za ekonomska, socijalna i kulturna prava Ujedinjenih nacija podneo izveštaj o sprovođenju Međunarodnog pakta o ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima u Srbiji. U izveštaju je ukazano na probleme i prepreke sa kojima se pripadnici romske nacionalne manjine suočavaju u vezi sa ostvarivanjem prava na upis u matičnu knjigu rođenih i pristup ličnim dokumentima, prava na socijalnu i zdravstvenu zaštitu, kao i na štetnu pojavu dečjih brakova.
U izveštaju Praxisa ističe se da od 2014. godine, kada je Komitet u okviru drugog periodičnog pregleda o sprovođenju Međunarodnog pakta o ekonomskim socijalnim i kulturnim pravima uputio Srbiji preporuke za unapređenje stanja u ovim oblastima, nije došlo do napretka u rešavanju problema na koje Praxis skreće pažnju u svom izveštaju, dok se u vezi sa nekim pitanjima stanje i pogoršalo.
Tako se ukazuje da nije sprovedena preporuka Komiteta da se Romima olakša pristup ličnim dokumentima, kao i da interno raseljeni Romi koji žive u neformalnim naseljima, a još uvek imaju prijavu prebivališta u mestima koja su odavno napustili, u mnogim slučajevima i dalje ne mogu da prijave prebivalište u gradovima gde zaista žive. Posebno se ističe da se i dalje rađaju deca koja ne mogu da budu upisana u matične knjige odmah nakon rođenja, jer su još uvek na snazi propisi koji onemogućavaju blagovremeni upis u slučajevima kada majke ne poseduju lične dokumente. Nije realizovana ni preporuka Komiteta da se do rešavanja pitanja identiteta mora omogućiti pristup ekonomskim, socijalnim i kulturnim pravima.
U vezi sa pristupom pravu na socijalnu zaštitu, stanje u odnosu na prethodni ciklus izveštavanja ne samo da nije unapređeno, nego se čak i pogoršalo, konstatuje se u izveštaju. Tako su ustanovljeni diskriminatorni uslovi za dobijanje roditeljskog dodatka, koje znatan broj Roma ne može da ispuni, jer među ovom populacijom nisu retki slučajevi da sva deca nisu vakcinisana ili ne pohađaju redovno školu. Roditeljski dodatak i dalje je uskraćen i majkama koje ne poseduju lične dokumente. U međuvremenu je propisano i to da će građani koji ne učestvuju u javnim radovima, obukama, treninzima i drugim oblicima društveno korisnog rada izgubiti pravo na novčanu socijalnu pomoć. Ovu pomoć ne mogu da dobiju ni osobe koje protiv bliskih srodnika ne podnesu tužbu za izdržavanje.
U izveštaju se naglašava i to da je osobama koje ne poseduju lične dokumente pristup zdravstvenim uslugama znatno sužen, te da im je omogućena samo hitna zdravstvena pomoć. Takođe se ukazuje i na to da se u Srbiji ne preduzimaju adekvatne i efikasne mere koje bi bile usmerene na sprečavanje pojave dečjih brakova.
U vezi sa istaknutim problemima, Praxis je Komitetu predložio da Vladi Srbije uputi određena pitanja sa ciljem da se utvrdi da li Srbija preduzima ili planira da preduzme mere koje će otkloniti uočene probleme i prepreke u pristupu pravima.
Ministarstvo odbija da reši problem dece koja ne mogu da se upišu u matične knjige
Povodom apela Praxisa za izmenu propisa koji sprečavaju upis u matičnu knjigu rođenih odmah po rođenju dece čiji roditelji ne poseduju lične dokumente, Ministarstvo državne uprave i lokalne samouprave ocenilo je da je svim građanima omogućeno da ostvare pravo na upis u matičnu knjigu rođenih. Ministarstvo je u svom odgovoru navelo da postojeći pravni okvir omogućava svim građanima koji ne mogu da dokažu rođenje prema propisima o matičnim knjigama to svoje pravo mogu da ostvare u vanparničnom postupku utvrđivanja vremena i mesta rođenja.
Međutim, ministarstvo je i ovaj put zanemarilo činjenicu da novorođena deca čije majke ne poseduju lične dokumente ne samo da neće moći da se upišu u matične knjige odmah nakon rođenja, nego će radi upisa dece, roditelji morati da vode dodatne, često veoma dugotrajne i komplikovane postupke. Tako i pomenuti postupci utvrđivanja vremena i mesta rođenja najčešće traju više od pola godine, neretko i duže od godinu dana, a pri tom i nisu namenjeni osobama koje su rođene u porodilištima, već onima koji su rođeni kod kuće. Na taj način, Ministarstvo ponovo nije uzelo u obzir i činjenicu da domaće zakonodavstvo i međunarodne konvencije garantuju svakom detetu pravo na upis u matične knjige i to odmah nakon rođenja. Istovremeno, ministarstvo se oglušilo i na brojne preporuke koje su Srbiji uputile međunarodne organizacije, evropske institucije i komiteti UN-a, pozivajući je da omogući svakom detetu upis u matične knjige odmah nakon rođenja, kao i da izmeni propise koji to sprečavaju. Podsećamo, stav Unicefa je da svako dete mora biti upisano u matične knjige u roku od nekoliko dana od rođenja, a ne nekoliko meseci.
Cilj inicijative Praxisa za izmenu propisa bio je da se svakom detetu bez izuzetka omogući upis u matične knjige, jer najbolji interes deteta uvek mora biti prevashodni cilj, a deca ne smeju da snose posledice okolnosti da njihovi roditelji iz bilo kog razloga ne poseduju lične dokumente. Svakom detetu se mora omogućiti upis u matične knjige neposredno nakon rođenja, jer bez upisa u matične knjige deci ostaje nedostupan ili znatno otežan pristup mnogim pravima, uključujući i pravo na zdravstvenu zaštitu.
Ignorišući apel Praxisa, ministarstvo koje je nadležno za vođenje matičnih evidencija pokazalo je duboko nerazumevanje značaja upisa u matične knjige odmah nakon rođenja, kao i nužnosti da svaka osoba bude upisana u matiče evidencije. Osim toga, iznevši ocenu da bi se omogućavanjem upisa dece čiji roditelji ne poseduju lične dokumente u neravnopravan položaj doveli građani koji su dužni da prilikom upisa činjenice rođenja deteta prilože dokaze o ličnom statusu, Ministarstvo je pokazalo i nepoznavanje pojma pozitivne dikriminacije, kao i nerazumevanje izuzetno teškog položaja u kome se nalaze osobe koje ne poseduju lične dokumente. Pri tome je gotovo uvek reč o pripadnicima romske nacionalne manjine, koji ionako spadaju među najdiskriminisanije i najmarginalizovanije stanovnike Srbije.
Praxis Published Protection Monitoring Report on Migration for August 2019
In August 2019, Praxis continued providing assistance to refugees/migrants, through information, psychosocial support, referrals to the targeted assistance provided by various organisations/institutions or covering the costs of transport to the asylum and reception centres.
A total of 1589 newly arrived refugees/migrants were informed about current situation in Serbia and the region, legal status and available legal options (seeking asylum in Serbia, assisted voluntary return to the country of origin, possibilities of family reunification abroad or resettlement to a third country when possible), accommodation in asylum centres (AC) or transit-reception centres in Serbia, means of transportation to the assigned centres, other rights and available services (medical care, psychosocial support, food, NFIs, various workshops for refugees/ migrants etc).
Download the whole Protection Monitoring Report for August 2019 here.
Praxis Published Protection Monitoring Report on Migration for April 2019
In April 2019, Praxis continued providing assistance to refugees/migrants, through information, psychosocial support, referrals to the targeted assistance provided by various organisations/institutions or covering the costs of transport to the asylum and reception centres.
A total of 833 newly arrived refugees/migrants were informed about current situation in Serbia and the region, legal status and available legal options (seeking asylum in Serbia, assisted voluntary return to the country of origin, possibilities of family reunification abroad), accommodation in asylum centres (AC) or transit-reception centres in Serbia, means of transportation to the assigned centres, other rights and available services (medical care, psychosocial support, food, NFIs, various workshops for refugees/ migrants etc).
Download the whole Protection Monitoring Report for April 2019 here.
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