Praxis
NRC - Praxis Humanitarian Report for July 2016
Humanitarian Report for July 2016 gives an overview of the latest developments in the field and activities of the Norwegian Refugee Council and Praxis within the Serbia Refugee Response, implemented within the Project "Emergency Protection, Shelter and Assistance for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Serbia," funded by ECHO.
Several notable developments occurred in the refugee crisis in July contributing to deterioration in conditions in Belgrade and elsewhere. In Hungary, legal amendments that came into force on 5th July 2016, allow push-backs of asylum-seekers intercepted within 8km of the Hungarian border, depriving them of the right to seek-asylum and be given international protection, contrary to the international law. Subsequently, the Government of Serbia (GoS) deployed joint military-police teams along the borders with fYRoM and Bulgaria which the GoS announced as a measure to combat illegal entry of migrants into Serbian territory and to combat smuggling and trafficking. The former led to an increased number of push-backs from Hungary in comparison to June, while the latter brought about a significant increase in the reports of pushbacks from Serbia to Bulgaria and fYRoM compared to June. Furthermore, Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration (KIRS) started transporting refugees from Krnjaca Asylum Centre and Belgrade parks to other asylum centres or refugee aid points (RAPs), and opened the AC Bogovadja to asylum seekers. However, AC Krnjaca, Belgrade, returned to its previous policy of allowing entry only to those whose asylum seeker registration referred them to this specific AC, leaving the facility only fractionally occupied, and an average of over 500 persons sleeping rough in Belgrade city centre nightly. Serbian authorities also set up a waiting list system for legally entering Hungary in the transit zones Horgos and Kelebija at the Hungarian border for asylum seekers already in the transit zones or in RAPs elsewhere in Serbia. While positive in principle, a lot of confusion remains as to the functioning of this system.
In July, NRC-Praxis assisted 2,852 beneficiaries in total with protection services.
At the end of July, NRC-Praxis completed their ECHO-funded project, with teams concluding field implementation as of July 29. During the implementation of the project from Dec 2015 – Jul 2016, in both Dimitrovgrad and Belgrade, Praxis assisted over 25,000 beneficiaries with protection services.
Download the Report here.
Praxis Meets with the Interns of the European Commission's Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement
In the premises of the Human Rights House, on 22 July 2016, Praxis held an informal meeting with a group of interns from the European Commission's Directorate General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement during their study visit to Serbia.
During the meeting, we discussed the accession process, especially in the context of the opening of Chapters 23 and 24, and the importance of the issues regulated by these Chapters for the citizens of Serbia. Praxis shared with the interns its experiences regarding the basic challenges in the protection of human rights and the problems faced by minority groups. We especially emphasised the significance of advocacy activities and monitoring of the application of regulations and measures proposed by various action plans and strategies. During the discussion, emphasis was placed on problems in the protection of the rights of the child and the achievement of gender equality. We also talked about the living conditions and the level of exercising the rights of the Roma community in Serbia. The interns were also interested in the current situation of migrants.
Challenges of the Migrant-Refugee Crisis from the Perspective of CSOs - Group 484
The publication "Challenges of the Migrant-Refugee Crisis from the Perspective of CSOs" was created as part of the project "Networking and Capacity Building for More Effective Migration Policy in Serbia", implemented by Group 484 with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade. The project is implemented in partnership with the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.
Observations and recommendations given in the publication are based on the findings obtained through the continuous presence at the hotspots where a large number of refugees and migrants stayed, and confirmed through joint monitoring visits, collected information and discussions with decision makers. The following partner organisations contributed to the creation of this publication: the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ASTRA), Autonomous Women’s Center (AŽC), Balkan Centre for Migration and Humanitarian Activities (BCM), the Initiative for Development and Cooperation (IDC), International Aid Network (IAN), Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre (NSHC), PRAXIS and Humanitarian Centre for Integration and Tolerance (HCIT), which were committed toparticipating in the implementation of numerous project activities.
Download the report here.
Comments on the Draft Law on Asylum of the Republic of Serbia - Group 484
The publication "Comments on the Draft Law on Asylum of the Republic of Serbia" was prepared after a consultative process involving representatives of the Autonomous Women's Center, the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, the Balkan Center for Migration and Humanitarian Activities, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, the Humanitarian Center for Integration and Tolerance, the Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre, Save the Children, Praxis and the International Aid Network. The publication is part of the project "Networking and Capacity Building for More Effective Migration Policy in Serbia", implemented by Group 484 with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade. The project is implemented in partnership with the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and Belgrade Centre for Security Policy.
Download the publication here.
Young Ambassadors Take on the Challenge of Tackling Childhood Statelessness
#StatelessKids Youth Congress was held in Brussels on 11-13 July 2016 in the organisation of the European Network on Statelessness (ENS). Praxis has been a member of ENS since its foundation. The congress was attended by Ivanka Kostić, Praxis Executive Director.
It was the first youth congress dealing with the issue of statelessness, which brought together 35 young people, as well as experts in this field, from Spain, Portugal, Poland, Albania, Switzerland, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Slovenia, Macedonia and Serbia. The congress took place at the premises of Maastricht University in Brussels.
One month before the congress, ENS launched a campaign entitled #StаtеlеssKids with the aim to draw attention of the European countries to the urgent need of preventing childhood statelessness in their countries. ENS pointed to the fact that most stateless children in the European countries were born in Europe, and that many of them would not have been without citizenship if the countries had applied the measures of protection envisaged by international law. The campaign also stressed the fact that over one half of the European countries had failed to fulfil these obligations, thus depriving thousands of children of the right to citizenship. The European Network on Statelessness set an ambitious goal to eradicate statelessness in Europe within one generation, strongly believing that it has the necessary strength to achieve this goal. Thus, besides ENS, which has 103 members from 39 European countries, 35 young ambassadors will play an important role in achieving this goal. ENS firmly believes in the potential of young people to influence changes in society, as proven by many previous human rights initiatives.
At the congress, ENS spoke about the phenomenon and definition of statelessness and how it affected the life of children. The young ambassadors also received instructions, information and practical advice on the possible ways of getting involved in the campaign #StаtеlеssKids. During the training session, they practiced how to explain to others, in less than 90 seconds, that every child was entitled to citizenship, what statelessness was and why its eradication was important. They had the opportunity to hear how they could influence policies in their countries, decision-makers and how to advocate for the application of protective measures envisaged by international law. They also learned about various strategic approaches and possibilities of communication through film, media and social networks.
Two young ambassadors from Serbia, Ivana Radojković and Dijana Dačković, were among the congress participants.
"These were three amazing days, with many new acquaintances, enjoying the chocolate and charms of Brussels, and most importantly, we had the opportunity to expand our knowledge at the excellent lectures of experts and to discuss the problem that Europe needs to take seriously and finally implement the right measures and solve the problem of statelessness among children“. (Dijana Dačković)
"The whole event was marked by intense and interesting work, as well as the excellent energy of wonderful young people from all over Europe, ready to take part in resolving the problem of statelessness, which is a serious but solvable issue. The congress has enabled us to acquire precisely the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively promote the campaign "No Child Should be Stateless" and thus contribute to the process of eradicating statelessness in Europe." (Ivana Radojković)
Read more about #StatelessKids Youth Congress and a visit to the European Parliament at this link.
Sign the petition for preventing childhood statelessness here.
Migration Status Recognized as a Ground of Discrimination in Educational Institutions
During the public discussion on the Regulation on detailed criteria for the recognition of discrimination by an employee, child, student, or third party in the educational institution (“The Official Gazette of RS, no. 22/2016), Praxis suggested that migration status should be entered as a ground of discrimination. Specifically, prior to the adoption, the Regulation was part of the public discussion, and civil society organizations, as well as other relevant authorities, had an opportunity to comment on the draft.
The submitted comment was accepted, and the Regulation, which was finally adopted after seven years in March 2016, became thus the first legal act in Serbia that explicitly recognizes the migration status as the ground of discrimination. Bearing in mind the current migrant crisis, identifying migrant status as a ground of discrimination is of great importance, and its inclusion in other relevant documents is the essential precondition for the creation of a responsible and just society.
Download the Regulation here.
NRC - Praxis Humanitarian Report for June 2016
On and before June 20, to mark the World Refugee Day, together with Refugee Aid Miksaliste and Info Park, NRC-Praxis organised events for refugees involving making and flying kites, sports and music inthe park near the bus station and in Miksaliste. We used the opportunity to call for Safe Passage for Refugees; reminding European governments of the need to urgently scale up and operationalise safe, legal avenues that allow people to seek and obtain asylum in Europe, such as resettlement and relocation.
The number of refugee arrivals to Belgrade in June is similar to that in May (around 150 new arrivals daily). But with fewer departures and increased pushbacks taking place from Hungary to Serbia, there is an increased number of refugees staying in Belgrade longer, with frequently over 500 persons present on a given day. Refugees continued coming to Serbia from both the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) and Bulgaria, while some opted for a route via Albania and Kosovo, which is a new development. Most refugees continue their journey towards the Hungarian border, where the number of official crossings permitted daily remains very low (15 persons at each of the border crossings of Horgos and Kelebija), and refugees have to wait for several weeks in dire conditions.
In June, NRC-Praxis assisted over 4,300 beneficiaries in total with protection services, bringing the total number assisted since the project started to over 22,000 persons.
At the end of the month, Refugee Aid Miksaliste announced its hub for refugees would temporarily close because of the constant pressure from the local community, security issues, as well as lack of financial means. It will reopen as a centre primarily for women and families with children. This will have a negative impact on service provision to single men, who are the great majority of beneficiaries, and on the sanitary and security situation in Belgrade parks, the only remaining place for them and who are often very vulnerable in their own right.
Download the report HERE.
Field Activities 2016
Praxis' legal mobile team visited the following:
December
- 27 December – Roma settlement "Dalas", Tutin
- 12 December – Roma settlement "Prekodolce", Vladicin Han
- 8 December – Roma settlement "Bagremar", Kragujevac
- 6 December – Roma settlement "Midzor", Bela Palanka
- 2 December – Roma settlement "Beograd mala", Nis
November
- 8 November – Roma settlements "Barlovo" and "Radomira Milovanovica", Kursumlija
- 4 November – Roma families from Guca, Lucani
- 3 November – Roma settlement "Rasadnici", Pirot
- 1 November – Roma settlement "Lepenicka Street", Kragujevac
October
- 28 October – Roma settlement "Podvarce", Leskovac
- 26 October – Roma settlements "Sever" and "Brezonik", Bor
- 25 October – Roma settlements "Grljan" and "Avramica", Zajecar
- 21 October – Roma settlement "Zitoradje", Vladičin Han
- 18 October – Roma settlements "Gornja Grabovica" and "Brankovina", Valjevo
- 14 October – Roma settlement "Fekovica brdo", Sjenica
- 11 October – Roma settlements "Crvena Zvezda" and "12. Februar", Nis
- 3 October – Roma settlement "Cegarska ulica", Kragujevac
September
- 27 September – Roma settlement "Vozegrnci", Novi Pazar
- 14 September – Roma settlements "Banjska ulica" and "CC Tehnicka skola", Bujanovac
- 13 September – Roma settlements "Lole Ribara", "Tefika Seljimija" and "Baraka soc. stanova", Presevo
- 6 September – Roma settlement "Kozara", Trstenik
August
- 29 August – Roma settlement "Licika", Kragujevac
- 10 August – Roma settlements "Jelasnica" and "Masurica", Surdulica
- 9 August – Roma settlements "Ciganski Rid", "Pavlovac" and "Tibuzde", Vranje
- 4 August – Roma families in Koteks barracks, Kragujevac
July
- 22 July - Roma settlement “Gornji Brestovac”, Bojnik
- 19 July - Office of the Roma Association “Tocak”, Merosina
- 15 July - Roma families in the village “Backi monostor”, Sombor
- 12 July - Roma settlement “Samarinovac”, Zitoradja
- 8 July - Roma settlement nearby Dallas company, Tutin
- 5 July - Roma settlement “Mramorska ulica”, Nis
June
- 30 June - Zabrana nova Street, Batajnica, Zemun
- 13 June - Roma association "Edukativni centar Roma", Subotica
- 10 June - Roma settlements "Surducka" and "Dudara", Zrenjanin
- 7 June - Roma settlements "Vase Nikolic" and "Aleksinacki rudnici", Aleksinac
- 3 June - Roma settlement "Zabari", Aleksandrovac
May
- 31 May - Roma settlements, Aleksandrovac
- 31 May - Roma association "Romski glas", Vrsac
- 26 May - Roma settlement "Surcinski put", Novi Beograd
- 26 May - Roma settlements "Milivska kolonija" and "Veliki Popovic", Despotovac
- 19 May - Roma settlements "Barje Ciflik" and "Nova mala", Pirot
- 17 May - Roma settlements "Zitni potok" and "Solunska ulica", Prokuplje
- 11 May - Roma settlement "Karadjordjeva ulica", Mladenovac
- 10 May - Roma settlement "Dalas", Tutin
April
- 28 April - Roma settlement "Brana" , Cuprija
- 26 April - Roma settlements "Sever" and "Brezonik", Bor
- 21 April - Roma settlement "Vozegrnci", Novi Pazar
- 18 April - Roma settlements "Midzor" and "Murica", Bela Palanka
- 7 April - Roma settlements "Dedina" and "Mudrakovac", Krusevac
March
- 31 March - Roma settlement "Vinogradska ulica", Surcin
- 30 March - Roma settlements, Pecinci
- 28 March - Roma settlement "Fekovica brdo", Sjenica
- 25 March - Roma settlement "Licika", Kragujevac
- 22 March - Roma settlement "Bavaniste", Kovin
- 15 March - Roma settlement "Mali rit", Pancevo
- 10 March - Roma settlements "Kajmakcalanska" and "Kolonija", Smederevska Palanka
- 3 March - Roma settlements, Smederevo
- 1 March - Roma settlement "Dren", Obrenovac
February
- 25 February - Roma settlement "Veliki rit", Novi Sad
- 23 February - Roma settlement "Plekano selo", Zabalj
- 19 February - Roma settlements "Beograd mala" and "Stocni trg", Nis
- 18 February - Roma settlements, Kikinda
January
- 28 January - Roma settlements, Kostolac
Praxis at the Presentation of Legal Protection against Discrimination
On Friday, 15 April, Praxis participated in the presentation of the analysis of legal protection from discrimination in Serbia. The presentation was organized by Human Rights Centre of the Law Faculty as part of sub-project “Legal Protection against Discrimination in South East Europe”, supported by GIZ.
In addition to the colleague Kristina Vujic, who presented Praxis’ work through the research on access to socioeconomic rights for Roma women, the speakers were also the representatives of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and Office for Human and Minority Rights, as well as the representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, and PhD Ivana Krstic, who prepared the analysis.
The results of the regional analysis of the anti-discrimination in Serbia, with special emphasis on the importance of educational institutions were presented. The Commissioner presented the most important findings of the new Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, which states that two most common grounds for filing a complaint are gender, nationality and ethnicity.
Download the Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality here.
Praxis at the Presentation of Legal Protection against Discrimination
On Friday, 15 April, Praxis participated in the presentation of the analysis of legal protection from discrimination in Serbia. The presentation was organized by Human Rights Centre of the Law Faculty as part of sub-project “Legal Protection against Discrimination in South East Europe”, supported by GIZ.
In addition to the colleague Kristina Vujic, who presented Praxis’ work through the research on access to socioeconomic rights for Roma women, the speakers were also the representatives of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality and Office for Human and Minority Rights, as well as the representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, and PhD Ivana Krstic, who prepared the analysis.
The results of the regional analysis of the anti-discrimination in Serbia, with special emphasis on the importance of educational institutions were presented. The Commissioner presented the most important findings of the new Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, which states that two most common grounds for filing a complaint are gender, nationality and ethnicity.
Download the Regular Annual Report of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality here.
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