Human Rights

For more information about projects regarding human rights and democratic influence, please contact responsible Programme Officer: Ms. Jasmina Zoric-Petrovic

 1. Poverty reduction and enhancement of employment opportunities of marginalized and vulnerable population groups – with a special focus on Roma women in Serbia (Help Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the inclusion of marginalized Roma and other vulnerable population groups, into the social and economic life of the country. The specific objective is improved access to labour market and increased motivation for active job search, in kind grants with associated capacity building for self- employment, facilitating  partnerships with stakeholders and enhancing employment opportunities.

The total budget of the project amounts to 34 000 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 31 March 2021.

2. Increasing Access to Freedom and Justice in Serbia 2012- 2019 (Civil Rights Defenders)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

Increasing Access to Freedom and Justice in Serbia is already ongoing Sida support to the Civil Rights Defenders (CRD) programme in Serbia 2012-2017, related to increased access to freedom, justice and antidiscrimination. CRD focuses to empower those who claim and/or defend human civil and political rights, as well as to demand responsibility from the state and state bodies in this regard. This is done thorugh cooperation with multiple local civil society organisations, and providing mainly capacity building support.

The total budget of the project amounts to 45 300 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 31 October 2019.

3. Civil Society Programme for Transparency and Accountability in Serbia 2016-2019 (Olof Palme International Centre)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The programme is continuation of the previous Swedish support to Serbia through Olaf Palme International (OPIC) related to strengthening democracy, human rights in Serbia, through citizen participation and civil society empowerment. OPIC supports a wide range of CSOs targeted at labour rights, media, monitoring of political processes, government-civil society cooperation and other issues. Further, OPIC work with local civil servants and local politicians, such as to increase the benefits of EU integration at a local level.

The total budget of the project amounts to 22 000 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 31 August 2020.

4. Strengthening Women's Rights and Women's Participation in Serbia 2016-2019 (Kvinna till Kvinna)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The programme is continuation of the previous Swedish support to Serbia through Kvinna till kvinna (KtK) related to increased respect for women’s rights by supporting a number of relatively strong women's organisations and networks to undertake strategic monitoring and evidence based advocacy, and also using the EU accession process as vehicle. The overall programme goal relates to the increased prioritization of women’s human rights, with special regards to gender based violence, and with special focus on improving the security of women’s human rights defenders.

The total budget of the project amounts to 17 583 500 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 31 August 2020.

5. Environmental Civil Society Programme for Serbia 2015-2018 (CSOnnect)  (Regional Environmental Center)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The programme contributes to strengthen CSOs’ capacities to monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies, strategies and laws in the EU accession process. Regional Environmental center (REC) works actively to stimulate CSOs to become more proactive advocator/lobbyist for concrete policy changes in the environmental field and position themselves as an important actor in the governmental-civil sector dialogue. The programme aims to support environmental CSOs in Serbia and its capacity to lobby for policy change, participate in decision-making and represent a partner in the dialogue with the governmental sector.

The total budget of the programme amounts to 19 000 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 30 April 2019.

6. Civil Society as a Force for a Change in the Serbia’s EU Accession Process(CS4EU) (Belgrade Open School)

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The progamme supports Serbia’s EU accession process by strengthening the civil society and its role in the reform agenda. The programme aims to enhance role of civil society as a representative of the communities’ interest and a force for change in the EU accession process, to improve policy framework for public consultations and practice of public participation in decision making processes thus civil society could exercise democratic influence, and to deepen understanding on the EU accession and democratic reforms in Serbia including the role of civil society in this comprehensive process.

The total budget of the programme amounts to 15 000 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 30 April 2020.

7. Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA): Support to civil society to promote democracy and EU integration 2018-2021

(responsible Programme Officer Ms. Jasmina Zoric Petrovic)

The programme contributes to strengthen civil society capacities to actively communicate benefits of further development and democratization of society in the areas of the primary importance for Serbia’s EU integrations: rule of law, democratic culture and media freedoms. Equipped with communication skills, capacities, channels and digital tools, civil society partners are strengthened to be able to reach their communication and advocacy goals more effectively. The programme aims to contribute to the general level of trust towards the civil society sector as generator of democratic development, and to raise citizens’ awareness of benefits of democratization and EU integration process.

The total budget of the programme amounts to 21 000 000 SEK. The Agreement remains valid until 31 Decemberl 2021.