New trends and tools for civil activism in Serbia
The summit titled "Adapting to Changes in the Space for Civil Action", took place on May 28. The event brought together more than 100 key representatives from civil society, government ministries, supervisory institutions, and the academic community. The summit provided an opportunity to exchange views, discuss examples of collective action, identify ways civil society can influence positive changes, and learn how to prepare for new developments in the environment.
Tomislav Žigmanov, Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, pointed out that the Ministry recognizes the significant role that civil society plays in various areas of social action. "Last year, the Council was established to create a stimulating environment for the development of civil society, which, at the proposal of the Ministry, formed Contact Points for cooperation with civil society in state administration bodies at all three levels of government, as well as an application containing a calendar of public tenders to the transparency of funding of civil society organizations from budget funds has increased", emphasized Minister Žigmanov.
"USAID sees a strong civil society as an essential element of a strong democracy - so we are happy to see civil society members, academia and government come together to discuss possible solutions to the challenges facing civil society." solutions. We are excited to see what progress can be made in the months and years ahead," said Brooke Aysham, USAID's mission director in Serbia.
"One of the basic principles of Swiss international cooperation is the encouragement of an inclusive and participatory decision-making process. We believe that a resilient and active civil society is an integral part of the democratic fabric of any nation. In Serbia, this means supporting civil society actors to engage citizens in a meaningful way, ensuring that their voice is heard, and their contribution is valued. I am convinced that through our collective efforts, we can foster a more resilient, vibrant, and influential civil society for the good of Serbia. ", said Richard Coley, director of the Swiss Office for Cooperation in Serbia.
Biljana Dakić, director of the project For a Stronger Civil Society at PartnersGlobal, stressed the need to change the narrative about civil society and to communicate better with citizens. "Decades of negative campaigns about foreign mercenaries have left their mark on the minds of citizens who, to the greatest extent, do not recognize the importance of the activities of civil society organizations. We will continue to encourage organizations to communicate more effectively with citizens and build support and sources of sustainability in their environment," concluded Dakić.
This summit is part of the project "For a Stronger Civil Society", financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and implemented by Partners Global, Partners Serbia, DT Institute, European Center for Non-Profit Law (ECNL) and Civic Initiatives.