2022-07-13

Public debate: Elderly poverty in Serbia and Agenda 2030

SDGs for All Platform

The Center for Democracy Foundation organised a debate on Elderly poverty in Serbia and Agenda 2030 on July 13.

The starting point for the debate was the Elderly poverty in Serbia and Agenda 2030 analysis, drafted by Lidija Kuzmanov, with recommendations contributing to the eradication of poverty among the ageing population.

The participants included Tatjana Prijić (Commissioner for Protection of Equality, acting assistant to Commissioner), Borka Jeremić (Head of Office at United Nations Population Fund in Serbia), Gordana Čomić, Minister (Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue ), Žarko Šunderić (Center for Social Policy), Nadežda Satarić (Amity Association), Nataša Todorović (Red Cross of Serbia), Lidija Kuzmanov (freelance consultant), Irena Cerović (UNDP Serbia), Nataša Vučković (Center for Democracy Foundation), Ivona Gvozdenović (Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation), Sarita Bradaš (FCD), Ljiljana Lučić (former State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs) and others.

The debate emphasised that the 2030 Agenda ranks the eradication of poverty as one of the most urgent priorities. Despite the fact that Serbia has taken significant steps to reduce the risk of poverty and the risk of poverty or social exclusion, the population of 65 years of age and older is the only age category which is moving away from the goal, with poverty increasing among this category over the past 5-year period.

The share of persons over the age of 65 in the Serbian population is over 21 percent, and the standard of living of the elderly is on a steady decline. The conditions which must be met in order to qualify for welfare assistance, a basic form of assistance to the poor, are unfavourable for the elderly. In addition to material deprivation, what should also be seriously considered is the quality of life of the elderly and the level of their social inclusion.

The debate stressed thatin Serbia today there is no adequate strategic framework aimed at reducing poverty among the elderly. What is also lacking is integrational solidarity and collaboration, which makes it important tosensitize and include the youth in ddressing the needs of the elderly. It is also necessary to look at how innovative policies and measures may contribute to reducing poverty among this population group and ensure their societal inclusion.

The public debate was organised as an activity of the Advisory Thematic Group – Eradicating Poverty within the SDGs for ALL Platform.

The “SDGs for All” Platform enables a broad discussion among the Serbia’s non-state actors, including civil society, corporate sector, academic and research community, media and the citizens, on aligning Serbia’s development priorities within the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The “SDGs for All” Platform is supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Germany and implemented by GIZ, within the project “Public Finance Reform – 2030 Agenda”.

Download: Analysis Elderly poverty in Serbia and Agenda 2030 (in Serbian)