• 2023-09-27

Meeting of the expert thematic group "Eradication of poverty" on the advocacy initiative "Clarifying the concept of single parents"

SDGs for All Platform

On September 27, 2023 The Center for Democracy Foundation organized a meeting of the Expert Thematic Group "Eradication of Poverty", within the Social Pillar of the Platform "Sustainable Development for All".

The topic of the meeting was the presentation of the draft of the advocacy initiative "Clarifying the concept of single parents". The discussion pointed out the need to expand the definition of single parents in the legal system of Serbia, and include the category of parents who take care of children alone or mostly alone, as well as to take measures for improving the position of this group of citizens.

Although the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia guarantees special protection to single parents, data on the socio-economic position of single-parent families show that they are in a significantly less favorable situation than households where two parents live with children.

Analyzes of the position of single parents and parents who take care of their children alone or mostly alone show that they face numerous problems: unresolved housing issues, unemployment, discrimination during employment, discrimination at work and work-related discrimination, lack of money, failure to pay child support for the child by the other parent, lack of help from the other parent in the process of caring for the child, absence of adequate social - institutional and non-institutional support. 34.7% of single parent households are at risk of poverty, and nearly half (48.9%) of single parents and their children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

The discussion included the following participants: Sarita Bradaš, Center for Democracy Foundation; Marija Zarić and Relja Pantić, Office of the Commissioner for Protection of Equality; Lidija Kuzmanov, researcher; Dragan Stanojević, Institute for Sociological Research; Nataša Vučković, Center for Democracy Foundation; Ivona Gvozdenović, Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation; Tatjana Macura, Moms are the law; Marija Sara Jovanović, lawyer in the field of family law; Mina Rolović-Jočić, Center for Democracy Foundation; Gordana Savić, Užice Center for Human Rights and Democracy; Jelena Nešić, Platform "Sustainable Development for All"; Milena Mićović Trajković, Center for Democracy Foundation.

The final proposal for the advocacy initiative will be discussed with stakeholders at a public debate on October 17, 2023, followed by an advocacy campaign.

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”. 

Center for Democracy Foundation