2025-01-16
| Valjevo

Roundtable in Valjevo: Human Rights and Environmental Protection as a Shared Responsibility - Dialogue for Sustainability

Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS)

On 16 January 2025, the Centre for Democracy Foundation organised a roundtable in Valjevo as part of the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) project, entitled Human Rights and Environmental Protection as a Shared Responsibility: Dialogue for Sustainability.

The roundtable brought together representatives from the business community, local government, trade unions, academia, and civil society organisations. The aim was to jointly explore opportunities for improving the protection of labour rights, human rights, and the environment through the application of responsible business principles and collaboration among all stakeholders.

Participants included: Sanela Bahtijarević, German Organisation for International Cooperation (GIZ); Nataša Vučković, Center for Democracy Foundation; Jovan Protić, International Labour Organization; Tanja Lindell, Serbian Chamber of Commerce; Miloš Miljković, United Branch Trade Union Independence; Miroslav Pimić, City Administration of Valjevo; Vladimir Radosavljević and Jana Aćimović Planojević, CSO iRevolucija; Gordana Savić, Užice Centre for Human Rights and Democracy; Jelena Ćirić, Independent Trade Union of the City Administration of Valjevo; Ognjen Adamović and Rada Tomić, Bizerba; and Sanja Stojilković, Urban-technics doo; Slavica Pantić, Lokalni odgovor (Local Response) Valjevo; Olivera Erić, Gorenje Valjevo, as well as other representatives of trade unions, businesses, and civil society participated. The discussion was moderated by Suzana Trninić, Journalist.

The discussion focused on the obligations and needs of companies to uphold environmental and labour standards, the role of trade unions and CSOs in addressing issues, and the importance of the local community’s role as a partner in preserving sustainable communities and the environment.

It was emphasised that the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act has encouraged enterprises to consider their obligations relative to human rights, as well as establishing a system of control and supervision.

Collaboration among all stakeholders and joint efforts to improve the protection of labour rights, human rights, and the environment. Adherence to international standards, legislative improvements, and functional institutions are necessities, as was conveyed at the roundtable in Valjevo.

This roundtable is part of the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS), implemented by GIZ in Serbia, as part of broader efforts to ensure the active participation of institutions, trade unions, civil society, the business community, and other stakeholders. The initiative aims to raise awareness concerning human rights protection in global supply chains and to provide insights into relevant international legislation and practices.

AGENDA

The Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the German organisation for international cooperation - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).