Public debate “Youth Mental Health in Serbia: Is Society Ready to Recognize and Respond to the Crisis?”
Centre Dialogue – Social Forum The Center for Democracy Foundation, in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, organized a debate on June 3, 2025, titled “Youth Mental Health in Serbia: Is Society Ready to Recognize and Respond to the Crisis?”. The discussion featured: Aleksandra Parojčić, Institute of Mental Health of Serbia; Stanislava Vučković, UNICEF; Sara Dojčinović, Psychosocial Innovation Network (PIN); Milica Borjanić, National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS); Snežana Mrvić, CEZAM; Mara Ognjenović, software engineer and influencer; Snežana Simić, retired professor of social medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade; Dobrila Marković, OPENS; Nataša Đereg, CEKOR; Aleksandar Popović, SKGO, among others. The debate was moderated by journalist Ivana Stojanović. The event addressed…
Two-thirds of the way to achieving the 2030 Agenda
“SDGs for All” Platform September this year will mark ten years since the adoption of the UN global development agenda – Agenda 2030, to which Serbia has committed by signing the UN resolution “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Five years before the expiration of this ambitious global plan, the country faces numerous challenges despite slight progress, it was concluded at the fourth annual conference of the “SDGs for All” entitled “A Decade of the 2030 Agenda in Serbia: Progress, Achievements and Perspectives”. In addition to the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Serbia, the conference also…
Annual Conference: “Is There Decent Work for the Citizens of Serbia? Between Reality and Possibilities”
“Labor Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White” On April 16, 2025, Center for Democracy Foundation, with the support of the Olof Palme International Center, organized the annual conference titled “Is There Decent Work for the Citizens of Serbia? Between Reality and Possibilities”. At the conference, held within the project “Labor Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White” the annual Report on the State of Labor Rights in the Republic of Serbia for 2024 was presented, along with the study “Main Problems of Labor Legislation in Serbia”. Participants in the discussion included: Brankica Janković, Commissioner…
Vučković at JCC Meeting in Brussels: Serbian Citizens Have Shown Commitment to European Values through Protests
EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) Nataša Vučković, CDF’s Secretary General, participated at the EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting held on 7 April 2025 at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. The meeting focused on the current state of Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, the ongoing protests in Serbia, and possible solutions to the country’s political crisis. Vučković emphasised that the protests in Serbia demonstrate the public’s commitment to European values, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights, accountable institutions, the fight against corruption, the separation of powers, freedom of expression, and media freedom. “The student protests…
Reaction of the NCEU regarding the harassment of civil society organizations
The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) condemns the raid by armed members of the Criminal Police Directorate on the premises of five civil society organizations, including NCEU members, without an appropriate court order. We believe this action, carried out under the orders of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade under the pretext of verifying the spending of USAID funds, is politically motivated with the aim of intimidating and pressuring organizations and individuals who critically oppose the decisions and actions of the authorities. At a time when citizens across Serbia are taking to the streets demanding the respect…
Social Justice, Equality, and Justice – The Fundamental Values of a Democratic Society
CDF for Radio Belgrade I on the World Day of Social Justice The Center for Democracy Foundation marks the World Day of Social Justice by emphasizing the importance of building a society based on equal opportunities, equality, and access to social welfare and justice for all. Social justice must be embedded in all development programs. Eradicating poverty, achieving gender equality, ensuring equal access to education and healthcare, providing social support to vulnerable individuals and groups, guaranteeing decent work, and promoting sustainable development that preserves natural resources – these are priorities that must be set when shaping the future of our…
NIŠ: Public Debate “Strike in the Absence of a New Strike Law” – New Legislative Framework A Necessity
Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White The Foundation Center for Democracy organized a public debate on “Strike in the Absence of a New Strike Law” on February 19, 2025, in Niš as part of the project “Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White” supported by the Olof Palme International Center. Participants in the discussion included Aleksandra Nikolić (GG Dr. Milić), Miodrag Stanković (City Councilor, Niš – Moj Grad), Vesna Kovačević (Employers’ Union of Serbia), Zorica Miladinović (News Correspondent, Danas), Slavica Petrović (Association of Disenfranchised…
Public Debate “Strike in the Absence of a New Strike Law”: New Legislative Framework A Necessity
Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White The Center for Democracy Foundation organized a public debate on February 13, 2025, in Belgrade as part of the project “Labour Rights and Decent Work in Socio-Economic Reforms in Serbia – Black and White” supported by the Olof Palme International Center. The debate focused on the topic “Strike in the Absence of a New Strike Law”. Participants included: Biljana Stojković, professor at the University of Belgrade and member of the Democratic Party; Bojan Urdarević, professor at the Faculty of Law; Milica Lupšor, Association ROZA; Nebojša Atanacković, Employers’ Union of Serbia; Duško Vuković, Confederation…
Nataša Vučković: Transfer of Power
Authored article by Nataša Vučković for Novi Magazin (Serbian weekly) Autokomanda felt like the culmination of student actions, but Novi Sad surpassed it, leaving a deep mark on everyone who participated, listened, and watched. Images of young people marching persistently, devotedly, and unwaveringly through Serbia flooded the world, winning the hearts and souls of villagers and city dwellers alike, who welcomed them almost as liberators. Students as liberators – washing away layers of fear, hesitation, civic apathy, and resignation to a reality that once seemed to have no alternative. An amalgam of students, professors, and parents, joined by high school…
NCEU sent a letter to the President of the EC: EU should not turn its backs on Serbian citizens
Program Council of the National Convention on European Union Dear Ms. von der Leyen, Serbia is currently experiencing a serious political and social crisis, which deepens by the day. The tragic accident in Novi Sad on November 1st last year, in which 15 people lost their lives, sparked a wave of student protests. They believe that the accident was a direct consequence of severe corruption during the reconstruction of the Railway Station building. This is just one of many infrastructure projects that remain non-transparent to the public under the pretext of international cooperation agreements. For three months now, mass peaceful…
Student protests in Serbia focused on institutions and the rule of law
Interview: Nataša Vučković (CDF) for TVP World about the current political situation in Serbia Young people in Serbia ask for more rule of law and democratic and accountable institutions „The students don’t focus on elections, they focus on institutions and the rule of law. They demand that the judiciary fully independently fulfills its role in bringing to justice all the responsible for the big tragedy in Novi Sad. That’s mainly the demand of the student protests that started really as an authentic movement of young people who wanted to have more rule of law and democratic and accountable institutions“, said…
Environmental Issues as Drivers of Youth Activism in the Western Balkan
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe project Written by Laila Šašivarević, a volunteer at the Center for Democracy Foundation within the Regional Volunteering Program under „Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe“ project, supported by European Union. Apathetic, lazy, and apolitical – these are the adjectives that have been used for years to describe young people, not only in the Western Balkans but globally. However, the situation today seems different. In the context of the transformative student protests in Serbia, last year’s global student protests against the occupation of Palestine and the war in Ukraine, as well as numerous environmental protests led by…
