Applications for the POLITEIA School for Youth Participation are now OPEN!
“Politeia – Knowledge Hub for Active Youth” The Center for Democracy Foundation invites you to apply for participation in the POLITEIA School for Youth Participation, which will take place from February 6-8, 2025, in Subotica (Serbia). The POLITEIA School is one of the most renowned brands of the Center for Democracy and is recognized as one of the leading informal education programs for youth, with over 1,800 participants to date. The first POLITEIA School for Civil Society was held in 1997 in Subotica. Since then, more than 2,000 students from Serbia and the Western Balkans have participated in the POLITEIA School. Topics for discussion: Youth and Politics: From…
To Adopt a Culture Strategy in Serbia Aligned with the National Youth Strategy – 3rd National Youth Dialogue Session on Culture and Cultural Heritage Held
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The third National Youth Policy Lab on Culture and Cultural Heritage was held on December 17 via the Zoom platform. The session was attended by representatives of cultural institutions, a representative from the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, youth representatives, and independent experts in the field of culture. The discussion focused on the final recommendations for improving cultural policies for youth, which will be addressed to public institutions, with a focus on: • Adoption of a Culture Strategy in the Republic of Serbia that foresees greater youth participation in cultural life and aligns with the National…
Strengthening the Capacity of Local Governments to Support Waste Pickers
The Joint UN Programme “PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature” The Centre for Democracy Foundation organised regional workshops in Valjevo (11 December 2024) and Sremska Mitrovica (16 December 2024), in collaboration with United Nations agencies, to enhance the capacity of local governments to support waste pickers as part of the UN programme ’PRO – Local Governance for People and Nature’. Discussions with representatives from cities and municipalities focused on employment opportunities, development planning, social inclusion, anti-discrimination measures, family planning, and healthcare services. Through these regional workshops, support is being provided to local governments to strengthen their governance capacities, which includes developing and implementing relevant local…
Freedom of Expression and Assembly for Students Must Not Be Undermined
National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) expresses its support for students across Serbia who, through marches and blockades of their universities, are voicing their concerns over the tragic loss of 15 lives in the collapse of a shelter at the railway station in Novi Sad, as well as their dissatisfaction with the response of institutions to this incident. The NCEU particularly supports the students’ demand that institutions, in accordance with their constitutional and legal responsibilities, approach this case with accountability and transparency, thoroughly establishing the facts and responsibilities involved. This would demonstrate…
Human Rights Are Interconnected and Indivisible, and All Must Be Respected!
Statement issued by the Centre for Democracy Foundation on the occasion of International Human Rights Day The Centre for Democracy Foundation extends its congratulations to all citizens of Serbia on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. We believe that our society must dedicate much greater attention to fundamental, basic rights. “We must foster an awareness of the interconnectedness and interdependence of human rights. They are not merely political or civil rights; they are also social, economic, and cultural rights, and all must be respected in their interdependence,” said Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Centre for Democracy Foundation. She explained, “When someone’s political rights are…
New Monitoring Report by the “SDGs for All” Platform: Is the End Goal in Sight?
“SDGs for All” Platform Civil society organizations gathered around the “SDGs for All” Platform have published the fourth monitoring report on the preparedness of the Republic of Serbia for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, entitled “Is the End Goal in Sight?” This report is intended for the representatives of relevant institutions, civil society organizations, the academic community, corporate sectors and citizens interested in gaining insight into Serbia’s current readiness to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the progress made in certain priority areas, and the possible next steps. What do the latest data show? According to the “Europe Sustainable Development Report 2023/24”,…
CDF representatives visited sub-grantee LEAD from Skopje
“Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” Dajana Ostojić, project coordinator, and Katarina Stojković, financial coordinator at the Center for Democracy Foundation, visited the sub-grant beneficiary LEAD- Leaders for Education, Activism and Development on 6th December 2024 in Skopje. CDF supports their project called “LEAP – Local engagement, activism and participation“ within the Youth Fund for Local Youth Initiatives, funded by the European Union as a sub-granting program of the “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” project. During the meeting, it was discussed the dynamic of the implementation of their project, which aims to enhance political literacy among youth from North Macedonia by providing them with the…
Vučković: Support Young People Fighting for the Common Good
Nataša Vučković on TV N1 Newsnight Programme The Secretary General of the Centre for Democracy Foundation (CDF), Nataša Vučković, stated on TV N1 that young people who fight for the common good and stand up for their beliefs must be supported. “There is constant talk about young people being disinterested in public affairs, apathetic, and eager to leave Serbia, particularly students. However, they are now engaging with issues that concern the broader public,” Vučković remarked during the Newsnight programme on N1. “These are issues directly tied to their future—what this country will look like, whether it will uphold the rule of law,…
Labour Rights in Focus: How to Improve Occupational Health and Safety in Serbia?
Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS) Roundtable Discussion: Monitoring and Complaint Mechanisms for Occupational Health and Safety: Practice, Standards, and Risk Prevention The promotion of sustainable practices in global supply chains, the strengthening of workers’ rights, and the alignment of legislation with European Union standards were the central themes of the roundtable discussion titled Monitoring and Complaint Mechanisms for Occupational Health and Safety: Practice, Standards, and Risk Prevention. The event, organised by the Centre for Democracy Foundation on 5 December 2024, took place within the framework of the Initiative for Global Solidarity (IGS). Participants highlighted serious shortcomings in the implementation of Serbia’s Occupational…
Nataša Vučković: Social and Labour Rights on the Margins of Integration
Authored article by Nataša Vučković for Novi Magazin It is a rare occurrence for a conference addressing the general challenges and prospects of EU membership for Western Balkan countries to dedicate specific attention to the labour market, the state of workers’ rights, and the prospects for socio-economic development. These often seem like two parallel lines that seldom, if ever, intersect. The first set of topics typically revolves around geopolitical realities, the EU’s openness to further enlargement, and a general assessment of each country’s progress, with focus on the fundamentals—democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and regional cooperation. The social…
Second National Policy Lab on Culture and Cultural Heritage Held
Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE The second National Policy Lab on Culture and Cultural Heritage was held on December 4, 2024 via Zoom platform. The debate gathered representatives from cultural institutions, a representative from the Ministry of Tourism and Youth, youth representatives, and independent experts in the field of culture to discuss the following topics: • Strategic gaps in cultural and youth policies • Advocacy for a cohesive national framework that integrates European cultural policies supporting youth inclusion • Opportunities for studying cultural heritage in schools • Limited access to cultural activities for youth from rural areas and marginalized groups…
Workplace Mobbing in Serbia: An Invisible Issue Demanding Louder Solutions
Centre Dialogue – Social Forum Debate Workplace Bullying in Serbia: A Personal Matter or a Social Issue? Workplace bullying, or mobbing, is a persistent issue in Serbia that often remains invisible to the public, while institutions fail to dedicate sufficient attention to its resolution. During the debate Workplace Bullying in Serbia: A Personal Matter or a Social Issue?, held on 3 December 2024 and organised by the Centre for Democracy Foundation in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, participants examined various aspects of this complex phenomenon and proposed potential solutions. The opening remarks were delivered by: Marija Zarić, Commissioner for the Protection…
