Representatives of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) participated in the 37th meeting of the Committee for Labour, Social Work, Social Inclusion and Reduction of Poverty, where the current refugee crisis in Serbia was discussed. Representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, the Commissariat for Refugees and Migration, the Border Police Directorate, the Asylum Office, the Ombudsman Office, UNHCR, UNICEF and the Red Cross of Serbia attended the meeting.
A number of issues regarding the treatment and protection of refugees in Serbia were raised at the meeting, including protection of unaccompanied minors and restrained access to territory of the Republic of Serbia for refugees excluding the three nationalities – Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
In April 2015, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights, supported by the president of the Committee, Dr. Vesna Rakonjac, initiated regular meetings of the Committee with focus on Serbia’s response to the ongoing refugee crisis. BCHR’s initiative resulted in periodic meetings of the relevant decision makers and other stake holders in responding to ongoing refugee crisis in Serbia. These meetings improved the coordination of relevant actors and provided a platform for exchange of opinions and suggestions on refugee policies and legal framework on asylum and migrations.
