The Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia (MODS) expresses great satisfaction with the accession of Serbia to the EU Rights, Equality and Citizenship Program. By joining this Program, with an annual budget of 63 million euros, local governments, public institutions and civil society organizations from Serbia are allowed to apply for funds for conducting activities in the field of combating discrimination and all forms of intolerance, promotion of equality between men and women, protection of the rights of the child, combating domestic violence and the like.
MODS reminds that the initiative for Serbia’s accession to the Program came from civil society organisations which sent this proposal to the Government of the Republic of Serbia in March 2015. Among the initiators of the initiative were the Network of Women Against Violence, the National Network for Reconciliation through Pre-School Education and Education and the Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia. After years of advocacy efforts, Serbia’s accession to the program was finalised by the agreement signed on July 16, 2018, in Belgrade by the Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic and the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sem Fabrizi.
EU Rights, Equality and Citizenship Program 2014-2020 was established in 2013 with the aim of promoting and protecting equality and fundamental rights. The total budget of the program is 439 million euros. As the first country of the Western Balkans that became part of the Program, Serbia, besides accessing significant funds to meet the requirements of Negotiating Chapters 19, 23 and 24, opens up opportunities for developing cooperation and partnerships with entities from other European countries dealing with similar problems.
MODS invites all government agencies and civil society organisations to get detailed information about this Program and to start making quality project proposals and develop international partnerships to promote the equality and fundamental rights of all, especially children and people from vulnerable social groups.