Government of the Republic of Serbia
On 26 June, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Zorana Mihajlović, PhD discussed further cooperation on Roma inclusion issues and gender equality with Ursula Läubli, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office Serbia.
Ms Läubli commended the adoption of the strategy for better Roma inclusion in Serbia, as well as the accompanying action plan for the upcoming period, emphasising that the focus should now be placed on the implementation the measures stipulated in the plan.
In the first two phases of supporting the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit (SIPRU), between 2009 and 2017, the Swiss partners donated CHF 6.77 million for Roma inclusion efforts. For the period from 2018 until the end of 2021, they set aside CHF 4.5 million, which is half a million more than originally planned.
Ms Mihajlović, who is also the President of the Government’s Roma Social Inclusion Coordination Body, told Ms Läubli that she was particularly pleased with the cooperation with SIPRU and that her opinion was that SIPRU should have a more prominent role in the next Government.
“Together, we can do even more to help the Roma population in Serbia”, said Ms Mihajlović and added that, at the Trieste Summit, Serbia would propose closer cooperation on Roma and gender equality issues among the Western Balkan countries.
Ms Läubli lauded the Deputy Prime Minister’s efforts in these areas, to which Ms Mihajlović replied that both gender equality and Roma inclusion were “high on her agenda”, and that she would continue working towards their improved position in the society, in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders.
Source: www.mgsi.gov.rs
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