Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

A discussion on single parenting was organized by the Women’s Parliamentary Network (WPN), the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPE) and the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia (SIPRU), held on 14 April 2015 at the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. The participants of the discussion were: female deputies, activists of associations of single parents, activists from women’s organizations, representatives of government bodies and international organizations. The idea of the event was to agree on future steps and possible cooperation of WPN as an informal parliamentary body with single parent associations.

Discussion

Gordana Čomić, the coordinator of WPN, opened the discussion: “Our goal as representatives of the Women’s Parliamentary Network is to change the status of single parents in Serbia in any way we can. The Assembly should also be the base for dialog on various issues. We, the deputies, need to gather and be the basis for this dialog, to show the people that the National Assembly is their house, as well.”

Milana Lazić, a coordinator at SIPRU, spoke of single parents whom the state only recognizes as a vulnerable category in certain legal solutions, as well as about their difficult economic and social status. “Single parents are represented to a large extent in debts for various social expenses. Many of them also live below the real poverty line, in Serbia representing around 10 thousand dinars per household member. A number of single parents can’t even afford heating, and a large number of them live in overcrowded apartments, with other people, without enough space. Our Unit, together with the Ministry of Labor, is preparing a reform program in the field of employment, aiming to improve the status of vulnerable groups. It includes measures for single parents”, said Milana Lazić. She also announced amendments, under preparation with the Divac Foundation, to the Law on Family, Law on Labor, Law on Financial Support to Persons with Children, Law on Ministries, etc. to improve the status of single parents.

Vanja Macanović, a lawyer for the Autonomous Women’s Centre (AWC) and long-time activist, spoke of the gender-based violence experienced by single mothers. “The issues of child support non-payment are the subject of 12% of the overall legal assistance we as AWC provide, but the number is increased several-fold when speaking about writing specific writs. Not providing the prescribed child support represents gender-based violence, since women are found as the guilty party in only 10% of such criminal acts”, said Macanović. The institution of deferred obligations is also often used, and there are even cases of the guilty party being ordered to pay the money to a charity, with their child still remaining without funds. The penalties are often probation, with probation decisions following previous probations, thereby de facto not providing for the execution of the obligation. Although AWC salutes the founding of the Child Support Fund in the draft Civil Code, it would be better for this area to be regulated by a special law. This is necessary, since some children never receive child support and there are no means to make this up for them, other than the Child Support Fund. The example of the Slovenian model was presented as a good practice example, unifying several different funds. The Child Support Fund would be financed from various sources, paying every child the same, pre-allocated sum. Activists of the Autonomous Women’s Center also have a proposed amendment to the Law on Enforcement and Security, prescribing special prohibitions for those not meeting their child support obligations. This would include temporary prohibitions on issuing drivers’ licenses, passports, vehicle registration, etc.

Ivona Gvozdenović, a coordinator at Divac foundation, presented their project for assistance to single mothers in employment. The idea of working with single mothers arose from previous experience working with refugees and displaced persons. The initial research undertaken by Divac foundation with the Jelek association indicates there are around 116.000 single parents, with the assumption that the number of such families is even greater. Among those, 30% are at the lower poverty line, while the system still suffers from non-recognition of a special category of single parenthood. The recommendation of Divac foundation is that this needs to be amended and regulated for other vulnerable groups as well. Following the initial research, the Divac foundation initiated a call to award self-employment funds for single parents. The problem faced by beneficiaries is reporting their work and the automatic loss of social assistance. The better programming of support measures also requires the coordination of all stakeholders.

The introductory presentations were followed by a discussion where representatives of the association of single parents presented their personal stories and share the experiences of their beneficiaries. Through dialog with the deputies, we arrived at the joint recommendations.

Joint Recommendations

1. Make the category of single parents visible;
2. Remove the discriminatory element from determining single parenthood and respect the gender perspective and implications of single parenting;
3. Stimulate the networking of single parents, their associations and other NGOs, as well as decision makers, primarily aiming to strengthen their voice, as well as reduce territorial inequalities;
4. Work on improving the economic status of single parents and facilitate inclusion in the labor market;
5. Advocate single parenting as a free choice and human right.

Further Steps

1. The Women’s Parliamentary Network will organize, by way of the competent Committee, a public hearing regarding single parenting, in order for the Assembly to hear all relevant organizations and associations, and design the further course of action during the coming month;
2. The Autonomous Women’s Center and Divac Foundation will submit their proposals for amendments, while the Women’s Parliamentary Organization will organize a meeting with these two organizations during the coming month, to agree on further steps.