The article was originally published on Council of Europe website.
A launch event with stakeholders was organised on September 21st in the premises of the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade within the framework of the Joint EU-CoE ROMACTED Phase II Programme.
The event gathered together EU Delegation in Serbia, international stakeholders, central-level partners and municipal representatives. Besides the presentation of ROMACTED Phase I and Phase II, the participants discussed the incoming implementation of the Phase II components as well as the topic on ‘Advancing Human Rights and sustainability of action at local level’.
The essential debate, moderated by the EUD, was held among the representatives of the Programme, Regional Cooperation Council/ Roma Integration Action Team, United Nation Development Program (UNDP), Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities (SKGO), German Society for International Co-operation (GIZ), and the Unit for Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction (SIPRU). A substantial contribution was given by the representatives from the 14 partner cities and municipalities in Serbia.
A high-level event will take place in October in Belgrade (subject to confirmation due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and will hence be the final event of the launching period of the Programme in Serbia. The event will include the ceremonial part of signatures of Protocol of Cooperation between the 14 cities/municipalities, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue and the Council of Europe.
The next day, September 22nd, a workshop on participatory local strategic planning was held at the Zira Hotel for representatives of 14 LSGs and facilitators who will be in charge of implementing the ROMACTED methodology in cities and municipalities.
